Baldwin board hears three audit reports, approves routine business and program expansions

The Baldwin Union Free School District Board of Education on Oct. 8 heard three audit presentations that reported minimal findings and overall strong controls, approved a package of routine business items and donations, and received updates on expanded dual-enrollment options for high school seniors and a superintendent-led student advisory council.

The claims auditor, Erin Teta of Serenity & Associates, told the board she reviews every vendor disbursement before payment and found a low incidence of exceptions. "Last quarter, we reviewed a total of 1,770 claims, and we only had 1 finding with, like, a 0.007% incident rate," Teta said, later summarizing the annual review: "Out of 6,000 claims reviewed over the entire year, there were only 5 issues," and none were judged inappropriate. Teta thanked the district business office for collaboration.

Christopher Reynolds, a partner at Cullen & Danowski, delivered the external audit and told the board the firm issued an unmodified ("clean") opinion on the district's financial statements. "You have a clean opinion," Reynolds said, and added that the firm proposed four journal entries — a relatively small number compared with some audits — and had no difficulties during the audit. He described a formatting change in reporting for nonmajor governmental funds and noted that the district adopted the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) change on compensated absences for the year.

Internal auditors Lauren Agunzo and Kyle Zaharados of Nawrocki & Smith reviewed internal controls, focusing this year on safety and security (building plans, drills, access systems, incident reporting) and other business processes. They reported the district had no areas rated high risk out of 92 sub-processes reviewed: "We had 9 areas rated as moderate and 82 areas rated as low risk," Agunzo said, and noted that corrective actions for the safety cycle were already in process.

Why it matters: clean external and claims opinions and a low internal risk profile signal that auditors found the district's financial reporting and internal controls largely effective. The board heard the reports in one agenda block and did not direct additional formal actions based on the audit findings at this meeting.

Board business and votes

The board approved a range of routine and consent items by voice vote, with motions moved and seconded and no recorded opposition in the minutes. Items approved included acceptance of the treasurer's report for August 2025; minutes for meetings on Sept. 10 and Sept. 25, 2025; the personnel (personal actions) report dated Oct. 8, 2025; Committee on Special Education (CSE) and Committee on Preschool Special Education recommendations for May, August and September 2024; the home tutoring and special education services report; and an updated use-of-facilities schedule for July 2025–June 2026.

Votes at a glance (voice votes; motion/second as recorded in meeting minutes): - Treasurer's report (Aug. 2025) — approved (moved by Annie Doresca; seconded by Katrina Smith). - Minutes (9/10/2025; 9/25/2025) — both approved (moved by Annie Doresca; seconded by Katrina Smith). - Personal actions report (10/08/2025) — approved (moved by Annie Doresca; seconded by Katrina Smith). - CSE / CPSE recommendations (May, Aug., Sept. 2024) — approved (moved by Annie Doresca; seconded by Katrina Smith). - Home tutoring and special education services report — approved (moved by Katrina Smith; seconded by Annie Doresca). - Donations: $5,750 from the Simon Youth Foundation capacity-building grant to Baldwin High School (Schubert site) and $282.14 from ticket sales for the high school production — both accepted (moved by Katrina Smith; seconded by Annie Doresca). - Consent and business agenda items (10.03–10.25) — approved as a block (moved by Annie Doresca; seconded by Katrina Smith). - Updated use-of-facilities report (July 2025–June 2026) — approved (moved by Annie Doresca; seconded by Katrina Smith). - Policy actions: second read and adoption of Policy 5,550 (student privacy under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, PPRA) — adopted (moved by Annie Doresca; seconded by Katrina Smith). - Labor agreements/memoranda of agreement: the board approved a memorandum of agreement with the Baldwin Teaching Assistance Association and a separate memorandum resolving a grievance with the Baldwin Teachers Association; the superintendent was authorized to execute those agreements on the board's behalf (motions moved by Annie Doresca; seconded by Katrina Smith).

Program updates and student engagement

Superintendent Anthony Vignella announced an expansion of dual-enrollment options at Baldwin High School for seniors. Seniors who have not previously taken an AP or dual-enrollment course can earn up to 12 college credits via partnerships: senior English (college composition 101/102) with Nassau Community College (NCC) for 3 credits, up to 6 credits in social studies via Stony Brook University for civics coursework, and a 3-credit personal finance (economics) course with Nassau Community College. Vignella noted the district's participation in the free/reduced-price lunch program qualifies eligible students for a 50% tuition discount from Nassau, reducing an average three-credit class to roughly $90 for qualifying students.

The board also heard about a new superintendent's advisory council for high school students that will begin sessions in mid- to late October. Doctor Tess and district staff described plans to invite about 25 students representing grades 9–12 and diverse cohorts; the first meeting was scheduled for Oct. 21. David (student representative) described other high school activities, including homecoming and an emphasis on school spirit and extracurricular participation.

Public ceremony and acknowledgements

The board paused for PTA presentations and student remarks honoring board members for Board Appreciation Week. Those remarks and student performances were ceremonial; the board did not take formal action on items presented by PTAs during the meeting.

What to watch next

The district's PTA is scheduling a legislative forum in late October (date under review in meeting remarks) and BOCES has a vote on Oct. 16 regarding property actions that the district noted to the community. The auditors said the district should expect follow-up items in future audit communications where the auditors track corrective actions. The newly announced student advisory council will report back to the board in future meetings as it begins work.

Ending: The meeting closed after approval of business and authorization to return to executive session to consider additional items; no further public votes were recorded at adjournment.