Auditor clears Marshalltown School District of wrongdoing

State auditors say the Marshalltown school district should develop a plan toimprove its finances, but the audit didn’t uncover illegal activities,as some district residents alleged in a petition drive.That’s Warren Jenkins, deputy state auditor, who says the district’sfinancial managers need to do a better job of planning ahead.State auditors have suggested Marshalltown employ a different method ofpaying early retirement benefits.Marshalltown’s school district is operating in the red. State auditors areexamining Ottumwa’s school budget, too, as the district is deeply in debt.