QISD Trustees Accept Annual Audit Report

Trustees of the Quinlan Independent School District unanimously accepted the annual audit report at its Monday night meeting.

Michael Taylor of Rutherford, Taylor and Company, Greenville, reviewed highlights of the report.

Taylor reported that the district’s total combined assets on June 30 were $16,145,725.

He said during the year, the district’s expenses were $377,155 less than the $23,919,046 generated in taxes and other revenues for governmental activities. The general fund balance was $5,064,062, and no new debt agreements were made during the fiscal year.

Total assets for 2009 were $41,287,630; a decrease of less than one percent as compared to $41,471,247 for 2008. Liabilities decreased 3.28 percent from 2008’s total of $25,993,542 to $25,141,905 in 2009. Net assets increased by 4.32 percent in 2009 to $16,145,725 from $15,477,705 in 2008.

Supt. Micheal French commented that to achieve a reduction in liabilities by more than $800,000 was "a job well done" and in addition to the reduction, installed a new districtwide phone system, provided Christmas bonuses to teachers and did extensive remodeling at C.B. Thompson Middle School.

Taylor reported the cost of all programs and services at $23,541,891 and said 56 percent of the costs went to instructional and student services. The audit shows the cost of instruction increased 4.35 percent in 2009 to $11,894,768 from the 2008 figure of $11,398,536.

School leadership increased 4.30 percent to $1,292,027 from the previous year’s $1,238,765. General administration increased 1.21 percent from $819,036 in 2008 to $828,985 in 2009.

Cost of plant maintenance and operations increased 10.50 percent from $2,192,076 in 2008 to $2,422,191 in 2009.

Debt service cost increased 20.23 percent to $1,133,876 in 2009 from the 2008 amount of $943,106.

The audit summary issued an unqualified opinion with no reportable conditions and no material weaknesses involving reportable conditions.

Supt. French reported on plans to repair W.H. Ford High School after the district recently agreed to a settlement of $1.3 million in its lawsuit against the contractor.

He said priorities would be foundation stabilization of the vocational wing, water source identification, plumbing repairs and replacement, storm drain repair or replacement, roof repair and flooring and wall repair and replacement.

Executive Director of Student Services Byron Burk used a piece of paper to illustrate the foundation situation of the Jack Cobb Vocational Building. He said if the paper represented the foundation, one end would be four inches lower than the other.

He said experts had been called in including structural engineer and even the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

"We’re trying not to leave any stone unturned," Burk said. "We’re not just calling one company. We’re calling several experts in."

French said the problems would not be fixed overnight and would require a period of years, especially since there were children in the building.

• Business Office Manager Billie Miller gave the budget report. She said monthly revenue totaled $2,597,194.83; and expenses, $249,136.69. Taxes, penalties and interest collected for the month of September totaled $126,167.82. Interest earned for the month totaled $1,786 on investments of $6,249,226.

• French told the board that Bill McCrary had been instrumental in securing district property values on the Hunt County Tax Appraisal Board. At his recommendation, the board voted to cast all its votes for McCrary’s reelection as a board member.

• Changes were approved in academic achievement class ranking. Curriculum Director McDaniel said there was too much leeway presently in looking at transcripts because of contradictions in how grades were calculated between three tiers. Her proposal of three tiers based on 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0 ranks was adopted.

• After a closed executive session, the board approved the separation agreement with teacher John Hicks and the resignation of Brendon Hasty.

April Moore was approved for a math position at the high school. She is a recent graduate of Tarleton State University.

James Davis was approved for a high school math position. Davis holds a Bachelor’s Degree in electrical engineering and a Master’s Degree in business administration.

• All board members were present except Kevin Fritch.