Post by Wantagh Parent on Oct 14, 2009 18:32:42 GMT -5
Audit Report covering 7/1/06 through 5/31/08
Summary:
"Internal Controls Over Selected Financial Operations
The Board did not establish adequate controls over the administration of its summer programs. It has been the District’s practice to allow the Foundation and the Parent-Teacher Association Counsel (PTA) to provide services to summer programs for the District without entering into written agreements with either of these entities prior to the performance of services. In 2006-07, the District paid over $225,000 to the Foundation and in 2007-08, that amount increased to over $282,000. The PTA provides services to the summer recreation program, which netted approximately $18,000 in 2006-07, and approximately $39,000 in 2007-08. In addition, District officials have not established comprehensive policies and procedures to ensure employees receive only payments and benefits to which they are entitled. We also found that the Board was provided with incomplete Treasurer’s reports. Finally, the District needs to improve controls over its information technology operations."
Full 36 page report:
www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/schools/2009/wantagh.pdf
District cover letter:
wantaghschools.org/wantagh/cwp/view.asp?A=3&Q=285799
"Wantagh Public Schools Responds to Comptroller's Audit
October 14, 2009
Dear Wantagh Residents,
On October 13, 2009, the Office of the New York State Comptroller issued its audit report on Wantagh Public Schools entitled, “Internal Controls Over Selected Financial Operations.” All school districts in the state of New York are receiving field audits on a rotating basis. Wantagh’s audit examined the period of time from July 1, 2006 through May 31, 2008.
The purpose of the audit is to help the district identify opportunities for improving operations and strategies to reduce costs and safeguard assets. We appreciate and welcome the Comptroller’s suggestions and fully cooperated with the audit team as they provided us with additional measures that will only ensure that our business operations will continue to operate more efficiently and effectively. As always, we believe in the philosophy of continuous improvement and we thank the auditing team for their professionalism and fine work in assisting us in our ongoing effort toward continuous improvement.
The Board of Education and administration of Wantagh Public Schools have a high level of knowledge, expertise and experience in financial planning and management. We are committed to ensuring first-rate financial operations through strong fiscal controls and efficiency to benefit our students and taxpayers. The Comptroller’s report corroborates that many of the actions we have initiated over the past two years have been prudent. In addition, the majority of the recommendations in the report have already been implemented, with the remainder now being addressed in the current school year.
We believe that audits such as this provide us an invaluable opportunity for outside professionals to help us take a fresh look at our business operations to ensure maximum efficiency and efficacy.
If you would like to read the report in its entirety, please log on to
www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/schools/index.htm.
Sincerely,
Lydia Begley, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools"
________________________
Please use this thread for discussion and comments.
Summary:
"Internal Controls Over Selected Financial Operations
The Board did not establish adequate controls over the administration of its summer programs. It has been the District’s practice to allow the Foundation and the Parent-Teacher Association Counsel (PTA) to provide services to summer programs for the District without entering into written agreements with either of these entities prior to the performance of services. In 2006-07, the District paid over $225,000 to the Foundation and in 2007-08, that amount increased to over $282,000. The PTA provides services to the summer recreation program, which netted approximately $18,000 in 2006-07, and approximately $39,000 in 2007-08. In addition, District officials have not established comprehensive policies and procedures to ensure employees receive only payments and benefits to which they are entitled. We also found that the Board was provided with incomplete Treasurer’s reports. Finally, the District needs to improve controls over its information technology operations."
Full 36 page report:
www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/schools/2009/wantagh.pdf
District cover letter:
wantaghschools.org/wantagh/cwp/view.asp?A=3&Q=285799
"Wantagh Public Schools Responds to Comptroller's Audit
October 14, 2009
Dear Wantagh Residents,
On October 13, 2009, the Office of the New York State Comptroller issued its audit report on Wantagh Public Schools entitled, “Internal Controls Over Selected Financial Operations.” All school districts in the state of New York are receiving field audits on a rotating basis. Wantagh’s audit examined the period of time from July 1, 2006 through May 31, 2008.
The purpose of the audit is to help the district identify opportunities for improving operations and strategies to reduce costs and safeguard assets. We appreciate and welcome the Comptroller’s suggestions and fully cooperated with the audit team as they provided us with additional measures that will only ensure that our business operations will continue to operate more efficiently and effectively. As always, we believe in the philosophy of continuous improvement and we thank the auditing team for their professionalism and fine work in assisting us in our ongoing effort toward continuous improvement.
The Board of Education and administration of Wantagh Public Schools have a high level of knowledge, expertise and experience in financial planning and management. We are committed to ensuring first-rate financial operations through strong fiscal controls and efficiency to benefit our students and taxpayers. The Comptroller’s report corroborates that many of the actions we have initiated over the past two years have been prudent. In addition, the majority of the recommendations in the report have already been implemented, with the remainder now being addressed in the current school year.
We believe that audits such as this provide us an invaluable opportunity for outside professionals to help us take a fresh look at our business operations to ensure maximum efficiency and efficacy.
If you would like to read the report in its entirety, please log on to
www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/schools/index.htm.
Sincerely,
Lydia Begley, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools"
________________________
Please use this thread for discussion and comments.