By Christian Appleton
Harper, Maryland County – In an unprecedented move to fortify accountability and transparency within its education system, the Maryland County Education Office has initiated a comprehensive audit of all 179 functional schools across the county. This landmark undertaking, spearheaded by County Education Officer (CEO) Larry Nimely, marks the first full-scale audit of its kind in Maryland County’s history.
The audit, to be conducted by a professional auditor recently dispatched by the Ministry of Education, aims to meticulously examine the management and allocation of funds generated at the school level. CEO Nimely emphasized that this new oversight system represents a significant departure from past practices, where local offices were responsible for both collecting and monitoring school funds—an arrangement he acknowledged had previously hindered effective accountability.
“We are pleased to announce the arrival of an auditor assigned to us by the Ministry,” Nimely stated. “This is part of a broader effort to ensure accountability, both at our local office and within the schools. For too long, partners have voiced concerns about paying fees without clear visibility into how those funds are utilized.”
Nimely further highlighted that in prior years, financial support from the Ministry and its partners often lacked transparent accounting due to insufficient oversight by local leadership. He expressed confidence that the audit would restore credibility and attract sustained support for Maryland County’s education sector. “To meet the best standards and continue receiving much-needed support from our partners, we must ensure accountability at all levels,” he asserted. “This audit is a timely and necessary step in that direction.”
The initiative has garnered widespread approval from educators throughout the county. Emmanuel Dennis, Principal of Harper Demonstration Elementary and Junior High School, hailed the audit as a courageous stride toward reform.
“We’ve been advocating for years to see proper management of the funds we contribute to the local Ministry office,” Dennis commented. “But often, we were hesitant to speak out for fear of professional repercussions. Imagine giving almost everything your school raises in a year to the local office, and yet your school remains in a terrible state, as mine is.” He implored the newly assigned auditor to conduct the audit with unwavering integrity and fairness, advocating for complete transparency throughout the entire process.
The deployment of auditors to local education offices is widely regarded as a significant milestone for Maryland County’s educational system. With expectations running high, stakeholders are optimistic that this move will usher in a new era of transparency, enhanced service delivery, and renewed public trust in the stewardship of school funds.
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