The World Learner School

FY18 Financial Performance Evaluation

Contract Term: July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2020

Overview
The Financial Performance Evaluations is conducted to determine whether the school is compliant
with legal requirements, the charter contract, and generally accepted principles of financial
oversight and management, as well as to assess the financial health and viability of the school. In
completing the evaluation, ACNW has reviewed the school's financial audit, board meeting minutes,
monthly financials, school policies, state reports, and other relevant documents. In addition, the
evaluation may incorporate information learned through site visits, attendance at board meetings,
and interviews or discussions with key individuals at the school including the director, board chair,
treasurer, and financial service provider. No one measure identifies the full picture of a school’s
financial situation. The measures are to be used together to indicate the total financial picture of the
school.

The complete financial performance framework can be found at

http://auduboncharterschools.org/what-we-do/.

Summary Discussion
World Learner School demonstrated continued strong financial performance in FY18. The school
met standard on all measures of financial management, short-term financial health, and long-term
sustainability. The school’s FY18 audit was free of any findings and the school earned the MDE
School Finance Award for FY17 reporting.

The school’s fund balance percentage is very strong at 42.1% or over $900,000 at FY18 year-end,
with an expected small net surplus in FY19. The school has the opportunity to consider how to
strategically invest its fund balance to ensure sustainable strong outcomes for students.

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 Summary of Financial Performance

Financial Statements – Three-year Summary

2016 2017 2018
Balance Sheet
Cash $805,538 $873,346 $903,228
Current Assets $1,121,018 $1,125,133 $1,143,765
Non-Current Assets $58,056 $140,675 $144,346
Total Assets $1,179,074 $1,265,808 $1,288,111
Current Liabilities $132,840 $139,366 $149,080
Non-Current Liabilities $0 $0 $0
Total Liabilities $132,840 $139,366 $149,080
Net Assets $1,046,234 $1,126,442 $1,139,031

Income Statement (All Funds)

Total Revenue $2,265,853 $2,399,946 $2,403,559
Total Expenditures $2,174,480 $2,402,355 $2,394,643
Transfer to Building Company $0 $0 $0
Surplus (Deficit) $91,373 -$2,409 $8,916
Total Fund Balance $988,178 $985,769 $994,685
Enrollment Information – Pupil Units (P.U.)
Budgeted Enrollment 216.47 220.40 224.00
Actual Enrollment 219.82 217.66 226.85
Total ADM 210.79 207.40 216.80

Financial Performance Evaluation –Summary

Management Indicators 2016 2017 2018
Budgeting Meets Meets Meets
Financial Policies and Practices Meets Meets Meets
Financial Reporting Meets Meets Meets
Financial Audit Meets Meets Meets
Near-Term Indicators
Current Ratio 8.44 8.07 7.67
Days Cash on Hand 143 137 140
Enrollment Variance 101.5% 98.8% 101.3%
Sustainability Indicators
Fund Balance Percentage 40.4% 40.6% 42.1%
Total Margin/Aggregated Three-Year Total Margin 4.0%/1.4% -0.1%/0.8% 0.4%/1.4%
Debt to Asset Ratio 0.11 0.11 0.12

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Financial Performance Indicator 1: Financial Management

1.1 Budgeting: Does the school effectively establish and monitor budgets?

Rating:
Meets Standard

Summary Analysis:
The board approved the FY18 and FY19 budgets prior to the start of the respective fiscal years. The
board approved the FY18 budget in early June 2017 and it was revised in June 2018. Minutes
demonstrate board engagement with the FY18 budget development process prior to approval of an
updated budget in June 2017. The board has an active finance committee that meets monthly. The
board reviews and approves quality financial statements monthly, and makes mid-year budget
revisions as needed. Budget to actual variances in FY18 were reasonable. The school will be
changing financial service providers at the end of FY19 and should ensure its strong budgeting and
monitoring practices are sustained through the transition.

1.2 Financial Policies and Practices: Does the school implement appropriate financial
policies and practices?

Rating:
Meets Standard

Summary Analysis:
The school has appropriate policies in place and appears to have strong internal controls. Review of
check registers raises no concerns about the appropriate use of public funds.

1.3 Financial Reporting: Did the school complete timely and accurate financial reporting?

Rating:
Meets Standard

Summary Analysis:
The school received the MDE School Finance Award for FY17 reporting, which indicates timely and
accurate reporting to MDE. Information on FY18 reporting hasn’t been released yet. The school’s
financial submissions to ACNW via Epicenter were timely and accurate.

1.4 Financial Audit: Did the school receive an unqualified/unmodified audit opinion absent
any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses?

Rating:
Meets Standard

Summary Analysis:
The school’s FY18 annual audit included an unqualified (“clean”) opinion with no findings and no
expression of concerns about the school’s financial operations.

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Financial Performance Indicator 2: Near Team Financial Health

2.1 Current Ratio: Does the school have enough current assets to pay off its current
liabilities?

Calculation:
Current Ratio = Current Assets divided by Current Liabilities

Rating:
Meets Standard:
Current Ratio is greater than or equal to 1.1, OR Current Ratio is between 1.0 and 1.1 and one-
year trend is positive (current year ratio is higher than last year’s).
Does Not Meet Standard:
Current Ratio is between 0.9 and 1.0 or equals 1.0, OR Current Ratio is between 1.0 and 1.1 and
one-year trend is negative.
Falls Far Below Standard:
Current Ratio is less than or equal to 0.9.

Summary Analysis:
The school’s current ratio has remained quite strong over the past five years; in FY18, it was 7.67.
This rate remains well above the standard and indicates that the school is well positioned to meet
current obligations.

2.2 Days Cash: Does the school have sufficient cash on hand to fund operations?

Calculation:
Days Cash = Cash divided by (Total Expenses/365)

Average of December 31 and June 30 of the fiscal year.

Rating:
Meets Standard:
Average days cash is 60 or higher; or
Average days cash is between 30 and 60 days and one-year trend is positive.
Does Not Meet Standard:
Average days cash is between 15 and 30 days; or
Average days cash is between 30 and 60 days and one-year trend is negative.
Falls Far Below Standard:
Average days cash is less than 15 days cash.

Summary Analysis:
The school’s days cash on hand was very strong at 140 days in FY18, and this level remains well
above the standard and limits the need for any short-term borrowing.

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2.3 Enrollment Variance: Does the school meet enrollment projections?

Calculation:
Enrollment Variance = Actual Enrollment divided by Projected Enrollment

Rating:
Meets Standard:
Enrollment Variance exceeds 95%.
Does Not Meet Standard:
Enrollment Variance is between 85% and 95%.
Falls Far Below Standard:
Enrollment Variance is less than 85%.

Summary Analysis:
The school’s enrollment variance has remained strong over the past four years; in FY18, it was
101.3%, meaning actual enrollment was 1.3% over projections. The school continues to effectively
project enrollment levels.

Financial Performance Indicator 3: Financial Sustainability

3.1 Fund Balance Percentage: Does the school have sufficient reserves on hand to serve as a
cushion for unexpected situations or to help fuel growth or investment in new programs?

Calculation:
Fund Balance Percentage = General Fund Balance divided by Total General Fund Annual
Expenditure

Rating:
Meets Standard:
Fund Balance Percentage is greater than or equal to 20.0%.
Does Not Meet Standard:
Fund Balance Percentage is between 10.0-19.9%.
Falls Far Below Standard:
Fund Balance Percentage is less than 10.0%.

Summary Analysis:
The school’s fund balance percentage remained very strong at 42.1% or over $900,000 at FY18
year-end. The fund balance continues to meet standard. The school has the opportunity to consider
how to strategically invest its fund balance to ensure sustainable strong outcomes for students.

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3.2 Total Margin and Aggregated Three-Year Total Margin: Does the school operate with an
annual surplus or has the school needed to deplete its fund balance to operate?

Calculation:
Total Margin = Most recent year Surplus (or Deficit) divided by Total Revenue

Aggregated Three-Year Total Margin = Total Three-Year Surplus (or Deficit) divided by Total
Three-Year Revenue

Rating:
Meets Standard:
Aggregated Three-Year Total Margin is positive and the most recent year Total Margin is
positive; or
Aggregated Three-Year Total Margin is greater than -1.5%, the trend is positive for the last two
years, and the most recent year Total Margin is positive; or
Aggregated Three-Year Total Margin is greater than -1.5%, the fund balance Meets Standard, and
the school has executed a planned spending of its fund balance to invest in program needs.
Does Not Meet Standard:
Aggregated Three-Year Total Margin is greater than -1.5%, but trend does not Meet Standard.
Falls Far Below Standard:
Aggregated Three-Year Total Margin is less than or equal to -1.5%; or
The most recent year Total Margin is less than -10.0%.

Summary Analysis:
The school had a total margin for FY18 of 0.4%, an improvement from -0.1%in FY17, and a three-
year total margin that was positive at 1.4%. This meets the standard for this measure.

3.3 Debt to Asset Ratio: Does the school have sufficient resources to manage its debt?

Calculation:
Debt to Asset Ratio = Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets

Rating:
Meets Standard:
Debt to Asset Ratio is less than 0.5.
Does Not Meet Standard:
Debt to Asset Ratio is between 0.5 and 1.0.
Falls Far Below Standard:
Debt to Asset Ratio is greater than 1.0.

Summary Analysis:
The school’s debt to asset ratio has remained strong and consistent over the last five years and was
0.12 at FY18 year-end. This does not include any long-term liabilities related to TRA and PERA or
any debt related to the affiliated building company. The school has no other long-term debt.

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