School district budget 'on the right track,' auditor says

The Kimball Board of Education meeting Monday touched on the use of funding for the benefit of the district.

The district was audited by Rauner & Associates. Julie Peetz, of Rauner & Associates, presented that the district had a deficit of $166,153. She also noted that last year the deficit was over $200,000.

“What the numbers show is that you have been conscious of your finances and had a good year, despite the deficit. It’s a much better year than the year prior, and while there is certainly still room for improvement, you are most definitely on the right track,” Peetz said.

Mary Lynch Elementary School requested that the board allocate $15,000 toward technology improvements at the school. This money would come from the building fund itself and the board deemed it a worthy use of the funds.

The board considered to put $200,000 in certificates of deposit (CDs) through Kimball State Bank for a possible time period of six months.

“This would be an investment that we could do while we are meeting with and discussing building renovations with different contractors,” Superintendent Marshall Lewis said.

Board members saw this as a wise investment, however, asked for more information regarding the return on the money for a 6-month CD versus a year CD. Further information is to be provided at a later date.

Kimball Junior/Senior High Principal Eugene Hanks gave his report in which he mentioned the Holiday Festival being held at the high school on Dec. 19. Hanks is also working on getting out the newsletter for the end of the quarter. School will resume after winter break on Jan. 5, 2015.

Mary Lynch Principal Mike Mitchell reported that the school’s winter music concerts will be held Tuesday, Dec. 16, and Thursday, Dec. 18. The concert on Dec. 16 begins at 7 p.m. and will be second through sixth grades choral, followed by fifth and sixth grade bands. The Dec. 18 concert will be Pre-Kindergarten at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., Kindergarten and first grade students will perform at the McNeese Auditorium.

The students who will participate in Shop with a Cop have been selected.

“We tried to get new students this year. Some kids seemed a bit upset, but we reminded them that they already had a chance to do Shop with a Cop and different students needed to have a turn,” Mitchell said.

The next meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Jan. 12, 2015, in Kimball City Council chambers.