May 11, 2015
ISSUE 74
CaLBOC 4th Annual Statewide Conference
May 19, 2015 - Tuesday  |  9:30 am - 3:00 pm
 California Chamber of Commerce, California Room
1215 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
$50 per person, includes lunch & refreshments

Theme: "Value in a Changing World" 
Keynote Speakers:
Michael Cohen, Director of the California Department of Finance  
Don Mullinax, CFE, former Inspector General of
Los Angeles Unified School District  

Keynote Presentation:
The Governor's View of School Facility Finance

Michael Cohen, Director of the California Department of Finance  

 

Keynote Presentation:  Fraud Awareness: School Construction   
Mr. Don Mullinax, Certified Fraud Examiner and
former Inspector General of Los Angeles Unified School District  
April 29, 2015 | By Theresa Harrington | contracostatimes.com
EXCERPT:  RICHMOND -- West Contra Costa trustees will seek a detailed audit of their bond construction program in the wake of whistle-blower allegations of criminal wrongdoing and negligence by three district officials.
      "As a board, we are committed to pursing an independent forensic examination of the issues raised in the complaint and we have set forth a process to do so," Board President Todd Groves said Wednesday, after a closed session meeting to discuss an undisclosed employee complaint. "And the public will be hearing much more about it moving forward."
     Dennis Clay, a project analyst who has worked in the district for 11 years, alleged in a document sent to the board earlier this month that he had uncovered evidence of criminal conduct by former Trustee Charles Ramsey, "facilitation" by Superintendent Bruce Harter and negligence by Sheri Gamba, associate superintendent of business services. Clay who performs financial analysis for the district, said Wednesday that he compiled three binders full of documents to back up his claims, which he provided to outside auditors from Pleasanton-based Vavrinek, Trine, Day and Company. ... 

     ... District spokesman Marcus Walton said it was his understanding that the board is hiring the auditors to conduct the independent investigation. He also said that Clay did not need the district's permission to talk about his documentation. ...  

    ... Ramsey, reached by phone late Wednesday afternoon, called the allegations "serious," and said that Clay "would have to back them up." He would not comment further and referred questions to his attorney.

    Several district residents who asked the board for an independent analysis of bond spending after learning of Clay's allegations praised trustees for taking the matter seriously. The residents said transparency is necessary to rebuild public trust in the bond program. ... 

     ... Hercules City Councilman Dan Romero, who reminded the school board about whistle-blower protection laws before they went into closed session, said in an e-mail after the meeting that he was glad to hear the board would pursue a detailed audit. ... 

     ... Trustee Madeline Kronenberg said after the closed session that the FBI, which initially contacted her in relation to an SEC investigation into the bond program last fall, has not followed up with her.  Trustee Val Cuevas said that the SEC investigation is ongoing. ...    To read the complete article, please visit: 

CaLBOC 4th Annual Conference Summary
Please join CaLBOC's 4th Annual Conference with our theme, "Value in a Changing World".  The State of California may significantly reduce its funding of school construction projects, placing the responsibility of improving school districts and community college districts on local taxpayers who already must pay over $100 billion for school construction bonds sold since the passage of Proposition 39 in 2000.
      This conference is designed to help bond oversight committee members, school districts K-12, community college districts, taxpayers, and other stakeholders such as those interested in school construction and related financing find ways to preserve bond proceeds by utilizing cost saving measures and to identify fraud and abuse in the face of reduced funding by the State of California.
     Keynote Speaker, Michael Cohen, California's Director of Finance and Chief Fiscal Policy Advisor to the Governor, will speak about the Governor's view of school facility construction.  Keynote Speaker, Don Mullinax, Certified Fraud Examiner and former LAUSD Inspector General, will discuss methods to detect fraud in school construction.  Our other guest speakers will present interesting and novel methods to reduce construction costs, evaluate new ways to fund school facilities, and bond oversight committee members serving at some of the most publicized school districts will share their challenges and experiences in improving oversight of bond expenditures. 
In This Issue
CaLBOC 4th Annual Conference
WCCUSD to Seek Forensic Examination
CaLBOC Conference Summary
Archived Newsletters
Join Our Mailing List!
CaLBOC - 4th Annual Statewide Conference  
May 19 - Tuesday

A G E N D A

9:30 am - Registration

10:00-10:15 am

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 

 

10:15-11:00 am 
PANEL PRESENTATION 
1st Cost Reduction Strategies

 

11:00-11:45am 
PRESENTATION: Rethinking How California Funds
School Facilities
 

11:45-12:15 pm - LUNCH
: Plates Catering

an outreach effort of the St. John's Shelter for Homeless Women and Children

 

12:15-1:00 pm  

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
 The Governor's View of School Facility Finance
Michael Cohen,
Director of the California Department of Finance

 

1:00-1:15 pm 
The Anton Jungherr Award

 

1:15-2:00 pm  
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Fraud Awareness:  
School Construction  
Mr. Don Mullinax, CFE

 

2:00-2:45 pm  
PRESENTATION: Beyond Reviews and Reports: Actual BOC Members' Experiences  

 

2:45-3:00 pm 
CLOSING REMARKS
Mission Statement 

To promote school district accountability by improving the training and resources available to California's Proposition 39 School Bond Oversight Committees and educating the state legislature, local school boards and the public about the oversight and reporting powers these Citizens' Bond Oversight Committees (CBOCs) have, and to advocate on a state level, where appropriate, on issues of common concern to all CBOCs.

Join Our Mailing List!
Archived Newsletters 
 To view all with topics visit:
California League of Bond Oversight Committees - calboc@mail.com