School board receives positive news from audit

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Henning School District auditor Brady Martz gave the school board a snapshot of its financial outlook as part of the 2024-25 year-end audit.

During its regularly scheduled meeting last week, the Henning School Board heard from Martz, who walked the group through the expansive audit report. 

A majority of the school district’s funding comes from state sources at $4,885,286 and property taxes at $1,161,596, both of which increased slightly last year. Those increases offset decreases the school district received in other funding sources and federal funding sources. In all, the school district received just under $7 million in general fund revenue last year, which was down $10,235 from the previous year. 

The Henning School District currently has an unassigned fund balance of 19 percent of current expenses. While that is down three percent from last year and is lower than the school district’s goal of having a 25 percent fund balance, Martz said the district is in good financial shape with its unassigned fund balance. 

“I think anything over 15 percent is just fine. The smaller the district the larger you will probably want because those larger expenses will eat away a bit at that balance,” said Martz.

The unassigned fund balance can be used to operate the school and its day-to-day expenses.

Another positive mark Martz highlighted was the increase in average daily membership at the school. Last year the school district had an average daily enrollment of 370 students, which was up from 365 students last year and up nine students from the 2021-22 school year. Since state funding is tied to the amount of students enrolled in the school district, the additional students have resulted in a bit of a funding boost for Henning School.

“It stayed pretty consistent, which is good to see because I can’t say that is the case for all of the districts I see,” said Martz.

Comprehensive 

Achievement and 

Civic Readiness Survey

The Henning School Board also discussed the Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness annual summary report. The report covers a number of school-oriented goals and is a required report from the State of Minnesota.

Goals include:

• Have 80 percent of students entering kindergarten in the fall of 2025 be proficient in key developmental areas as measured by the Desired Results Development Profile- goal met

• Close the achievement gap between student groups in regards to the reading and math proficiency gaps. The school district is on track to meet the goal which is a multi-year goal. 

• All students are ready for career and college by having 100 percent of the Class of 2025 take a career or college entrance assessment, as well as individual counseling for juniors and seniors that are offered- goal met

• Have 100 percent of students graduate from high school in four years and have a seven year graduation rate of 100 percent- goal not met as just 16 of 17 students graduated from high school last year and the seven year graduation rate was at 97 percent. 

• Have all students be prepared to be lifelong learners by having 90 percent of senior students demonstrate matters in the skills necessary for financial independence at the end of the personal finance class, have 90 percent of seniors demonstrate independent living skills like interview and resume readiness and finally, have 90 percent of special education students initiate self-advocacy and choice making behaviors for things like ordering food and asking for directions to show independence and confidence. The school district did not meet the first goal of personal finance independence as only 80 percent of students mastered the skill, but met the goal of showing a mastery of skills for independent living and are on track to meet the goal regarding special education students. 

In other news

• Acknowledged the following donations: $320 from Cornerstone Church and $160 from Quicks NAPA Auto Parts for the adopt-a-classroom; a French horn from Claire Mathiesen and a piccolo from Jolene and Tammy Fosse; $225 for the band/choir trip; $500 from the Parkers Prairie Sportsmen’s Club to offset the cost of charter transportation for LaPorte and Lake Park-Audubon trips and $100 from the Henning Lions Club to go towards the purchase of a microwave for the concession stand.

• Approved an Emerging Status Commitment for the Minnesota State High School League that states Otter Tail Central intends to compete in the team portion of the section girls wrestling tournament if offered by the high school league. Currently the Minnesota State High School League only offers an individual girls wrestling tournament, but that could change as soon as the 2027-28 school should enough school districts sign a similar request. 

• Heard there are 21 boys in junior high boys basketball, 25 boys in basketball in grades 9-12, 12 girls from Henning who have registered for wrestling and 18 boys from Henning who are out for wrestling this year. There are just 11 girls in grades 9-12 in girls basketball this year and Henning will field just a varsity team this school year. 

• Heard that Pamela Wiese and Laura Smith are seeking grants to increase the amount of hours the library is open to the public. The school district is seeking staff members to keep the library open on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings. Wiese and Smith recently received a grant from West Central Initiative to assist with expanded hours that include Tuesdays and Thursdays after school; as well as the addition of Wednesday evenings from 3:30-7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Heard the enrollment report that showed the school district currently has an enrollment of 361 students in grades K-12, which is up three students from October. There are also 42 students enrolled in the preschool program. 

• Heard the Math League teams had six students place in the top individual section spots. As a team, Henning is currently in first place in the section with similar sized schools and fourth place in the conference behind just Moorhead. Fergus Falls and Alexandria. This is the first year Henning has offered Math League as a program.