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BEDFORD, N.Y. – The Bedford Central School District has received an “unqualified opinion” on its 2010-11 financial audit, the highest rating a school district can receive.

At its meeting last week, the school board accepted the June 30, 2011 year-end financial statements given by Marianne Van Duyne, from the firm of R.S. Abrams LLP, the school district’s external auditors.

Under New York state law, all school districts must undergo an independent annual audit of their financial records conducted by an outside certified public accounting firm. The district’s audit committee, comprised of three board of education members and two community members, first reviewed the audit and subsequently recommended that the board accept the final report.

Van Duyne said that there are no material weaknesses, that the business office is very strong and has very good controls.

This is the first year that R. S. Abrams has conducted an audit of the Bedford Central School District. At their meeting on Nov. 16, the board also accepted the 2010-11 internal audit report prepared by Accume, the district’s internal auditors.  Accume audited the district’s operation and facilities program and first presented the report to the audit committee, which in turn recommended that the board accept the report.

Representatives from Accume, who presented the audit report to the board for acceptance, indicated it is their job to find areas on which improvements can be made.  The auditors found that the district has an adequate level of internal control over capital assets, facilities use and compliance provisions of the Commissioners Regulations.

The auditors did recommend improvements to ensure an adequate level of internal control over its preventive maintenance system, the work order system, and the processing of claims, which the district is currently implementing.

“We appreciate the process of being audited and responding to the recommendations of the auditors,” said Mark Betz, assistant superintendent for business and administrative services. “The staff in the business office and buildings and grounds manages and control much information on a regular basis; our having an additional layer of oversight is valuable to us and can only improve our operations and better serve our community.”

Board President, Susan Elion Wollin thanked the members of the district audit committee and everyone in the district’s business office for their dedication and work to prepare for these audits. 

“It is their work year round that results in the district receiving such high ratings,” she said. Visit the district’s website, www.bcsdny.org, to read the full audit reports, which are located within the District Reports & Info quick link.

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