Monday, July 14, 2025
The Lynbrook Public School District has received national recognition for its commitment to financial transparency and excellence. For the 2024 fiscal year, the district has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association and the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Association of School Business Officials International. Joel Press, Lynbrook’s assistant superintendent for finance, operations and information systems, discussed the district’s commitment to financial transparency.
Herald: What is Lynbrook School District’s philosophy when it comes to financial transparency? Is this the first time you've received these awards?
Press: It’s certainly not the first time we’ve won this award. This has been happening for more than 10 years. I’m only in my second year here, and this tradition started well before me. There are actually two awards we apply for—and have consistently received over the past several years. When you look at our financial report, it’s incredibly thorough. The amount of information we present is well above what’s required, and certainly more than most districts provide in my experience. That level of transparency and detail is exactly why these organizations recognize our work.
Herald: Do you have any specific examples of what sets your financial reporting apart?
Press: When I first reviewed Lynbrook’s financial reports—while considering coming to work here—I was struck by the first section of the report. It includes a letter from the superintendent that offers a wealth of knowledge about the district, its programs, and its approach to budgeting. Then, in the back section of the report, we provide extensive details about district operations—information on debt, capital projects, expenses, tax levy data, and more. It allows anyone who wants to understand the district’s finances in depth to do exactly that.
Herald: Is there anything else you’d like to share about the district’s commitment to transparency?
Press: One of the things that stood out to me before I even joined Lynbrook was how open everything is—from Board of Education meeting agendas and minutes to the financial reports themselves. Once I arrived, I saw that transparency is just ingrained in the culture here. There’s a real expectation that we share as much as we can with the community. After all, it’s their school district. They should have access to all the information they need to make informed decisions—especially when it comes time to vote on the annual budget. We truly believe in keeping the community involved and informed.
