NEKOOSA - For the second time in four years, a Wisconsin school district is wondering how a budget hole was created, and Mike McArdle is in the middle of it.
McArdle was the Monroe school district's business manager in 2005 when the board learned the district was unexpectedly $1.8 million in the hole entering the 2005-06 school year. The deficit led to a series of budget cuts and, eventually, a referendum that was passed in 2007. McCardle announced his intention to seek early retirement a few months later, and then took a job as the business manager of the Nekoosa School District.
On Wednesday, the Nekoosa schools underwent a second forensic audit of its budget as part of an investigation into the overspending of about $1 million during the 2007-08 school year. The report is not expected to be complete for about two weeks, Nekoosa Superintendent Wayne Johnson said.
Nekoosa officials have said the overspending was done by a former employee, but have not named the manager. Most of the overspending was on technology upgrades, which were McArdle's responsibility. McArdle left Nekoosa in June to be the assistant superintendent for operations of the Stevens Point Area School District.
Johnson said he did his due diligence before hiring McArdle.
"All potential employees in the Nekoosa School District are given background checks including reference checks and criminal background checks," Johnson said.
Monroe also had problems while McArdle was business manager.
"Mike made a mistake, a big error that caused us to lay a lot of people off after school started (in 2005)," said Mark Mayer, a former Monroe School Board member who was board president during a portion of McArdle's tenure. "It was not a fun time, and I was not pleased with his performance."
McArdle would not comment regarding his time in Monroe.
The Monroe School District laid off 23 support staff members in September 2005, to help cut the previous year's $1.8 million deficit.
Also, during the 2005-06 school year, with McArdle estimating school spending, the district ended up being over budget by more than $530,000. The inaccurate projections left the district with a negative fund balance of almost $500,000.
The Monroe School District had an approximate $26 million budget while McArdle managed its finances. He left Monroe for Nekoosa in the spring of 2006, after submitting his letter of intent to seek an early retirement in February of that year.
McArdle was the Monroe school district's business manager in 2005 when the board learned the district was unexpectedly $1.8 million in the hole entering the 2005-06 school year. The deficit led to a series of budget cuts and, eventually, a referendum that was passed in 2007. McCardle announced his intention to seek early retirement a few months later, and then took a job as the business manager of the Nekoosa School District.
On Wednesday, the Nekoosa schools underwent a second forensic audit of its budget as part of an investigation into the overspending of about $1 million during the 2007-08 school year. The report is not expected to be complete for about two weeks, Nekoosa Superintendent Wayne Johnson said.
Nekoosa officials have said the overspending was done by a former employee, but have not named the manager. Most of the overspending was on technology upgrades, which were McArdle's responsibility. McArdle left Nekoosa in June to be the assistant superintendent for operations of the Stevens Point Area School District.
Johnson said he did his due diligence before hiring McArdle.
"All potential employees in the Nekoosa School District are given background checks including reference checks and criminal background checks," Johnson said.
Monroe also had problems while McArdle was business manager.
"Mike made a mistake, a big error that caused us to lay a lot of people off after school started (in 2005)," said Mark Mayer, a former Monroe School Board member who was board president during a portion of McArdle's tenure. "It was not a fun time, and I was not pleased with his performance."
McArdle would not comment regarding his time in Monroe.
The Monroe School District laid off 23 support staff members in September 2005, to help cut the previous year's $1.8 million deficit.
Also, during the 2005-06 school year, with McArdle estimating school spending, the district ended up being over budget by more than $530,000. The inaccurate projections left the district with a negative fund balance of almost $500,000.
The Monroe School District had an approximate $26 million budget while McArdle managed its finances. He left Monroe for Nekoosa in the spring of 2006, after submitting his letter of intent to seek an early retirement in February of that year.