Mineola School District Superintendent of School Dr. Larry Licopoli delivered his annual state-of-the-district address at Thursday's meeting of the Mineola Board of Education. In the address, Dr. Licopoli said that the district's house is in order when it comes to finances and there are no excuses for not meeting quality operational of academic performance.

When it comes to finances, Dr. Licopoli pointed out that the district has eliminated the $1.2 million deficit it had at the end of the 2004-2005 fiscal year and turned it into a positive $868,936 undesignated fund balance at the end of the 2005-2006 fiscal year.

Dr. Licopoli said the old way of doing things is now over and with the recommendations from the forensic audit of the Capital and Microband accounts, the internal control practices are effective.

In the address, Dr. Licopoli referred to a $680,000 accounting deficit in the Capital account. The independent audit noted that district staff had discovered that additional capital upgrades linked to the high school library and main office projects with a cost of $680,000 were not properly accounted for. According to Dr. Licopoli, the monies transferred from the Microband account to the General Fund covered these expenses. However, the transfer created a deficit in the Capital Fund.

Among the superintendent's recommendations to the board was setting a referendum for May 15 along with the budget vote to seek public approval of a non-tax impact transfer of monies to balance the accounting in the Capital Account. As a result of the transfer, if approved by the public, the fund balance will be $680,000 less but the Capital Account will be balanced. The district also will receive an additional $133,000 in state aid paid to the district over 15 years.

Among some of the superintendent's recommendations in the area of finance and operations is that the internal auditor develop an Internal Control Handbook for the board and finance and operations office detailing all procedures and checks and balances ensuring proper maintenance of all business operations. Dr. Licopoli also called for a collaboration with the labor unions to "negotiate with mutual interests in mind rather than traditional positional labor and management proposals."

The district has several contracts due to expire on June 30 such as the contracts between the board of education and the Mineola Teachers Association, Mineola Teachers Association Teacher Assistants, Mineola Teacher Aide Association and Mineola Clerical/Secretarial Employees Association. The contract between the board and the Mineola Custodial Association, including bus drivers, had expired in June 2006. Those employees have been working under the previous agreement.

In the area of academics and student program, Dr. Licopoli made several recommendations to the board such as assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction Sherri Goffman leading principals and teachers in coordinating a plan to improve and expand reading skills, fully implementing the new district's new math program, Everyday Mathematics, and developing a student handbook and course selection guide that clearly describes the choices and opportunities that students have starting in fifth grade.

Said Dr. Licopoli in conclusion, "Our students are performing at high rates of achievement and participating in more extracurricular and performing arts programs today than every before."

Another area of interest is the board of education seeking Request for Proposals (RFP) due Feb. 12 for firms to conduct a grade configuration study. The parameters for the study include a building utilization study, grade configuration option and potential cost savings. The final report is due to the board of education and the public by January 2008 and could be a precursor to closing a school and reconfiguring grades.