After an initial review of the Fairfax County Public School system, the independent auditing company, Gibson Consulting Group Inc., is recommending 36 items for more in-depth analysis.
The projected cost for the additional work totals nearly $1 million and would take place in phases.
The School Board set aside $250,000 for the original contract, of which approximately $125,000 remains.
"The project has two phases. The first was to review all areas and make recommendations. Phase two is additional analysis in selected areas," said Greg Gibson, president and chief operating officer of the Austin, Texas firm. "We had a hunch when we started FCPS wouldn't need analysis in all areas. That hunch was confirmed in phase one."
The list provided to School Board members at a work session Monday night included eight items recommended for research at greater length, at a cost of $122,500, spanning annual reports and non-instructional performance measures to special education staffing, programming and Medicaid reimbursement.
Other items include a feasibility study on a comprehensive technology system through which all the other technology systems operate; updating the GIS, or geographic information systems; reviewing the cable franchise fees; eliminating or reducing warehousing; a process analysis of payroll and budget staffing; bus driver storage; and sharing services with the county.
All of the items were described as having potential cost savings and/or improving efficiency. Gibson is expected to submit its initial report by the end of May.
The board members are expected to decide Thursday, May 8, which items, if any, Gibson should follow up on in phase two. In addition, the members will decide whether or not to spend the $30,000 from the Board of Supervisors, which is the remainder of the funds from the now defunct Communities That Care survey. Some board members want to use the funds for the auditor, while others suggested using the money to help reduce class size.
Thursday night's meeting will be at Luther Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church, beginning at 7:30 p.m. A public hearing on the bond will proceed the meeting, beginning at 7 p.m.