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North Dickinson Schools report ‘healthy’ reserve in recent audit

FELCH — North Dickinson County School District has $217,000 in reserve, a “healthy” amount for a district of its enrollment size, according to a recent audit.

That fund balance rose $82,000 in the past year, which puts North Dickinson in a better position than a number of districts its size, staff accountant Lynn Mott of Anderson Tackman & Co. of Iron Mountain told the school board.

The audit did identify a few “significant deficiencies” that need to be corrected but that’s the lowest level of findings, Mott said, describing them as “very minor” and “not serious problems.”

“You guys are doing a very good job,” Mott said. “This fund balance is going up; it’s healthy, and for the next year we don’t see that changing.”

While that fund balance got good reviews, Finance Director Mike Roell suggested the district could do better. The $217,000 represents 8.9 percent of the district budget, but Roell recommended trying for 10 percent.

That would avoid having to borrow in the spring to cover expenses late in the budget year, potentially saving the district $1,500 to $2,500 in interest, Roell explained.

He also warned that a 25-student drop in enrollment will have an effect on finances.

“This year is going to be a test for us, with less kids,” Roell said.

In other action, the board Nov. 13 unanimously approved hiring Anna Christian, who teaches sixth grade and middle school science, as junior varsity girls basketball coach at a cost of $2,674 for the season. After seeing little interest early, the school now has nine girls who want to play on the JV team, said Roell, who also is the district’s athletic director.

“The future looks much better for a JV program,” Roell said.

Betsy Bloom can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 40, or bbloom@ironmountaindailynews.com.

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