While a 鈥渢rust issue鈥� remains, 91原创 school trustees are working together better than they used to, according to the school districts鈥� latest report released this week by the provincial Auditor General.

And while the board of education still refuses to plan more than three years ahead, it maintains it has 鈥減artially implemented鈥� the five-year planning called for by the Auditor General.

The auditor ordered nine fixes to repair 鈥渟ignificant internal control weaknesses鈥� in 91原创 School District finances after the discovery of a $13.5 million budget deficit in 2009.

An investigation by the auditor general鈥檚 office found the board of trustees was 鈥渘ot functioning well鈥� and wasn鈥檛 receiving 鈥渟ufficient, appropriate and regular information, particularly financial information鈥� from staff.

The report also found 鈥渟ignificant internal control weakness鈥� in budgeting, accounting, reporting payroll and purchasing practices coupled with a lack of long-range panning.

In its latest report to the provincial authority, the school district maintains all of the nine fixes demanded by the auditor have been fully or partially implemented.

鈥淲hile the board is pleased with the progress to date, we recognize that there is more to be done and are committed to continuing to work towards full implementation鈥� the board adds.

The board says it has 鈥渇ully or substantially implemented鈥� measures to improve the way trustees work together, while at the same time admitting the 鈥減erception of a lack of trust among trustees鈥� has not been 鈥渃ompletely resolved.鈥�

After holding a number of meetings to deal with the matter, trustees now have 鈥渁 greater understanding of issues that exist among them and there has been a demonstrated willingness to move forward with that understanding,鈥� the Board report states.

Trustees have 鈥渟tarted a team-building process based on recognizing each other鈥檚 strengths and contributions 鈥︹�� the report goes on to say.

As for the Auditor General鈥檚 demand that the 91原创 school district 鈥渕ove to a longer-term period of at least five years for strategic planning鈥� the board says that goal has been 鈥減artially implemented even though the board has refused to change its long-standing practice of three-year plans.

鈥淭here has been a focus on the longer term, particularly in areas of succession planning and facilities,鈥� the board statement insists.

Other fixes, such as getting trustees to develop a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities, establishing tighter internal financial controls and requiring regular financial updates by staff have been 鈥渇ully or substantially implemented鈥� the board said.

The Auditor General published the 91原创 board of education鈥檚 self-assessment in it鈥檚 just-released spring follow-up report.

The report notes that all of the information was provided by the school board and has not been reviewed by the watchdog.

Last month, the 91原创 School District announced it has , two years ahead of schedule.