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ST. CHARLES COUNTY — The cost of building the new Francis Howell North High School nearly doubled in cost due to poor communication and clumsy planning, a state audit released Wednesday found.

The from Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick gave Francis Howell School District the lowest rating of “poor� after numerous findings indicated the district mismanaged projects financed by a $244 million bond issue passed in June 2020.

The audit also flagged the school district’s inadequate performance of safety drills and claims school staff in three schools overstated student attendance by over 3,000 hours for two years, leading to $11,500 in excess state funding.

District officials originally projected the new high school, on 2549 Hackmann Road in St. Peters, would cost $86 million, but the final price tag was $164 million — in part due to the bungling of competitive bidding processes and flawed cost estimates.

“What we found was a lack of transparency, a failure to communicate, and a flawed project manager selection process that led to the Board of Education and taxpayers being shocked when the actual cost of the high school was revealed,� Fitzpatrick said in a statement.

Fitzpatrick said district leaders were not transparent with constituents or the Board of Education about construction cost estimates. Marketing materials for Prop S estimated the project would cost $86.35 million, even though no one associated with the project could explain the origin of this estimate, according to the audit.

Estimated costs rose to over $100 million by February 2021, but a new estimate of $164.7 million was not presented to the board until November 2021. And still, the higher estimation did not account for annual inflationary increases, increased square footage and additions to the project’s scope.

Because of the cost overruns at Francis Howell North, 71 projects totaling more than $56 million originally planned under Prop S will not be completed, Fitzpatrick reported. Forty-nine of those projects would include roof replacements and HVAC updates at other schools.

Insider influence

While district officials failed to be transparent to both the board and the public, the audit noted, board members also failed to ensure cost updates on projects were provided and made decisions with “insufficient knowledge.�

One board member, whom the audit did not identify, was on the design teams for Prop S projects and aware of the updated cost estimates but did not provide that information to the rest of the board.

Another finding outlined how the district failed to perform a competitive bidding process. District officials originally insisted that project management firms hire a former district employee to serve as project manager for the new high school, which “improperly limited� eligible candidates.

The requirement prevented the highest-ranked firm from being chosen for the job and the board selected a firm that district officials previously deemed inferior. The former district employee, who was also unnamed, worked for this firm and the firm was owned by his brother.

“At a minimum, the awarding of this contract gives the appearance of bias towards a former employee and his brother’s firm and a potential conflict of interest,� the audit reads.

In January 2020, district records show the board approved Atlas Building Group to handle Prop S project planning on an interim basis from February 2020 to June 2020.

Jeremy Boettler, Francis Howell’s director of facilities and operations from July 2015 to August 2018, started working as a project manager at Atlas Building Group a month after he left the district.

His brother, Brian Boettler, owns Atlas Building Group, state filings show.

In May 2020, district officials put out a request for qualifications for Prop S project management. The district recommended the board approve Atlas Building Group as project manager in June 2020 compared to three other firms.

At the time an agreement with Atlas was approved, board members said Jeremy Boettler’s knowledge of the district and rapport with school leaders went into the decision to go with Atlas. The firm also presented the lowest hourly rate of $125 per hour, nearly half of that of the highest priced firm.

Jeremy Boettler was director of facilities and operations as Francis Howell drafted a facilities master plan that determined much of Prop S.

Atlas Building Group did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon.

In addition to the firm chosen for project management, there was also “no assurance� the district opted for the best architectural firm because it did not request qualifications for architectural services as required, Fitzpatrick reported.

District performed own audit

Board Vice President Randy Cook, who was elected in 2022, said he called on Fitzpatrick to perform the audit in January 2023. He was one of several others who called for the same before Fitzpatrick launched the probe in April 2023.

Francis Howell Families, a political action committee, previously called for the state audit along with state Rep. Phil Christofanelli, R-St. Peters, a resident of the district.

“The findings reinforce the need for careful and engaged leadership in, not only Francis Howell, but every public school district,� Cook wrote in an email to the Post-Dispatch.

Other board members did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Francis Howell published of Prop S projects in March 2023 which found the board did not approve 30,000 feet of additional square footage for four lactation rooms, E-sports and wrestling rooms, new music and drama wings and an auxiliary gym, among other areas.

In a statement Wednesday, district officials said they were “pleased that the state audit affirms many findings� of the internal audit.

“There were no significant Prop S findings beyond what was previously communicated to the Board and community,� district leaders stated. “Updated processes already implemented by the new administration and Board have positively impacted bond recommendations and work over the past 18 months.�

District officials did not address other areas of the audit that covered poor attendance keeping, accounting, cash handling and more.

Fitzpatrick said district officials were not always aware of some petty cash funds maintained at schools and failed to provide sufficient guidance on how to handle receipts and cash.

In addition, the audit found the district received financial advisory services from the district’s bond underwriter when investor protection rules say financial advisors cannot act as both the financial adviser and underwriter on the same bond issue.

Outgoing Superintendent Kenneth Roumpos said in a message to families Wednesday that the district will make continued improvements related to transparency and “fiduciary responsibility.�

Roumpos, , announced on Monday he’s leaving Francis Howell to lead Kirkwood School District as superintendent starting next school year.

Roumpos was named interim superintendent in March 2022 after former Superintendent Nathan Hoven announced plans to retire at the end of the 2021-2022 school year. He led the district on an interim basis starting July 1, 2022 until his contract officially began July 1, 2023.

This story has been updated to add Kenneth Roumpos' start date as interim superintendent of Francis Howell schools.