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Board authorizes RFP for forensic audit after narrow 5-4 vote
Summary
The Newburgh Board of Education voted 5–4 on Jan. 28 to authorize the board clerk to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for a forensic audit; trustees debated overlap with recent audits and the scope of the RFP.
The Newburgh Board of Education voted 5–4 on Jan. 28 to authorize the board clerk to issue a request for proposals for a forensic audit, a measure that drew questions from trustees about scope, duplication with recent audits and costs.
Board President Christine Bello presented the item as a continuation of work that began at earlier meetings; the motion on the floor authorized the clerk to issue the RFP. Trustee Mackenzie Boucher, who served on the audit and finance committee, said parts of the proposed scope matched recent internal and external audits and urged the board to coordinate to avoid duplication.
Trustee John Bergarelli asked the president to enumerate the audit areas. Board members who opposed the authorization argued the board should first use the district’s internal audit process or ask the external auditor to expand its scope rather than immediately issue an RFP. Trustee Onyx Peterson, the deputy superintendent, told the board certain items had already been reviewed by auditors at prior committee meetings.
The roll call on agenda item 6.3 recorded the following responses: Miss Thomasina Bello: Yes; Miss Mackenzie Boucher: Yes; Miss Victoria Boucher: Yes; Mr. Bergarelli: No; Mr. DeRay: No; Mr. Howard: No; Ms. Politti: No; Mr. Stewart: Yes; Ms. Christine Bello: Yes. The motion passed 5–4.
Trustees discussed which emphases might be added to an auditor’s scope. Trustee John Bugarelli asked the president to “go through all these areas and explain why we need a forensic audit for each one,” noting the public wanted clarity about scope and the risk of overlapping work with internal auditors.
Board members said the audit and finance committee will review how internal audit resources and the external auditor’s work can best be used alongside any forensic engagement. The board did not schedule a specific vendor selection; the RFP authorization was limited to issuing the request for proposals.
Ending: The board approved the RFP authorization narrowly. Committee and staff follow-up will determine which of the requested topics, if any, are included in the final forensic-audit scope and whether internal audit resources will be used first.
