Cleanest
possible audit opinion awarded to Anderson County Board of Education
LAWRENCEBURG, KY –The Anderson County Board of Education achieved the highest possible level for an audit opinion, an unmodified opinion, for the 2017-2018 school year. This audit was reviewed by the Anderson County Board of Education at the December 2018 board meeting. Additional highlights from the highest possible level unmodified opinion audit include:
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Raising
the cash balance by 24% from $5,633,422 at the beginning of FY18 to ending the
year with $7,478,434.
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The
general fund contingency fund was increased by 2% from FY17 to FY18.
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Issuing
$3,880,000 of School Building Refunding Revenue Bonds to advance refund
previously issued 2007 bonds reducing interest paid on outstanding debt
service.
Anderson County’s local chapter of the Kentucky Agency for Substance Abuse, KY-ASAP, is required to have a fiscal agent in order to operate. A board member served on the Anderson County Board of Education as well as the local ASAP board under the advisement of the Board attorney.
The
Superintendent is entitled to travel expenditure reimbursement under KRS
160.410 and approved by the Board through contract for employment. The reimbursement cited was for $192.20. The expenditure was
approved for per diem incurred during travel to the 2018 ICLE Model Schools
conference where Emma B. Ward was awarded the distinction an internationally
recognized Model School. This was the only expenditure reimbursement requested
by the Superintendent.
Insurance
for Board owned buildings is procured by an agent who provides assurance each year
that the appropriate level of coverage is obtained as required by statute. Additional oversight has been implemented and
agreed-upon to maintain those levels of insurance.
The district’s bank reconciliation does not have a statutory requirement for a signature or review like school bank accounts however this audit suggestion will be reviewed.
Differences
in two school monthly financial reports were small rounding differences from
the implementation of new software and has been corrected.
Anderson
County High School
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The
football account was in a deficit due to a timing issue in awarding the new
year budget; the account is always reimbursed in the fall when the athletic
budgets are approved. However, the
district has implemented procedures to change this process.
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Operating
expenses can be paid from Board approved student fees collected and procedures
have been applied to ensure these are paid at the district level.
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The
Principal has placed staff on notice to ensure checks are brought to the office
daily for deposit. Staff are receiving
additional training in FY19 to mitigate future instances.
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Athletic
booster clubs have received several trainings to ensure they are aware of the
requirements to provide documentation required to be on file at the school
level and the District will not approve any booster activity until the
information is received.
Anderson County Middle School
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Only
one invoice out of a test of eighteen did not have an invoice and the Principal
has place staff on written notice to ensure it does not occur in the future.
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Certain
fundraisers do not require inventory worksheets due to the nature of the event
however only two worksheets were not utilized during the entire year for events
that require an inventory worksheet.
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There
is a requirement for students third grade and above to are to sign multiple
receipt forms however this instance was a payment received directly from the
parent and a refund was made to the parent. The District is reviewing this suggestion from the auditor.
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Schools
can pay for contractors from school activity funds however, this function in
particular receives direction from school administration during events. Given the nature of the role, the Board
subsequently created the position to provide oversight of sales and inventory at
the school. The Anderson News cited this
item was from Emma B. Ward and in actuality it was for the Anderson County
Middle School.
Emma B. Ward Elementary
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Operating
expenses can be paid from Board approved student fees collected and procedures
have been applied to ensure these are paid at the district level.
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The
purchase order was only for a single event and in the future no purchases will
be approved until a purchase order is in place.
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The
combining budget was on file with the district however submission was delayed
two working days.
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A
delay in the receipt of paperwork has been addressed with staff who have been
placed on notice by school administration to mitigate future occurrences.
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Negative
balances in the two accounts were addressed. The school is aware that any overage is to be covered in advance, prior
to the expenditure, by the school general account.
Robert B. Turner Elementary
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The
Principal has placed staff on notice to ensure checks are brought to the office
daily for deposit. Staff are receiving
additional training in FY19 to mitigate future instances.
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RBT’s PTO has received several trainings to ensure they are aware of the requirements to provide documentation required to be on file at the school level and the District will not approve any activity until the information is received.
School
achievements from the 2017-2018 school year include:
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Anderson County High School achieved the highest
graduation rate at 98%.
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The Emma B Ward principal and leadership team
were asked to present at the International Center for Leadership in Education
(ICLE) conference following the 2017-2018 school year. They showcased the multi-facetted behavioral
curriculum that had full implementation during the 2017-2018 school year. These behavior measures and education
resulted in a 38.5% reduction in behavioral referrals.
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Anderson County Middle School purchased
Chromebooks to reduce the ratio of devices per student and support cooperative
learning.
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The Ezra Sparrow Early Childhood Center
continues to be the model school for the Kentucky System for Intervention.
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Since March of 2009, the Anderson County School
District has saved over $2 million dollars in energy and continues to save more
each year with energy cost savings methods. The Ezra Sparrow Early Childhood Center is one of the top ten most
energy efficient buildings in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
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All schools achieved the high at performance
level awarded by the Kentucky Department of Education current accountability
model.
The District is elated to have received the overall very good, highest possible clean audit opinion, an unmodified opinion. Working as a team to enforce state and federal regulations, increase fund balances to provide the best resources for students and teachers to thrive, and reduce costs, the District has observed the comments as opportunities for growth. It was once said by Benjamin Franklin that “without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.”