The draft of the auditor's report was accepted and the list of winter and spring athletic coaches was approved at the regular meeting of the Staples Motley School Board Monday night.

The school district's audit report for the year ending June 30, 2009, by Mayer, Porter, Beinhorn & Rowe, Ltd., was a draft version, but Business Manager Bob Hamann noted that the items to be completed should not affect the numbers.

In their summary the auditors report "expressed an unqualified opinion on financial statements."

Hamann reviewed a few points with the board. One of the biggest changes in the report was the addition of a section for the OPEB (Other Post Employment Benefits) funds.

The Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) has required public employers to be prepared financially to pay for certain retirement benefits for all current and retired employees based on actuarial studies. The Staples Motley School District set up an irrevocable trust with bond sales to pre-fund the benefits.

In another area the audit notes that the single best measure of overall financial health is the unreserved fund balance. As of June 30, 2009, that balance was $2,323,239, or slightly more than eight weeks of operations.

Hamann also presented his budget worksheet with the audited balances. He brought the board's attention to the special education funding section. He explained how the state is changing how districts can track the expenses incurred for special education because of the requirements of the stimulus funding.

Coaching jobs not already approved for the winter and spring athletic activities were approved Monday night on a split vote. All board members except Paul Anderson voted in favor of the following list:

o Dan Bjerga, head wrestling; assistants, Derek Holst and Jeff Sterriker.

o Stacey Barthel, Sheri Nyhus/Darren Holst and Craig Wolhowe as assistant girls basketball coaches. Arden Beachy had previously been approved as head coach.

o Bruce Onischuk, head softball; Tom Honek, assistant.

o John Riewer, head baseball; Mark Jennissen and Doug Shequen, assistants.

o Ryan Beachy, head track; Paul Binek, Bruce Fuhrman and Ron Beachy, assistants.

o Kevin Coughlin, head boys tennis; Dave Johnson, assistant.

o Glen Hasselberg, head boys and girls golf; Bill Israelson and Lynn Peterson, assistants; Heather Erholz/Brad Anderson, middle school.

In separate action, the resignations of Janelle Thompson and Angie Kramer as co-head cheerleading advisors. They then hired Jill Kylander as head cheerleading advisor with the note from Lynn Peterson, activities director, that there may be one or two more people sharing this position.

In other personnel matters the board:

o APPROVED a contract for Kevin Klein as head custodian at the Motley building and also approved posting for a replacement for his prior position of night custodian at Motley.

o APPROVED posting for a full time paraprofessional position at Staples Elementary. The job is for a one-on-one aide for a student and the contract will have the contingency of being effective as long as the student is enrolled in the district.

o APPROVED three Stanton upgrades.

In other business the board:

o APPROVED a policy revision regarding cell phone use for those employees with phones belonging to the district.

o APPROVED a trip for Spanish students to Spain and Italy in October, 2010. Tracey Kloeckl-Jimenez said the choice of time is because Europe is less expensive when it's not the high tourist season. Also, parents will be able to accompany students on this trip.

o HEARD in high school principal Dean Ogg's report that the Staples Motley speech program earned recognition by the National Forensic League as one of the top ten percent of chapters nationwide.

o ADJOURNED the meeting, then went into a closed session to discuss salary and contract negotiations with the certified staff.