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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 2018)
Polk County Education 12A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 17, 2018 Central audit reveals needed improvements By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer Independence Elementary School principal Sharman Ensminger translates qualities desired in the next leader. What do you want in a principal Community members contribute to vision for new leader at CHS By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — The search is on for a new prin- c i p a l a t C e n t r a l Hi g h School. About 40 people gathered in the cafeteria at CHS on Jan. 9 to add their ideas to what would make a great leader. Bilingual, part of the com- munity, and diplomat were just a few of the ideas con- tributed by community members to the growing list of desired qualities. The position was posted on the Central School Dis- trict’s website and other media outlets on Monday. Superintendent Jennifer Ku- bista said it will remain open “until filled.” Kubista said she had al- ready led information-gath- ering sessions with high school staff. EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer Top of people’s wish list for a principal were part of the community and bilingual. “We want a quality in- structional leader, with good management, but even in those, do you want them walking down the hallways and knowing all the kids,” Kubista said. “We want someone who understands how we use data and how we drive that to support kids academically, socially and emotionally.” She said she and the Cen- tral school board hope to close the position on Feb. 5, but will base it on the appli- cants received. If all goes as planned, the initial interviews will be the week of Feb. 12, with final interviews the week of Feb. 19, Kubista said. Along the way, commit- tees consisting of communi- ty members, Central staff and teachers will help with the hiring process. The community may get involved in the process by e m a i l i n g i n f o @ c e n t ra l . k12.or.us, or calling the dis- trict office at 503-606-2201. INDEPENDENCE — The Central School District board of directors learned the district has a few things to work on when it comes to its finances, but Business Manager Cec Koontz said most of them have already been ad- dressed. The audit was presented at the Jan. 8 board meeting. The findings of Boldt Carlisle and Smith, certified pub- lic accountants who conducted the district’s annual audit, found that the district missed the mark in 2017 by not publishing a notice of the budget committee meeting at least twice five to 30 days before the scheduled budget committee meeting, as required by ORS 294.401. Koontz said this was caused by changes in staffing, and it has been fixed, so shouldn’t happen again. Another finding showed the district spent $49,812 more than it had budgeted in the general instruction fund, pro- hibited by ORS 294.435. The district had issued a supple- mental budget for that money, but the representative from Boldt Carlisle and Smith said supplemental budgets are for unexpected revenue, not meant for miscalcula- tions. Koontz said the district cash basis of accounting means that sometimes large expenses may be budgeted in one year, ordered in June of that year, and not billed and paid until the following fiscal year. “In the past, the district adjusted for that in the follow- ing fiscal year budget,” Koontz said in her audit com- ments corrective action plan. “During the course of this audit, that practice was deemed to be not in compliance, and the budget adjustment was disallowed, creating the variance.” She said the district has changed practices to make sure the excess expenditure does not happen again. Other things the district is working on to comply with the recommendations of the audit include adding a third person to review eligibility of students on free or reduced meals; and trying to further segregate duties in the payroll department. Superintendent Jennifer Kubista said she was not con- cerned by the findings, noting the changes in personnel in the district office making a learning curve. She said she would be more worried if the accountants had found nothing wrong with their books. Koontz said the process was educational, and she viewed the information as a way to improve the processes used by the district. To v i e w t h e a u d i t o r b u d g e t d o c u m e n t : central.k12.or.us. Please read, then recycle this newspaper.