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Votes at a glance: South Huntington board approves audit, contracts, trips, grants and personnel
Summary
At its January meeting, the South Huntington board approved the district audit and financial statements, accepted a $45,000 grant, awarded a traffic/safety study contract, denied a student appeal, approved multiple special education agreements and field trips, and adopted annual internal audit items.
The South Huntington Union Free School District Board of Education took multiple formal actions at its meeting. Key outcomes and brief details are listed below.
- Student disciplinary appeal — The board voted to deny the appeal and sustain the suspension (discussed in executive session earlier in the day). Outcome: appeal denied (motion carried). No roll‑call recorded in transcript.
- Contract award: traffic and safety study (RFP scheduled 2509) — The board approved awarding the traffic and safety study to R&M Engineering of Huntington after review of the single proposal; staff said a report was expected around mid‑February. Outcome: approved (consent agenda item).
- Audit and financials — External auditors R.S. Abrams presented the year‑end financial statements for the period ending June 30, 2024 and issued unmodified ("clean") opinions on the district financial statements and extraclassroom activity fund. The board accepted the audit and approved the annual financial statements and publication of the general fund balance. The auditors reported an unassigned general fund balance of about $8,700,000 (about 4% of next year’s budget), the maximum allowable under New York real property tax law. Outcome: accepted/unanimous.
- Internal audit / risk assessment — The board approved the annual risk assessment, purchasing cycle audit and corrective action plan performed by the district’s internal auditor (Niraki). The auditor reported only minor issues; corrective items are in progress or completed. Outcome: approved.
- Grant acceptance — The board approved acceptance of $45,000 from the Italian American Committee on Education, to be recorded as general fund revenue to retroactively cover Italian teacher salaries and curricular programs for prior years. Outcome: approved.
- Confidential personnel resolution — The board approved an extension of probation discussed in executive session. Outcome: approved.
- Field trips — The board approved an overnight international field trip to Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice; 16 students, 2 chaperones; Feb. 15–23) for AP European and AP Art History students, and approved multiple out‑of‑state winter guard trips (23 students, 3 chaperones to New Jersey and Pennsylvania). Outcome: approved.
- Special education service contracts — The board approved district‑of‑residence agreements placing South Huntington students in nonpublic schools located in other districts (Half Hollow Hills, West Islip, Oyster Bay East Norwich) for 2024–25 special education services; these agreements cover the district’s payment/arrangements for services to resident students placed in those schools. Outcome: approved (individual agreements recorded on consent agenda).
- Confidentiality and data security agreements — The board approved two data security/confidentiality agreements to remain compliant with education data privacy requirements. Outcome: approved.
- Travel and conferences — The board approved superintendent, trustees and cabinet attendance at regional and state conferences, including the Nassau‑Suffolk joint conference and an annual school law conference. Outcome: approved.
- Personnel and postings — The board approved multiple personnel schedules and postings listed in the meeting materials. Outcome: approved.
Ending: District leaders and the board said they will follow up on items requiring action (audit corrective steps, traffic study timeline, winter diagnostic results and regionalization planning).
