The Huntington School District has received an excellent independent financial audit from Cullen & Danowski, LLP, certified public accountants based in Port Jefferson Station.
The firm conducted an extensive examination and review of the district’s financial books, records and internal control procedures. The audit covered the period through the end of the last fiscal year, June 30, 2019.
The firm examined records, interviewed employees and documented the procedures in place. Sample transactions were tested for deficiencies and checked to determine if purchasing was in line with both Huntington School Board policies and the state law.
The audit showed effective segregation of duties among employees and revealed no discrepancies in the district’s books and records.
The audit was accepted by Huntington School Board members during a public meeting on October 21. The complete audit is available on the district’s website at www.hufsd.edu. Annual audits from past years are also posted.
Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Management Services Kathleen Acker and district trustees have been steadfast in their insistence on maintaining tight internal control procedures along with a culture of honesty and professionalism among staff members.
Jill Sanders, a Cullen & Danowski partner, provided a detailed review of a draft version of the audit to the district’s audit committee earlier this fall. The committee consists of Trustees Bill Dwyer and Thomas DiGiacomo and former Trustee Richard McGrath, who is a CPA.
“We have worked diligently as a district to insure that our students are served well and in a fiscally responsible manner,” Mr. Polansky said. “This includes the maintenance of internal controls and transparency in all regards such that parties involved across the district are held accountable for accurate budgeting, fiscal monitoring and reporting. We are particularly proud of our efforts, as reflected in the recent audit report.”
All of the separate funds maintained by the district were subject to the audit. The accounting firm’s findings were presented in two volumes along with a management letter that included no findings. Both volumes and the letter are posted on the district website.
Ms. Sanders has more than 30 years of professional experience in public accounting focusing on local governmental and not-for-profit organizations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Connecticut State College and a P.B.M. in accounting from Kean College. She joined Cullen & Danowski in 1985 and became a licensed CPA in 1986. She a former director of the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County.