Comptroller to Start Audit This Week

Process Could Take Three to Nine Months

By Joe Rizza

The New York State Comptroller's Office will begin its audit of the Mineola School District with an initial meeting that is scheduled with district officials including Mineola Board of Education President Donna Strein on Thursday, Sept. 29. However, it could be three to nine months before a report is issued.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lorenzo Licopoli, who had written a letter to the comptroller's office requesting an audit only to find out the office already planned on auditing the district this school year, said he is looking forward to the audit.

Dr. Licopoli believes that the district will get a favorable audit since the district has put into place some internal control procedures that should help safeguard the school district's handling of funds.

The district also hired the audit firm of Callaghan Nawrocki to conduct the district's outside audits. The firm also has begun conducting a forensic audit of the district.

Since the arrest and indictment of the former assistant superintendent for business and operations, the public's trust in the school district has suffered. However, Dr. Licopoli hopes the comptroller's audit will help bring closure to the instance of the alleged misuse of school district funds.

Board Approves Appointments

The board approved appointments for the following district committees:

Financial Planning Committee - Formed to improve public confidence in school system; study cost per student vs. tax per student, study low to average to high cost per student districts in order to establish a reference point in decision making and understanding what the Mineola School District has; study the development of a five-year financial plan; what the impact is of another contingency budget.

Laura Adams, RoseAnn Buglione, Bruce Bermester, Matt DeLuca, Patrice Dobies, Michael Frank, Warren Leggiere, Jay Minsky, Mike Murphy, Sachin Marvekar, Amy Nuzzolese, Christopher O'Leary, Teresa Richards, Douglas Schumacher, Paul Sommer and Susan Spevak.

Zero-Based Budgeting Committee - Formed to give comprehensive detailed analysis of the district budget; answer the question of what drives the cost per student; build a ground-up budget; report to finance committee and board of education.

Bryan Bradley, Kathleen Darmstadt, Milton Espinosa, Maureen Cromwell, William Hornberger, Linda Landy, Patrick Martorella, Frank Oliveri and Douglas Schumacher.

Communications Bridging Committee - Formed to improve perceptions of school district/school in community based on evidence; reduce misperceptions; plan for school quality and communications to discover what people want and expect from school district; indicate school quality and assessment.

Phyllis Badinger, Denise Collins, Matt DeLuca, Janet Dillon, Debbie Donovan, Cathy Feltman, Alexandra Keblish, Linda Landy, Patricia Navarra, Lisa Sandler, Michele Scioppo and Russell Sutherland.

Capital Planning Committee - Formed to revise and propose a new five-year plan without a referendum; develop a parallel plan factoring in a possible small referendum; advise the board by building a plan that defines increased revenue money with possible debt service budget.

Rose Day, David Ilchert, Wilbur Simon and Mark Venus.

Chamber Gives Check for Play

Phil Fortuna of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce presented a check for $200 on behalf of the chamber for the Mineola High School fall play. The play was part of the budget cuts but will go on thanks to generous donations. The play will be Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.