Okolona school leaders went four years without an audit as a $1.25 million deficit grew
The Okolona Separate School District in Chickasaw County had not completed an annual independent audit since fiscal year 2021. On Oct. 30, 2025 its business manager told the state it could not cover its roughly $518,000 November payroll. The Mississippi State Board of Education voted Nov. 14, 2025 to dissolve the elected school board and remove Superintendent Paul Moton, who did not respond to interview requests, and lent the district $1.5 million in emergency funds. In August 2026 an outside review by Novum Advisory found a $1.25 million deficit at takeover and deficits in six of seven years, with one-time federal pandemic money used for recurring costs. Per-student spending rose 83% as enrollment fell; the largest increases were travel and consulting fees, and many invoices had vague descriptions. Coverage reports no state auditor referral or charges.
The district's financial documentation, however, is (incomplete and) inconsistent.
The district hadn't submitted an audit since 2021.
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