Maplewood School district has announced news about its high ranking in the state’s Annual Performance Report, and also that auditors have given the District’s financial statements the highest level of assurance.
1. Maplewood Richmond Heights School District currently ranks among the top 1% of Missouri school districts, according to stats released on Nov. 25 by the state. MRH Director of Communications Ed Rich said in a statement that this year’s Annual Performance Report (APR) not only highlights MRH successes, but also serves as an addition data point to support continuous improvement efforts.
“We are especially proud of the growth we’ve seen from last year to this year. Our students and staff have shown an incredible commitment to learning, and it is because of this partnership that we are able to experience such growth,” Rich said in the statement
2. Also, MRH has received what’s called an “unmodified opinion” on its financial statements for Fiscal Year 2024. Simply put, this designation is the highest level of assurance issued by auditors and indicates that the District’s financial statements are presented fairly in all material respects and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Additionally, the District received an unmodified opinion on its state and federal reporting package, signifying compliance with all applicable regulations.
“We are proud to share this positive news with our community,” said Chris Hoelzer, Chief Financial Officer. “This achievement reflects our commitment to financial transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.”
The audit was conducted by Kerber, Eck, & Braeckel LLP, an independent accounting firm. A copy of the audit report is available for public review on the District’s website under “Finances.”
Thanks, Doug for putting this news in our headlights. MRH School District is a hidden gem in the middle of a state whose ranking in education is near the bottom of the country, thanks to our state legislature’s lack of attention to basic support for public schools and erosion of funding from pro-voucher and “school choice” initiatives. Property owners in Maplewood and Richmond Heights owe a debt of gratitude to the staff and students as well. Their high achievement has made real estate in the area become a hot item. Thanks to everyone who has made this possible, including the residents of the area who continue to vote to support district initiatives. Keep it going!
Strongly agree with all your points!
I will point out that we (MRH) have struggled to stay competitive with neighboring districts in terms of salary schedules for both teachers and staff.
I was concerned to hear two of our current BoE Directors are suggesting we prioritize keeping a higher percentage of our budget in reserve versus providing our incredibly valuable support staff more, alongside planned raises for certified staff.
I hope people will be willing to reach out to our electeds and insist they support the efforts of ALL those who have strived to make our district such a valuable commodity in our community.