FORESTVILLE - A recent financial audit at the Forestville Central School has been completed and the news for the district is good.
Vice President of R.A. Mercer and Co. P.A. Denise Veloski visited the board of education at a recent meeting to deliver the results of the audit. She described a "very good, nice, clean report," with "no weaknesses and no deficiencies" revealed in the school system.
Veloski said the fiscal strength of the school is good, despite facing increases in retirement and health care costs for employees and increased transportation costs due to rising fuel prices.
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OBSERVER Photo by Shirley Pulawski
Vice President of R.A. Mercer and Co. P.A. Denise Veloski presented the results of the latest financial audit to the Forestville Board of Education at a recent meeting.
A few minor issues were found, according to Veloski, but at least one was resolved shortly after the audit process began. "An individual who was doing the (cash) deposits was also doing the bank reconciliation, and you can't have that," in order to maintain checks and balances against potential fraud, she told the board. She said the issue was resolved shortly after the audit began but said it was important to note.
Another issue can be resolved by changing the way certain money is handled. Veloski explained cash disbursements made with donations used for the school's Make a Difference Day were not in compliance with regulations. "Technically, schools aren't allowed to use donations" for events like Make a Difference Day, she told the board, although she said it may be less of an issue because "the public knows what the donations are for," and "the school actually won a state award for Make a Difference Day," which may suggest state officials aren't concerned with the source of the transactions. However, she said the issue can be resolved by putting the money into the parent-teacher group or student government, and by paying for expenditures through either of those groups.
School Board President Sylvester Cleary said, "All in all, it's a good report," and said he was pleased with the work conducted by Veloski's firm.
The full text of the audit will eventually be available through the school district website.
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