The State of Michigan has hired auditors to conduct an independent audit into the early childhood programs run by the Barry Intermediate School District.

The audit comes after a report by the Michigan Department of Education earlier this year recommending the program be removed from Barry County ISD and operated by another school district.

Barry ISD has been running early childhood programs for Barry County with state funding since the beginning of the school year as usual.

Officials from the Department of Education conducted a financial review of the early childhood programs in April.

Among the red flags in the report were nearly $130,000 in unallowable or questioned cost and $35,000 in misclassified costs.

The report recommended another school district take over the Barry County early childhood programs

Barry ISD appealed that decision in June..