The New York State Comptroller's office recently completed an audit, which examined the internal controls of the Jericho School District over cash receipts and disbursements, administrative expenses, claims processing and vehicle fuel inventories for the period of July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2006.

The audit found "several weaknesses in district controls over cash receipts and disbursements," according to the report, but found no misuse of funds.

In regard to the weaknesses in district controls, the report states, "The treasurer performs incompatible duties involving the key financial functions of authorization of transactions, custody of assets and recordkeeping. When these duties are not segregated, there is a significant risk that errors or misuse of funds could occur and not be detected."

"The comptroller's office found no fraud and made suggestions and recommendations," said Superintendent of Schools Hank Grishman. "We have taken every recommendation seriously and implemented them. We made most of the policy changes before the written report was even released."

The audit analyzed a two-year period ending in 2006. School Board president Barbara Krieger explained that since 2006, many recommendations that were made by the comptroller's office had already been put in place by the district, but were not reflected in the report.

The audit also addresses bank reconciliations. "The reconciliation of bank balances to general ledger cash balances is essential to ensure that district records reflect correct cash balances and that cash is safeguarded... The district's bank reconciliations were prepared by clerks in the business office and given to the treasurer for review," the audit states.

According to Joan Colvin, assistant superintendent of business affairs, "the bank reconciliations were not done in compliance with the auditors' format and they will now be done in their format."

Grishman explained that any paperwork the auditors requested, the district had. "We produced anything that was requested on demand and we had all of the paperwork," he said. "Sometimes it just wasn't in the format they were looking for. We were not cited for not having documentation or inappropriate expenditures."

Roy Pam, a longtime Jericho resident who attends all of the school board meetings, said he reviewed the audit and didn't find any red flags. "I didn't see anything egregious in the audit," said Pam. "The auditors were there for six months and they did find some things, but what they found you would see in any business. There is always room for improvement and that is what the district should take away from this audit."

The September 24 school board meeting will allow residents to ask the board any questions in regard to the comptroller's audit. Also, questions can be emailed to BOE@Jerichoschools.org.