Audit, Appreciation At KISD School Board Meeting

KENNARD - The Kennard Independent Board of Trustees met in its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, Jan. 12. The major area that was discussed concerned the recently completed financial audit of the district.

J.W. Kirkham with the accounting firm of Hereford, Lynch, Sellars & Kirkham PC with offices in Conroe and Cleveland provided the board with the auditing firms findings. He reported the audit had resulted in an unqualified opinion, which “….is a clean opinion meaning that the assets, revenues, liabilities and expenses meet the criteria of being stated fairly in accordance with GAAP, generally accepted accounting principles. That’s the opinion that you’re looking for in reporting to the TEA (Texas Education Association). There were no material weaknesses and no significant deficiencies.”

The audit was unanimously approved by the board.

Prior to the audit report, former KISD students’ parent, Karen Lenderman addressed the board.

“Texas A&M tells prospective students to be prepared to spend approximately $21,000 for each 30 hour year of college,” she said. “This figure includes tuition, books, room and board and other expenses. Per hour tuition is about $560. A typical three hour class costs about $1,600. I’m telling you this because as a parent, I want you to understand how much I appreciate the college classes that Kennard High School provided for my children. Kaitlin graduated with 18 college hours, and Jon graduated with 30. This represented a total potential savings of approximately $30,000 to my kids and my family.

“The greatest benefit of the college courses offered to my children at Kennard High School turned out to be a reduced course load,” Lenderman continued. “Most students start college expecting to take 15 to 18 hours right off the bat. Jon was able to start off taking 12. Because of that his basic courses had already been covered. With a smaller course load he was able to devote more time to his classes, survive the rigors of the Corps of Cadets and he even participated in the school’s trap and skeet team. Many other (KHS) students are succeeding in college. I think that that success can be attributed to the education they got here. They went off to college knowing what it was like to exchange an assignment on a virtual blackboard and how to meet a professor’s deadline. They already knew what it was like to be up writing papers at two in the morning and the consequences of late work. They knew how to prepare for a college final. I’m so proud of all of them and I know you are too. So, as a parent, during

School Board Appreciation Month, let me say thank you for choosing to provide these resources to the students here.”

In other business, Elementary Principal Ginger Arbuckle informed the trustees the district’s library was now recognized.

“Back when we had our first analysis, the average (published date of books) was in 1986,” she said. “As I’ve mentioned before, libraries have a rating of acceptable, unacceptable just like the schools do. The library, as far as the number of books we had in circulation, were from 1986. That was unacceptable. Within this year the average age of our books is from 1999, which is recognized. So we have gone from unacceptable to recognized and in one more year, as we continue to purchase books and update our library to (the year) 2000, the rating for the library will be exemplary. So, we are one year away from the highest rating in the library.”

In other board related matters:

• a waiver for the summer food service program was approved;

• an update was provided on the “Shattered Dreams” program;

• the goals for Superintendent David Baxter were approved; and

• Rebecca Rudd was hired as an elementary teacher to finish out the school year.

Will Johnson may be reached via e-mail at wjohnson@messenger-news.com