Audit says Campbellsville schools finances are in order

Campbellsville School District's checkbook is in order, according to an auditor's report of its 2011-2012 fiscal year finances.

Jeff Sprowles of Wise, Buckner, Sprowles & Associates presented the report to Campbellsville School Board members during Monday night's regular meeting.

The report says there are no deficiencies in the district's finances and its audit statements accurately reflect its financial status.

Sprowles said the report shows that the district's federal and state revenue both declined in the 2011-2012 school year.

He said instruction costs remain its biggest expense, at 66 percent of the budget, which increased some from the previous school year.

Overall, Sprowles said, the district's net assets show that it is pretty healthy, finance wise, even though expenses increased a bit during the year.

At the beginning of the 2011-2012 fiscal year, Sprowles said, the district's net assets totaled $14.6 million. At the end, they had dipped to $14.1.

Nevertheless, he said, the district paid off about $700,000 of its debt during the year, which makes it pretty healthy.

"Overall, it was a good year," Sprowles said. "I think you will be pleased."

Board member Barkley Taylor did not attend the meeting.

Academic Spotlight

This month's spotlight focused on Campbellsville High School Site-Based Decision Making Council.

CHS Principal Kirby Smith said the school has implemented several strategies in an attempt to raise test scores.

The district has received its highest ACT and PLAN scores in school history during the last school year, he said.

Smith said there is more of a focus on college and career readiness at CHS. At the time, 22 percent of CHS seniors are what the state refers to as "college ready."

Council member Tammy Wilson said the school has scheduled department meetings each Thursday to work on planning. She said departments are identifying students who need help in specific areas and are working to individualize instruction for them.

Smith said his school's ACT scores have improved, but that the school still isn't satisfied with them. ACT scrimmages have been scheduled for Nov. 20, Jan. 15 and Feb. 12. The state test is March 5.

The junior class has set a goal of scoring an average of 20, Smith said, which would be higher than last year's state average.

Council member Dan Durham said the Council has discussed dividing the CHS junior class into teams and assigning team parents to encourage the groups. He said the teams would compete against each other when taking tests, possibly for prizes. He said the group hopes the initiative will increase parent involvement.

Wilson said some teachers recently toured local manufacturing businesses and officials told them that math and problem-solving skills and attendance are the most important skills they look for in potential employees.

The group said a parent/teacher partnership night has been planned for Monday to help explain grades and test scores to parents. The event is from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Also at the Meeting:

• In his monthly report, Superintendent Mike Deaton said the committee studying the possible reconfiguration of the district's buildings met Oct. 30. A proposed plan has been posted on the district's website at www.cville.k12.ky.us.

In the proposed plan, preschool and Campbellsville Elementary School students would attend classes at the now Campbellsville Middle School building.

CMS students would go to the elementary school building for their schooling. Seventh- and eighth-graders could become students at a transitional school between the current CES and CHS buildings. Freshmen through seniors would remain at the CHS building.

Deaton said information about the plan, which is still in its early stages, has been sent to staff for their input.

He announced that the district's annual Christmas Spectacular event will be Sunday, Dec. 9, at 3:30 p.m.

• The district's 2011 tax settlement report was approved. Tax collector Marilyn Martin said last year's unpaid tax bills total about $23,000, which is the typical amount or a little less.

She said the collection rate for last year topped out at 98 percent and is already about 67 percent collected for this year with tax bills only having been mailed a few weeks ago.

The district has collected about $1.2 million in taxes this year, Martin said, with October being the month in which the most revenue is received, since a discount is offered then.

• Instructional Supervisor Kent Settle discussed scores the district recently received from the state's new testing system, Unbridled Learning: College/Career Readiness for All.

According to the scores, the Campbellsville district, and each of it schools, fell into the "needs improvement" category. For more about the test scores, see the Nov. 5 issue.

Settle said parent/teacher conferences are planned for today at Campbellsville Middle School and next Monday for Campbellsville Elementary and Campbellsville High School students.

• Sixteen gifted and talented Campbellsville and 13 Taylor County students participated in a ghost tour of Brookside Cemetery on Oct. 27.

Students posed as ghosts of some of those buried in the cemetery and told visitors about their lives. The more than $600 raised will be split between the Hiestand House-Taylor County Museum and the cemetery. For more about the event, see the Nov. 1 issue.

• Kindergarten teacher Chanci Patterson received the Dare to Soar Award. In a nomination letter, a parent wrote that Patterson put her son at ease during his first day of school, praises and encourages him and corrects him in a caring and nurturing way.

• November's academic achievers were announced. The students will be featured in an upcoming issue.

• Finance Director Chris Kidwell presented the District's financial report for October. October revenue was $2,060,580.13, which includes about $1.2 million in collected taxes, and expenses totaled $1,075,277.38. The closing balance at the end of October was $2,981.617.62.

• The personnel report includes new employees Matt Payton, part-time Eagle Academy instructional assistant; and Cherrish Sharlow, preschool instructional assistant. Bus driver Chuck Shaw retired/resigned. Lois Kemp was transferred to kindergarten and first-grade instructional assistant. Josh Mahan is now a full-time bus driver.

• Board members discussed personnel in closed session for 16 minutes. No action was taken.