Keller school board member frustrated that colleagues hid cost of district audit
Keller school board member Chelsea Kelly said she wasn’t privy to an invoice that was recently shared on social media that showed the district spent more than $90,000 on an audit from Chicago-based RSM, a financial consulting firm.
Speaking during the Feb. 27 meeting, Kelly said she had previously asked for that information, and appeared frustrated that it took a public records request from a resident to get it out into the open. The Star-Telegram has not yet been able to independently verify the cost of the RSM audit.
After a brief back and forth, board member John Birt, who was standing in for the absent board president Charles Randklev, called for a 10-minute recess. At that point, the crowd exploded in anger, leading to the removal of a young man who said he was a Keller student.
During the recess, Kelly and board member Joni Shaw Smith remained at the dais while the other four trustees left the room. After they returned, Kelly privately questioned Birt before taking her seat.
Birt said RSM was hired after unnamed staff members made the board aware of financial irregularities and “questionable budget practices” in the district.
Birt said the board elected to bring in an independent third-party consultant with forensic accounting experience, which he called “common practice.” He then directed residents to the RSM report on the district’s website. At the Jan. 30 meeting, chief financial officer John Allison blamed former leaders for making poor financial decisions that led to a $35 million shortfall in the district’s general fund.
In recent days, parents on a Keller Facebook page have questioned the cost of the RSM audit, as well as the process by which RSM was selected to perform the audit. The Star-Telegram contacted the district for information, but the board of trustees declined to provide details.
This story was originally published February 28, 2025 at 9:39 AM.