GRAETTINGER, IA (Northwestiowanow) – GTRA officials released the results of an independent review into financial discrepancies Thursday night during joint meetings held in both Graettinger and Ruthven.

The review was commissioned after discrepancies were discovered in shared-service records dating back to 2022.  Superintendent Marshall Lewis was placed on administrative leave in July as the districts began examining the financial issues, though no official reason for the leave has been publicly provided.

Newly appointed Interim Superintendent Jeff Dicks, who said he was just nine days into the job and had his contract approved shortly before Thursday’s meeting, reassured residents that classes will begin as scheduled this fall.

TrustPoint Managing Partner Murray Stanley then outlined the results of his firm’s review.

Stanley said the review was complicated by the absence of formal 28E agreements governing shared positions during fiscal years 2023 through 2025, forcing TrustPoint to reconstruct portions of the records using board minutes, later agreements and discussions with district personnel.

TrustPoint ultimately determined Graettinger-Terril is owed a net amount of approximately $134,000.

Following the presentation, Dicks said restoring public confidence will require transparency and accountability from district leadership moving forward.

Dicks said correcting issues that developed over several years will take time.

He asked community members to be patient as district leaders work through the financial challenges while preparing for the upcoming school year.