Summary

This audit report is the first in a series of reports to be issued on audits conducted pursuant to Chapter 2001-253, Laws of Florida, Specific Appropriation 118, and Section 11.45, Florida Statutes. Additional reports will be issued as audit fieldwork is completed in areas selected by the Auditor General for audit.

The District has addressed most of the recommendations made by the Legislative Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) in its Special Review, Land Acquisition Practices of the Miami-Dade County School District, regarding the District’s land acquisition procedures. However, as of November 2001, the District had not completed the development of performance measures for its planning and land acquisition functions.

A Land Acquisition and Facilities Advisory Board (Advisory Board) was appointed by the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the Miami-Dade County School District. The Advisory Board is scheduled to convene in December 2001 to begin an assessment of the District’s progress and corrective actions to address the deficiencies noted by OPPAGA, and report to the Commissioner of Education. Approximately $44.4 million in capital outlay appropriations are being held in reserve by the Governor, pending a satisfactory review of the District’s land acquisition and facilities operational processes by the Advisory Board.

From May 2001 through November 2001, the District has made no acquisitions of land pending the adoption and implementation of the revised policies and procedures.

The Superintendent's written response to the audit findings can be viewed in its entirety on the Auditor General's web site.