WORTHINGTON -- The school district received a clean, unqualified audit -- the highest possible rating -- for the past fiscal year at Tuesday's meeting of the District 518 Board of Education.
"It turned out to be a very good audit," said district superintendent John Landgaard. "... we're financially responsible to the taxpayers. We're doing a great job of managing our money."
Auditing firm Turbes, Drealan, Kvilhaug, Mammen & Co. also stated they saw improvement in District 518 from year to year.
The full audit will be available to the public at http://www.isd518.net/admin/audits.htm , the district's Web site.
According to the audit, many of the district's costs came in under budget, and the district's finances included increased referendum dollars for the first year. Unlike many districts, District 518 did not spend all its capital outlay dollars and will carry over $264,000 into next year's budget.
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Auditors did find several minor areas in which the district needs improvement, such as separation of duties, which incorporates checks and balances into the district's finances. Because the school doesn't have a large staff, separating financial duties can be difficult, Landgaard said.
The majority of the audit report was very positive.
In other news Tuesday, the board:
- Approved the resignation of Doug Mead as co-assistant boys' hockey coach at Worthington High School, and the resignation of Josh Langseth as special education paraprofessional at Prairie Elementary.
Approved the employment of Pat Daggett as dishwasher at Prairie Elementary; Nancy Landeros as special education paraprofessional at Worthington Middle School and Youth Diversity Corps Coordinator with the Nobles County Integration Collaborative; Chelsea Plantz as special education paraprofessional at WMS; Pam Westendorf as secretary with Targeted Services; Flora Reyes as child care worker with the NCIC; Catalina Palma as child care worker with the NCIC; Aileen Gonzales as interchange instructor with the NCIC; and Susan Poss as special education paraprofessional at Worthington High School. Additionally, the board approved an increase from half-time to full-time employment for Heidi Ahlers as first grade teacher and English as a second language teacher at Prairie Elementary.
- Approved an out-of-town travel request for band teacher Jon Loy to attend the 2008 Grand Nationals Marching Band Championships Nov. 15-16 in Indianapolis, Ind.
- Approved the second reading of policies for discipline, suspension and dismissal of school district employees; employee-student relationships; and Internet acceptable use and safety and electronic communications. The changes were clarifications and minor wording alterations.
- Expelled two students, one from Worthington High School and the other from Worthington Middle School, for violating district policies and for inappropriate behavior.
- Approved the district's new Crisis Management Plan, which is part of an emergency preparedness and crisis policy. The plan will continue to be changed and updated in the future.
- Approved new district and site goals.
- Approved the purchase of a used Bobcat Skid Loader with attachments for $11,850 from Jaycox Implement and the purchase of a 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck for $11,000 from Fastenal Corp.
- Approved a contract with Avera Worthington Specialty Clinics for a school nurse for the high school and middle school, starting Nov. 4. The current school nurse will continue her work at Prairie Elementary.
- Learned that District 518 spends 71.33 percent of its funds in the classroom, above the 70 percent required by the State of Minnesota.
Recognized Tami Timko, who became the district's coordinator of teaching and learning in August, for her work. The school board will have five seats up for grabs in the November election, four for four-year terms and a fifth for a two-year term.
