Auditors give school's books high rating

McCook Public Schools new board of election president said at the board's monthly meeting Monday evening that he is very impressed with the "unqualified audit" of the school district's financial statements for 2008.

"That's the best rating an audit can get," said board president Tom Bredvick. "There were no qualifiers or exceptions issued with it."

Bredvick said that in previous audits, auditors have commented that internal controls in the business office would be improved, "if you had more people ...", "if you hired one more person ... " There are no comments like that in this audit, Bredvick said, because controls have been enhanced over the past year through systems and delegating and/or realigning responsibilities.

Auditor Nancy Maxson of McDermott & Miller, Kearney, who explained the audit via telephone, highlighted cash receipts, disbursements and the fund balance of the general fund. The fund balance on Aug. 31, 2007 was $3,445,851. Actual total receipts for 2008, she said, were $12,341,609, for a total available fund of $15,787,460.

Total actual disbursements for 2008 were $11,790,705, leaving a fund balance on Aug. 31, 2008, of $3,996,755, for a fund increase of $550,904. "That a nice increase," Maxson said. "That's what we like to see."

Maxson singled out the district's debt administration of the $5.8 million bond approved by voters in 2004 to create a single-site elementary facility on the existing North Ward site. During 2008, the district refinanced a majority of the bonded indebtedness after a market analysis indicated a benefit to the district with lower market rates. Maxson's audit indicates that before the refinancing, the net debt service ending Dec. 15, 2026 was $8,766,490. After the refinancing, the debt service is $8,018,404, for a savings of $748,086. "That's a substantial savings to the district," Maxson said.

Maxson also highlighted business manager Rick Haney's efforts to create a system of putting money aside for a long-range spending plan. The district's depreciation fund shows a transfer from the general fund of $347,000, creating a total fund available on Aug. 31, 2008, of $457,929. The district's early retirement fund also shows a transfer, of $330,000, from the general fund. After early retirement benefits of $78,845 were paid in 2008, that fund balance on Aug. 31, 2008, was $305,455.

Maxson noted that the school plans to continue its long-range budget planning utilizing the depreciation fund to accumulate funds for identified future expenditures.

Maxson said, "There is wise fiscal planning happening in this budget."

Maxson highlighted this information:

* The district's total net cash assets, compared to the prior fiscal year, increased $1,029,906.

* The district's general fund net cash assets increased $550,904.

* The district's depreciation fund net cash assets increased $301,937.

* The district's employee benefit fund net cash assets increased $248,348.

* The district's lunch fund net cash assets increased $3,526.

* The district's bond fund net cash assets decreased $7,712.

* The district's cooperative fund net cash assets decreased $67,097.

Superintendent Dave Schley said the audit indicates that the "district is in very, very good shape, with all money accounted for."

Bredvick said, "We didn't ask for too much (money). We didn't spend too much."

Maxson said the environment in the school district's business office was very positive, upbeat, and its employees very cooperative and responsive to her requests for information.

Schley said that many people were involved in the budget and the audit, but, he added, "It all zeroes down to Rick (business manager Rick Haney), who is very conscientious and determined to create a long-range spending plan."

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Board members approved these contracts:

* Susan Yates, for half-time world history teacher at the high school.

* Matt Owens, for full-time industrial technology teacher at the junior-senior high.

* Rod Gaston, for attendance monitor at the high school. Gaston is paid an hourly wage, for an average of four hours a day.

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FFA members Jake Curl, Kayla Messinger, Kyle Gaston, Amanda Shields and Clay Jordan explained activities of the group thus far during the school year. Highlights included Curl's descriptions of the animal study students' examination of a cow stomach and an autopsy on the bull, and Clay Jordan's invitation to the group's "Bison Ag Day" March 11 in the Kiplinger Arena on the Red Willow County fairgrounds in McCook. Jordan also said that the group is organizing a fund drive for a "Spirit Bull," a bronze bust of a bison by 1965 MHS graduate Gary Ginther.

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In other action:

* A teachers' in-service is scheduled Monday, March 16, to learn vocabulary teaching strategies.

Board member Diane Lyons described a meeting with curriculum director Gayle Sharkey, assessment coordinator Karen Miller and Superintendent Dave Schley, during which they discussed reading, language arts, math curriculum, school improvement and vocabulary instruction strategies.

* Schley said administrators are studying the school calendar for 2009-10, and in particular, starting dates and balancing semesters. Schley said that last year, the district increased student instructional time by five days, and will continue that.

* Administrators anticipated that risers would cost more than they do, and the board authorized their purchase and shipping, to cost $26,273. Although one or two of the old risers are salvageable, Haney said none of the others are and will be disposed of.

* MHS Student Council members Matt Carriker and Mary Spilinek reported that Color Day will be Saturday, Jan. 31.

* Jodi Radel reported that the McCook PTOs will reorganize during a meeting Monday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m.; and plans its "family carnival night" Friday, March 20.

* The board approved a resolution outlining the number of option enrollment positions available in each grade and program.

* The board appointed Maury Green as its legislative representative on the Nebraska Association of School Boards (NASB).

During "Positive Comments":

* Schley said that Jennifer Kaminski has worked in the high school guidance counselor's office since the beginning of the school year, and he has received many positive comments about her attitude and dealings with students. Schley also said that he is impressed with the passion with which Carolyn Klemper teaches English as a second language. Schley also said he appreciates the time and dedication of Larry Shields, who filled in as board president "under the gun," after the resignation of board member/president Greg Larson.

* Student body representative Austin Larson thanked Steve Stein of Hometown Family Radio for his radio spotlights on McCook students and athletes. Stein has moved to Grand Island, Larson said.

* Green commended Haney for his research into the purchase of the new risers.

* Messersmith praised the MHS FFA organization, encouraging everyone to attend Bison Ag Day and wished them luck in state FFA competitions.

* Lyons said she appreciated the work of Sharkey and Miller; and the efforts of choir students as they raise funds for their New York trip this summer.

* Scott Johnson said he has received many well-wishes from the community and from staff and administrators. He wished the MHS swim team competitors good luck at state.

* Shields thanked Haney and Schley for their time and patience as they worked with him "for countless hours" as he filled in for Larson. He also wished the FFA students well on their Ag Day.

Board members went into closed session at 7:30 p.m. to discuss personnel.