The Northampton Area School District administration received high marks in its recent audit report at the board's Feb. 10 meeting.

"We did not find any problems with internal controls," William H. Gorman, Gorman & Associates, PC, said in presenting the 2012-13 audit report to the school board.

Gorman said he found no deficiencies and no problems with federal grants administering.

"Once again, you have a clean opinion," Gorman said, adding, "I do praise the superintendent, the assistant superintendent and the business manager."

Gorman detailed changes in reporting and documentation procedures mandated by the Government Accountability Office, Washington, D.C.

Gorman said the changes are intended to make the reading and understanding of audit reports, including the 133-page NASD Audit Report, "more user-friendly" and "to know the true cost of government."

The NASD school board, with one member absent, accepted the audit report by an 8-0 roll call vote.

In other business, board members accepted by an 8-0 voice vote the resignation of six teachers who are retiring:

Mark Appleby, gifted support teacher, for the purpose of superannuated retirement, effective June 9 or the last teacher day of the 2013-14 school year;

Tammie Partridge, art teacher, for the purpose of retirement, effective June 9 or the last teacher day of the 2013-14 school year;

Debra Ward, mathematics teacher, for the purpose of superannuated retirement, effective June 9 or the last teacher day of the 2013-14 school year;

Sally Will-Weber, reading specialist, for the purpose of superannuated retirement, effective June 9 or the last teacher day of the 2013-14 school year;

Marilyn Simmons, technology teacher and head teacher, for the purpose of superannuated retirement, effective June 9 or the last teacher day of the 2013-14 school year; and

Gary Pierzga, sixth grade elementary teacher and student council advisor, for the purpose of retirement, effective June 9 or the last teacher day of the 2013-14 school year.

The board also approved by an 8-0 voice vote the resignation of Kelly Backenstoe as team leader, effective at the end of the 2013-14 school year; Robin Leisher as Drama Club advisor, effective Jan. 27; Kelly Miller as assistant swimming coach, effective Jan. 27, and Jamie Radcliffe as assistant field hockey coach, effective Feb. 4.

School board members also approved by an 8-0 voice vote additions and deletions to the substitute listing for the 2013-14 school year and additions to the district volunteer master listing for the 2013-14 school year including Terry Daubert, Kelly Miller and Jamie Radcliffe, all athletic.

School board members also approved by an 8-0 roll call vote:

The hiring of Cullen Mentzell, assistant boys and girls swimming coach at 80 percent of 75 percent of the assistant coach stipend, for a total pro-rated compensation of $975.93, no benefits, pursuant to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between NASD and NAEA effective for the 2013-14 school year;

The attendance of Anita Mateyak, John LaBarre and 15 FBLA students to compete in the FBLA State Competition and Leadership Conference April 6-9 in Hershey. The cost to the district will not exceed $2,629. Costs to the district are included in the board-approved 2013-14 curriculum budget;

The attendance of NASD Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik at the 2014 CIU-20 Superintendent Winter Meeting Feb. 19 and 20 at the Hilton Hotel, Harrisburg, at a cost not to exceed $350 and Mary Louise Mason, cafeteria monitor at Northampton Area High School, effective Feb. 11. Her rate of pay is $10.77 per hour, no benefits, in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement between NASD and ESPA;

Annual review of the Fee Schedule for Policy 707-Use of School Buildings, Facilities and Equipment, and the annual review of Policy 826-Record Retention and the Retention Schedule.

A one-year extension was also approved until May 31, 2017, of a contract between Hess Corp. and NASD to authorize the school board president and secretary to sign the contract on behalf of the district and authorize NASD Director of Operations Robert J. Yanders to sign attachments that authorize Hess and its agents and the district's utility provider to access information and facilities for purposes of contract implementation.

The energy demand response system has saved NASD $39,000 from June 1, 2013 until the time of the vote. A savings of up to $200,000 could be realized.

"It's another way that the district is trying to reduce costs," Kovalchik said.

The board also approved budget transfers, bills for payment and expulsion hearing waivers for high school student number 2013-10, 2013-11 and 2013-12.