Lynbrook school audit raises issues

An audit released Dec. 29 by the state comptroller’s office has revealed that the Lynbrook school district appointed an independent contractor as its treasurer, even though state laws prohibits independent contractors from being school officials.

The audit, which examined the district’s operations from July 1, 2007, to Feb. 28, 2009, also cited the district for paying a total of $119,000 in health insurance buyouts over two years to 33 employees who opted out of family coverage but still had individual coverage. Emily DeSantis, a spokeswoman for the comptroller’s office, explained that the district’s collective bargaining agreement allows employees to choose to forgo family coverage and receive a cash payment instead, but they cannot do so if they retain their individual coverage.

Lynbrook schools Superintendent Dr. Santo Barbarino noted that the audit did not find any irregularities or inaccuracies, just procedural problems. “They didn’t find any hidden nickels, plush reserves or anything like that,” Barbarino said. “The money they looked at was all accounted for. No one is walking away with $100,000 stashed in their back pocket.”

Barbarino explained that the district put out a joint request for proposals with two other school districts for a treasurer, with the intent of hiring a well-qualified candidate at a low cost. The treasurer the district hired, Linda Gillespie, was not put on the district’s payroll, Barbarino said, which helped save the district money. “By hiring an independent contractor, she does get a stipend for that service, but does not get any benefits,” Barbarino said. “We do our best to trim the costs to our taxpayers.”

Gillespie earned $21,725 for 18 months of service. According to the audit, “the treasurer is a school officer and, as such, has certain duties and responsibilities which involve exercising judgment or discretion. Since the treasurer is a school officer, their responsibilities cannot be delegated to an independent officer.”