Audit committee reports no material procurement deficiencies; district planning auditor transition

The Niskayuna Central School District Audit Committee on April 11 reviewed an internal audit of district purchasing covering the 2023–24 fiscal year that found no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses and noted only minor exceptions, and heard an update that the district is transitioning its independent audit to Bonadio following an RFP process.

The audit presenter reported the review sampled purchasing activity across funds and transaction types—including 40 general purchasing transactions, 15 credit‑card purchases and five petty‑cash disbursements—and examined procurement policies, professional services contracting and capital project bidding. Committee members were told the samples included federal‑fund activity subject to the federal Uniform Guidance and that the audit found compliance with bidding and purchase‑order requirements in the sample tested. The report recommended that the board annually record its review of procurement policies in board minutes and noted that bond‑counsel and general‑liability insurance contracts are due for an RFP because they have not been re‑procured in several years.

The committee was told credit‑card use and petty‑cash practices were in compliance across the sampled transactions, and that professional services (for example auditors and architects) remain an area that internal reviewers watch closely. Committee members discussed whether the finance committee should build an annual, concentrated procurement‑policy review into its agenda; the committee concluded that could be done and should be reported back to the full board.

Separately, staff updated the committee on the district's independent‑auditor transition following a required rotation after a five‑year period. The district has engaged Bonadio through the RFP process and staff reported preliminary planning is underway: preliminary audit planning will begin in June and final fieldwork is scheduled for the week of Aug. 25, with Bonadio expected to present an audit plan to the audit committee on June 13.

The committee also approved the minutes from its Feb. 14 meeting; the motion and second were recorded but individual roll‑call votes were not entered in the transcript.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes of the Feb. 14, 2025 Audit Committee meeting — Outcome: approved; mover/second: not specified in transcript; vote tally: not specified (chair called for "all in favor" and minutes were approved).

The meeting was brief; staff said field work for the internal audit is wrapping up and that the risk‑assessment update is in progress. The committee scheduled Bonadio to appear at the June 13 audit committee meeting to present the audit plan and requested that procurement‑policy review timing be reflected in the finance committee’s annual agenda.