Lakeland schools pass audit, approve branding

the lakeland lionAt Monday night’s Lakeland School System meeting, the board heard about its recent clean audit, a new look for school communications, and other updates.

A presentation provided information on the district’s positive results from its audited financial statement for 2014-15, which was a clean audit with no findings.

The board also approved a branding package for the district and the schools, including a regal lion, a casual pawprint alternative, an updated logo that includes deeper colors, text, and specifications for the shades of blue, silver and navy blue to be used in all materials. [Editor’s note: The image of the lion accompanies this story. Other components of the branding package will be released at a later date.]

Former school board member Matt Wright researched, designed and provided the branding package to the district at no cost.

The board also:

  • Heard a presentation on the district’s academic goals and strategies
  • Approved policies on testing programs, family and medical leave and prevention and treatment of sudden cardiac arrest
  • Approved a strategic compensation plan
  • Amended the 2015-16 budget and approved the 2016-17 budget calendar
  • Heard a legislative update from board member Teresa Henry that the district’s request to omit student test scores from teacher evaluations for this year only was denied.
  • Heard from the superintendent, Dr. Ted Horrell, on a budgetary turnaround of more than $15,000 for the cafeteria from last year to this one, with a positive balance of nearly $4,000. That was achieved even with the purchase of $4,700 in cafeteria equipment.