Ira ISD receives clean audit opinion

The Ira ISD board of trustees learned Monday night that the district received a clean financial audit for the 2014-15 fiscal year.
“I am proud of our school teachers staying within the budget and the board for approving the changes we made to not break our budget,” Superintendent Jay Waller said. “I want thank Business Manager Morgan Preston for the job she has done to make sure we remain within our budget.”
The board approved the 2014-15 audit report.
Waller also announced, during his report, that Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, will attend a Wednesday meeting in the Ira ISD library to discuss school funding.
Waller said the 2 p.m. meeting is open to the public and will include superintendents from throughout the region, attorneys and school finance experts.
In other action, the board approved a resolution written by the Texas Association of Community Schools that states the next Texas Commissioner of Education should have professional education experience.
The resolution also states that the commissioner should put “the needs of students first.”
Current Commissioner of Education Michael Williams is resigning effective Dec. 31. No replacement has been named
The board approved the annual school safety certification program and a resolution casting its votes for the Scurry County Appraisal District board of directors election to Keith Clements.
No one spoke during a public hearing concerning the district’s passing mark on the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) program.
The 2014-15 ratings are based on annual financial reports provided to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) by districts and charters from the 2014 fiscal year.
The financial accountability system requires TEA to review the audited financial reports from all districts and charters.
This year, FIRST ratings are based on seven financial indicators such as administrative cost expenditures, the accuracy of a district or charter’s financial information submitted to TEA and any financial vulnerabilities or material weaknesses in internal controls as determined by an external auditor.