To: Easton Jag Community

From: Aaron Kombol, Superintendent

Re: 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 Accountability Audit & Fraud Investigation

On August 13, 2024, the State Auditor's Office (SAO) released its audit of Easton School District covering the school years 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22.

During the audit process, current Easton staff alerted the State Auditor's Office (SAO) to additional areas of financial concern, which led to the auditor to undergo a fraud investigation on multiple former Easton School District employees.

For transparency and clarity, below are items related to the audit and fraud investigation:

SAO Accountability Audit & District Response, (8.13.24) (LINKED HERE)

SAO Fraud Investigation Report, (8.13.24) (LINKED HERE)

Easton Fraud Response Letter, (8.20.24) (LINKED HERE)

OSPI Letter re: Fraud Case Resolved, (8.22.24) (LINKED HERE)

As stated above, the audit and fraud investigation centered on the actions of former Easton School District employees. We now have a new financial team, and as a result our fund balance (school savings account) has gone from less than $40,000 in July 2022 to close to $1,000,000 as of August 2024.

As a District, we encourage your participation and interest in Easton School. If you would like to learn more about school finance and how school districts operate, please see our online School Board platform at: https://go.boarddocs.com/wa/eastonsd/Board.nsf/Public

As I mentioned in our weekly newsletter, Easton School District is already working with our District’s insurance provider to recover these funds and has filed criminal charges with the Kittitas County Sheriff's Department.

If you have any questions regarding the audit and/or fraud investigation, please contact me at superintendent@easton.wednet.edu or 509.656.2317