The annual reorganization meeting of the board of education was held on July 7. As the board entered the room and took their seats there was a call to order by District Clerk, Carol Catanzaro. The clerk then administered the oath of office to newly elected board member, Pat Aitken, while her family proudly looked on. The clerk then called for the elections of president and vice-president, and following the elections Catanzaro swore in Cindy Cardinal as board president and Aline Khatchadourian as vice-president.

Interim Superintendent for Business, Austin Gavin, was thanked for his, and his departments, hard work on the budget. Lawrence Reich of Ingerman Smith, LLP, legal council to the district, informed the community that the district is engaged in litigation concerning the transportation contracts. He said Huntington Coach, who was awarded the contract, was the lowest responsible bidder and that Baumann & Sons Buses, Inc. had filed a suit contending the transportation contract had been improperly awarded because they had been the lowest bidder for summer transportation. Reich said Baumann bid $4 million higher for the home to school portion of the bid. Huntington Coach reduced the aggregate bid to three parts--home, field trips, and summer--and the lawyer said it is permissible to award aggregate bids when it is in the best financial interest of the district.

On June 30 Justice McCarty ruled in favor of Baumann and Reich said the judge's decision is totally inconsistent with a prior court of appeals case, and is wrong. Council will file a notice of appeal and it will stay the decision. Cindy Cardinal said the board was astonished by Justice McCarty's decision.

The board then speedily approved myriad appointments, firms to do business with, policies, etc. One could not help but note how efficient, smooth and organized the meeting was.

What a difference from last year's somber, befuddled reorganization meeting. Last year austerity cast a shadow over the proceedings, as did the misuse of millions in the Roslyn School District. Summer Center was in jeopardy, and it was frustrating for the newly configured board to try to make budget decisions with a business office seemingly incapable of providing information needed to make those decisions. A quote about last year's reorganization meeting in the July 8, 2004 Manhasset Press : "Clarification of financial policies was requested so often, it was decided a review of policies was appropriate. An overview was lacking, it was said, making it necessary to examine the entire financial policy workings. The repetitive questions-whether policy existed, was in writing, was followed, made 'a change here and there' less effective, it was said, and made an examination of the whole essential." And, exacerbating the problem was a mutinous community voting down the budget twice, voting for change.

And change they got. The board hired a new outside accounting firm and a new auditing firm (well before other districts had to scramble to replace the same firm after it became defunct due to shoddy business practices in Roslyn and elsewhere). The board also hired an interim superintendent, interim business official to run the business office, new accountant, outsourced busing and introduced site based budgeting -all contributing to a passed budget the first time around. As a result of all the changes, the two reorganization meetings were from different planets.

During public comment John Frangos said he had been a disgruntled taxpayer and was now happy with the budget, and since he complained in the past he would now like to congratulate the group for their efforts. He said when he saw Dr. Austin Gavin's salary ($900/day) at first he was surprised but decided he was worth it. (When the meeting was over around 9:30 p.m. the board retreated into executive session. Only three diehard residents remained representing the community: Mr. Early, Mr. Garges and Mr. Frangos.)

Following public comment Eileen Cuneo, Tower Foundation, presented a check for use by the two elementary schools. Cardinal thanked The Tower for the check and "for being so supportive of the schools, for picking up the ball during austerity."

Cardinal said on June 29 the board had a preliminary meeting with the state audit committee which had questions the board is now responding to. She did say they had been asked to keep matters confidential. The board is required to make a formal reply within 30 days. When Albany has concluded the audit and it has become a public document it can be viewed on www.osc.state.ny.us/local <http://www.osc.state.ny.us/local> gov. The audit of the Roslyn School District is at that site.

As stated above, the district's policies were reviewed and revamped over the course of the year making this reorganization meeting a far cry from the preceding year. It is appropriate at this time to note the changes in policy that have occurred. Look for an ongoing examination of district policy in the weeks to come.