Scotia-Glenville board accepts 2024–25 audit; auditor reports no findings

The SCOTIA-GLENVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT board voted to accept the district’s 2024–25 financial audit and an accompanying corrective action plan after an auditor presentation and brief discussion.

Amy Pedrick, a partner with West and Company, told the board the firm issued a “clean opinion” on the district’s financial statements — the highest level of assurance the firm provides. Pedrick said the audit includes two standard opinions: one on the full accrual financial statements and a second on internal controls and compliance. "We have no findings to report," she said, noting the district’s business office prepared the records thoroughly and that the audit was completed early enough to be filed with state and federal agencies before the typical October 15 deadline.

Pedrick also reviewed the single-audit compliance work required because the district spends more than $750,000 in federal funds. The auditors examined the child nutrition cluster and reported no findings on that federally reimbursed program. She noted a small number of common issues in the audit of extra-classroom activity funds — student fundraising accounts that New York State requires to be audited — such as occasional missed sales-tax filings and incomplete profit-and-loss records. She described those as minor and said instances were declining.

The board moved to accept both the audit report and the district’s corrective action plan for 2024–25. A motion to approve carried; board members present voted in favor and one member stated an abstention because they had just arrived and had not participated in the discussion.

The auditors directed trustees to the fund-based financial statements (the district’s general fund, school lunch fund and special aid funds) as the clearest indicators of near-term fiscal health and reminded the board that the full accrual statements include an actuarial estimate of other post-employment benefits, a long-term liability that New York State does not allow districts to pre-fund.

Pedrick thanked district staff for producing an audit-ready set of records weeks before the filing deadline. Board members who serve on the audit committee said they were comfortable recommending acceptance of the report.

The board did not take additional financial actions during that portion of the meeting; follow-up items and the corrective action plan were included in the consent agenda.

Ending: The audit package will be filed with the appropriate state and federal agencies; the board’s acceptance completes the district’s annual external audit cycle for 2024–25.