Independent Audit Of Phoenixville School Financials Not Completed

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — There were no records of a third party forensic audit of the Phoenixville Area School District's financials having been completed as of Monday, according to information obtained in a Right to Know request filed by Patch. On Tuesday, the school district said that the audit was underway but not yet complete.

On Sept. 25, the district released a statement indicating that the school board and administration had recommended an independent audit. The district said this week that they will announce when that audit is completed, which they hope will be by the end of December.

The exact nature of the discrepancies remains unclear. The district issued a statement on the situation in late September, but was aware of the discrepancies as early as late August, when a district employee reported the situation to Superintendent Alan Fegley.

Chris Gehris, the district's former finance and business director who resigned suddenly shortly before the discrepancies became public, had his 60-day advance written notice requirement waived by the school district, according to his his resignation letter, also acquired in the Right to Know request. This means he was able to leave his post immediately.

While Gehris did resign, and was not fired, a copy of his resignation and release agreement shows that Gehris can never again apply to work in Phoenixville School District. It also protects the district from any future legal claims from Gehris, while stating that the resignation agreement is not "evidence of an admission by (the district) of any violation of or failure to comply with...law, agreement, rule, regulation, or order."

>>Phoenixville School District Financials Under Investigation

The district did conduct an internal audit once they found out something was amiss. However, a separate Right To Know request filed to gain access to the results of that audit — which presumably would illuminate the details behind the entire situation — was denied. The denial cited state law that exempts from disclosure information that would "reveal the institution, progress or result of an agency investigation."

The denial also noted that the ongoing investigation was "noncriminal" in nature. While police were notified of the situation, they have declined to comment on the status of their inquiries. No charges have been filed.

The district has since hired a new business manager, Richard Fazio, on an interim basis.