Clean report for PB schools audit

The Poplar Bluff R-I School District received a clean audit report at it’s monthly meeting Thursday night.

Steve Austin with Kraft, Miles & Tatum, LLC presented the 2018-19 audit report and told the board there were no issues to be reported.

According to the report, the district ended the school year financially sound.

The district did have a number of planned expenditures coming out of the capital project reserves for the Early Childhood building for the amount of $3,045,202.

Locally, the district saw an increase in property tax revenue. It collected $16,974,147 in local taxes, which is an increase of $405,332 from the prior year.

The district has seen a trend of decreasing enrollment in kindergarten through sixth grade, administrators reported to auditors.

The district also increased it’s base salary for the eighth year in a row so that the starting salary increased to $34,086.

Overall, Austin said no “material weaknesses” in internal control over financial reporting or major programs needed to be disclosed. No unresolved findings or questioned costs remain from the 2018-19 year.

Boys and Girls Club

The Boys and Girls Club of Poplar Bluff, which is housed on the Poplar Bluff Junior High campus, has been recognized as the Outstanding Program of the Year for all of the clubs in Missouri.

It was recognized for its College Kids program. Through this, students are able to take classes through Three Rivers College. They take one, three credit hour class in the fall and spring semesters. During fall, the students take a college strategy. During spring, they take a computer programming course.

“We want the students to know that no matter where they come from, they can go to college,” BGC Director Chris Rushin said.

Early Childhood

Administrators also discussed putting out a new bid related to a playground for the Early Childhood Center. The item was not listed in the initial bid for work on the project, they said.

The board voted to seek a bid for cement for the playground and rubber matting to go under equipment.

The swings and the neighboring pieces of equipment at the current location on Main Street will be moved to the new location.

At the current location is pea gravel, which has caused some concern about safety for some of the younger students, which is why rubber matting is being considered, according to the discussion.

“I’d hate to have a nice new building and then go cheap on the outside,” Board president John Scott said.

Board member Roger Hanner voiced a concern about the temperature the rubber could reach, which Assistant Superintendent of Finance Amy Jackson said she can ask about during the bidding process.

“We’ll make sure we’re getting the best product available,” Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill said.