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Site Last Updated: Tuesday June 18, 2013

Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy The Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy (Board) regulates the practice of physical therapy by licensing physical therapists and certifying physical therapist assistants, registering certain physical therapy businesses, investigating complaints, and disciplining licensees for statutory and rule violations. Although the Board resolved the majority of the complaints it received between fiscal years 2009 and 2011 within the 180-day standard for health regulatory boards, 43 percent of the complaints took longer. Contributing factors included lengthy investigations and delays in holding hearings. The Board has taken steps to improve complaint resolution timeliness and should continue to monitor and improve it.
	Report Highlights (200k) Full Report (2.43MB) Agency Response (1.95MB) View other Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy Reports

Pomerene Elementary School District In fiscal year 2011, Pomerene Elementary School District’s student AIMS scores were higher than both peer districts’ and the State’s averages, and it operated efficiently with lower per-pupil costs in nearly all operational areas. The District’s per-pupil costs were lower primarily because it had more students than its peer districts, on average. However, the District’s costs were also lower because its management made decisions that resulted in lower costs, such as the extensive use of part-time employees and efforts to manage the District’s unused building space. Additionally, in an effort to further reduce costs, the District has begun obtaining information technology and student transportation services from a nearby district. However, the District needs to strengthen its accounting and computer controls.
	Report Highlights (376k) Full Report (785k) District Response (110k) View other Pomerene ESD Reports

Fort Thomas Unified School District In fiscal year 2010, Ft. Thomas Unified School District’s student achievement was much lower than peer district and state averages, and it operated inefficiently overall, with most costs higher than peer districts’. The District’s administrative costs were much higher than peer districts’, and it lacked sufficient accounting controls. The District’s plant operations costs were high, and despite having two schools with excess space, the District is building a new school. Food service costs per meal were higher than peer districts’, and the District spent more than $96,000 of its Maintenance and Operation Fund monies to subsidize the program. Food service costs were high because the District did not enforce food service vendor contract requirements, and it provided free meals to all students even though 18 percent of students did not qualify for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program. Although transportation costs were higher per pupil, the program was efficient with lower costs per mile and per rider than peer districts’.
	Report Highlights (395k) Full Report (1.52MB) District Response (529k) View other Ft. Thomas USD Reports

Arizona Board of Appraisal The Arizona Board of Appraisal (Board) regulates real estate appraisal in Arizona by licensing and certifying appraisers, registering appraisal management companies (AMCs) and property tax agents, investigating complaints, and issuing discipline for violations of board statutes and rules. The Board's complaint resolution process has several weaknesses that contribute to potentially untimely and/or inappropriate complaint resolution. The Board has taken steps to improve its process, but it should continue revising and/or develop and implement policies and procedures to address these weaknesses. The Board should also comply with statutory requirements for registering AMCs and develop and implement policies and procedures for providing timely and complete complaint information to the public.
	Report Highlights (115k) Full Report (1.05MB) Agency Response (780k) View other Arizona Board of Appraisal Reports

Bicentennial Union High School District In fiscal year 2011, Bicentennial UHSD’s student AIMS scores in math and writing were lower than peer districts’ averages, its reading scores were similar, and its graduation rate was higher. The District’s cost-efficiency in noninstructional areas was mixed, with some costs higher and some lower than peer districts’ averages. The District has experienced considerable management-level turnover during the last decade, which may have negatively impacted its operations as evidenced by auditors’ having identified opportunities for improvement in multiple operational areas. For example, the District’s administrative costs were slightly lower than peer districts averaged, but the District has poor controls over payroll and purchasing and lacks sufficient computer controls. Additionally, in fiscal years 2011 and 2012, the District failed to maintain documentation showing that bus driver certification requirements were met and bus preventative maintenance and repairs were performed. Finally, overproduction and uncollected food charges contributed to the District’s need to subsidize its food service program.
	Report Highlights (479k) Full Report (1.2MB) District Response (515k) View other Bicentennial UHSD Reports

Department of Environmental Quality—Compliance Management The Department of Environmental Quality monitors and enforces regulated facilities’ compliance with environmental laws and regulations to control or prevent the release of contaminants into the environment that may have negative effects on the public’s health. Regulated facilities include power plants, wastewater treatment plants, dry cleaners, construction equipment, and other portable pollution sources. Although the Department monitors compliance by conducting inspections of regulated facilities based on frequency commitments negotiated with the U.S. Environmental Inspection Agency (EPA), it can more effectively protect public health and the environment by targeting inspections of facilities based on risk. Therefore, it should request that the EPA collaborate with it to develop a risk-based inspections approach. Additionally, the Department needs to take more consistent, timely, and effective enforcement actions.
	Report Highlights (115k) Full Report (628k) Agency Response (189k) View other Department of Environmental Quality Reports