Mercer & Associates issues ‘all-clear’ audit for city schools

Madison City Schools received a “clean report” in a Huntsville accounting firm’s audit.

Jerry Mercer, certified public accountant and owner of Mercer & Associates, summarized his audit report for the Madison Board of Education at its Feb. 12 meeting. “No adverse opinion for financial statements, no reportable conditions about the accounting system and no non-compliance issues were related to audit,” Mercer said.

The audit included all construction costs for James Clemens High School. Mercer also cleared special education programs with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

“You want a clean report (for an audit), and that’s what you are given this year,” Mercer said.

In other business, Madison County Commissioner Steve Haraway presented $10,000, earmarked for improving school security. The board delayed reviewing bids for security entrances at seven schools until March. “The architect is massaging bids now,” Superintendent Dr Dee Fowler said.

Teacher Angie Bush reported on EdCamp, a vendor-free professional development session at James Clemens High School on Feb. 9. “Educators want real-time, effective and pertinent development in ‘un-conferences,'” Bush said.

After attending EdCamp, board member Connie Spears “wanted to go back to school to become a teacher. Teacher and student-led innovation will blow the roof off education as it is now.”

The board approved bids for HVAC filter maintenance with Pure Air Filters at $34,210.32 and gym roof replacement at West Madison Elementary School with Porter Roofing Contractors Inc. for $109,625.

The approved 2013-2014 calendar has students reporting on Aug. 19. Labor Day, three-day Thanksgiving holiday and Martin Luther King Jr. Day are intact, but fall break is canceled. Students will return on Jan. 3 after winter break. The Madison calendar aligns with Huntsville and Madison County districts.

“We’re on track,” chief financial school officer Mike Weaver said about December 2012 financials, closing with $13.3 million and a 66-day fund balance. A budget amendment was passed for the general and special revenue funds.

The board then entered a work session for an efficiency study with Lean Frog, graduation rates, gifted instruction and additional advanced placement courses.