As the Mexico School District works to shore up its staff, a group of concerned citizens has announced they have requested a district audit with the Missouri State Auditor. Led by Dusty Blue, the audit request was announced in a press release, provided by the concerned citizen effort. 

It is as follows:

Due to recent changes within the Mexico 59th School District, a group of concerned citizens came together and requested an audit of our district with the Missouri State Auditor. The Audit request was led by Dusty Blue with hopes of providing peace and transparency to the new leadership that will be hired. The Audit will require 800 signatures with each signature residing in Audrain County, a taxpayer, registered voter, and voted in the last Gubernatorial Election (2020 Election).

The group has one year to obtain 750 signatures from district residents, which would put February 2025 as the deadline. Those signatures will then need to be verified by local election authorities. As indicated in their press release, the group’s goal is 800 signatures, with hopes of doubling that. While allotted a year to get them, their goal is to get them in a month; last Wednesday was the first day of acquiring signatures.

In a seven-minute Facebook video, Blue outlined the group’s case. In it, he acknowledges he’s “been outspoken and persistent in finding resolutions” in the district. He points to “unprecedented change” of late at the district, noting that it has had four superintendents in five years. His goal, and the goal of the petitioning group,he says is to seek a healthy environment for the new superintendent, staff and students.

“This is just the first step,” Blue says in the video. “We invite you to take it with us.”

In the video, which is about seven and a half minutes long, he adds that the audit is “not an ‘ax and pitchfork’ situation” and invites people to message him if they’d like to sign the petition. More information on the signature process would be forthcoming, he added. Posted on Blue’s personal Facebook page, as of last Tuesday, it had about 4,600 views.

“This is a collective effort,” Blue said In a phone call last Wednesday. “We’re going to let the State Auditor do their job.”

Blue has been a school board candidate and narrowly missed garnering a seat in the April 2023 election. Campaigning was especially hot and heavy for the 2023 Mexico Public Schools Board of Education race which included an enthusiastic field of candidates. Three prevailed: Todd D. Yager, 1,486 votes; Mathew Pilger, 793; and Jessica Johnson Ekern, 782. 

Blue had 775 votes, Michelle Stephens, 650; and Kelli S. Teel, 636. Candidates Kara Clovis and Jennifer Gore would recuse themselves late in the race but still appeared on the ballot.  

While it’s still early in the process, the state auditor’s office confirmed they have received a petition audit request and have provided the signature forms to the petitioner. Once the 750 required signatures are gathered, the audit begins as the auditor’s office has staff available.

The school district would be responsible for the audit cost; the auditor’s office requires 750 signatures, but recommends additional signatures be obtained in the event of invalid ones.

Based on information provided by the State Auditor's Office, the cost of an audit for political subdivisions of a similar size and function has ranged from $55,000 to $80,000. 

Once the audit process begins, the state auditor’s office will meet with the school district to explain the process and answer questions.

The Mexico School District released the following statement Friday, Feb. 23, in regard to the audit:

Pursuant to Board Policy, Mexico School District #59 has contracted with outside firms to conduct annual audits of the District.  The most recent audit was presented to, and approved by, the District’s Board of Education in December 2023.  All audit information is publicly available on the District’s website.  An audit conducted by the Missouri State Auditor would have significant financial implications on the District.  As District revenue is closely budgeted, the District would be required to divert funds currently intended for teacher salaries and student instructional support to pay for a state audit.  Additionally, state audits are a long and arduous process, usually taking over a year to two years to complete.   Therefore, while the District disagrees a state audit is necessary, and would strongly prefer to direct its time and resources to compensating its teachers and creating the best learning environment possible for its students, if a state audit is mandated, the District will work cooperatively with the State Auditor’s Office to complete such an audit.