The Baldwin School District will have its business practices validated by the upcoming state audit of its finances, board President James T. Scannell predicted at the first meeting of the 2004-05 school year. "We welcome the audit, and we're confident that our practices comply with the letter and the spirit of the law," Scannell said at the school board's Sept. 8 meeting.State Comptroller Alan Hevesi announced on Aug. 25 that Baldwin was one of 20 Long Island school districts that would be audited. The audits were triggered by reports of alleged financial scandals in the Roslyn and William Floyd school districts.The district's business administration staff, along with three school board members, had their initial meeting with the auditors last Thursday to discuss procedural issues. The audit will focus on expenses, such as credit-card usage, meals and travel. Five other school districts on Long Island will undergo a more thorough examination of their books.The school district recently made headlines after three staff members - middle school deans Cheryl Farb and Alvis Brown and school psychologist Dr. Mark Lerner - announced they were filing lawsuits against the district, charging, among other things, sexual harassment, racial discrimination and inappropriate administrative practices. Both Farb and Brown have been terminated.Scannell said he would not comment on pending litigation, but stated, "We are confident that the school district will be found to have behaved appropriately."The attorney for the plaintiffs, Thomas F. Liotti of Garden City, did not return calls seeking comment.Two parents voiced concern at the meeting that middle school Principal James Brown, charged with sexual harassment by Farb, was granted tenure in July. One of the parents said her daughter was a student at Brown's school. Baldwin School District Superintendent Dr. Kathy Weiss said that Brown was granted tenure only after a "very, very, thorough investigation" conducted by the district's sexual-harassment officer found that the "allegations were not valid." "I am very confident in the investigation," Weiss said. No students have alleged that Brown sexually harassed them, she added.In other business, Weiss said that school enrollment was up 2 percent over last year, and that opening day at all the district's schools went well.
