Ash Grove School District gets good marks on KPM audit

Results of the 2018-2019 audit of the Ash Grove School District were presented to the board of education at the Nov. 18 board meeting. Although no one was present from auditors KPM CPA’s and Advisors, Superintendent Dr. Aaron Gerla conveyed conveyed good news from the report. Gerla said the auditors were “very complimentary and had a lot of good things to say.” He added the district had no shortcomings, however, as is often the case in smaller districts, it was advised that as many hands need to touch the money as possible.
Last year’s audit of the district was very similar, citing no major flaws.
The board accepted the audit report with a 6-0 vote, in the absence of board member Matthew Hancock.
SWC success
In other news, Gerla announced that the newly formed Southwest Conference, of which Ash Grove is a member, has been such a smashing success that other schools are now interested in joining.
“Other people are starting to notice the success and the sustainability of the conference … We now have other schools on the outside that are seeing that (success) and are wanting to come in. We are receiving different people all the time that are asking to join the Southwest Conference. So don’t be surprised if I come to you sometime and say XYZ school is asking to join,” Gerla told the board.

Other news
- School board candidacy filing dates were also announced. There will be three seats available at the next board election. Filing for those seats will open Tuesday, Dec. 17 and will close Tuesday, Jan. 21.
- Also during the meeting, several faculty members gave updates on their programs. Lina Langley presented on Ash Grove Elementary Motor Lab; Dale Jones presented on the Title 1 reading program; Dr. Karie Julian presented on federal programs; Twila Hollis presented on Parents as Teachers; Jessica Livingston presented on preschool; coach Bryan Dean discussed the upcoming girls basketball season, and new boys basketball coach Grant Williamson discussed the upcoming season for his squad.