HFCS Gets Clean Audit Result
Alex Brooks
At the Hoosick Falls School Board Meeting on September 17, Alan Walther of the accounting firm Bonadio & Co. LLP gave a presentation of his firm’s findings in the audit done last month of the District’s finances during the 2019-2020 school year. He said the result is an “unmodified opinion,” which is the highest level of endorsement the auditor can offer. No material weaknesses in financial controls were found, and the books and records were maintained in an orderly and clear manner.
The only concern was that the unrestricted unreserved fund balance at the end of the year was 6.33% of the budget, which was not in compliance with the state-mandated 4% limit. Walther said this finding is common this year because there were some savings that came to school districts this year from operating remotely during the last three months of the year.
School Business Administrator Emily Sanders also noted that a larger than usual fund balance has been a blessing in this year of reduced and unpredictable state aid. The Board voted 7-0 to accept the audit and then congratulated Business Administrator Emily Sanders on an outstanding audit result.
Superintendent Patrick Dailey said the contractors are planning to fire up the new boilers on Wednesday September 23, so if all goes well, the building will have heat at that point. Board member John Helft said the District has already seen savings in its fuel cost for hot water since the new hot water heaters were put in service about a month ago. Plans for Phase 2 of the Capital Project, which will begin next summer, are being reviewed by the NYS Dept. of Education now, and the school administration hopes to have them approved by the end of the month, or early October. The project will be put out for bids this fall.
Superintendent Pat Dailey said the opening of school has gone relatively smoothly. He said there are still some issues with parent drop-off and pickup to be worked out, as the lines of cars coming into the parking lot for this purpose have sometimes been backed up all the way out onto Route 22 – especially at parent pickup time. Other than that, things are going well – only three people have been sent home in the first ten days of school, and no COVID-19 cases have been identified. The new food arrangements are going well, with food being delivered to classrooms, and Dailey thanked the cafeteria staff for rising to the occasion and making it work so well.
Dailey said the District had a bit of a surprise when 402 students requested the use of one of the District’s Chromebooks in the questionnaires sent out in late summer, but on the day parents came in to pick up the Chromebooks, 700 parents showed up. The District came up a little bit short that day, but more of the Chromebooks that were ordered last February and have been back-ordered since then have arrived, so as soon as the tech staff is able to get the new Chromebooks set up with the software and configuration, there will be a Chromebook available for every student who wants one.
Dailey said the tech staff, which is actually only two people, have been a bit overwhelmed trying to get everybody set up for remote learning in time for the start of school, but they are able to breathe a little easier now that the school year has been launched and both students and teachers are getting more familiar with the remote learning procedures and protocols.
Dailey said the drama continues at the State level. The New York State Teachers Union (NYSUT) has sued the Governor over the recently implemented additional 20% cut to state funding for school districts. The State will not be deducting the additional 20% from aid checks sent out in September, and there is a possibility that this temporary reprieve from the 20% deductions will be extended into October, November, or beyond, so the District’s financial picture remains very uncertain.
At this meeting the Board granted tenure to Literacy teacher Ashley Herrmann. The next regular meeting of the Hoosick Falls Board of Education will be October 15 at 6:30 pm in the high school cafeteria.