By Nick Buglione
"We don't talk about the details of an ongoing audit, but we do currently have an audit going on in East Meadow," said Theresa Bourgeois, spokeswoman for state Comptroller Carl McCall, adding that officials are investigating financial matters.
According to Bourgeois, the audit was undertaken after they received numerous letters from concerned community members regarding the financial practices of the East Meadow School District.
"We had received the letters from parents, and we determined from there what the next appropriate step was," she said. "The state comptroller regularly audits school districts, and the decision of audit comes from a variety of reasons.
"In some cases, we are requested by the districts to come in, and in other cases certain matters are brought to our attention by local groups."
Last May, while the East Meadow School District's controversial 2002-2003 budget was being hotly debated within the community, allegations of financial mismanagement began to surface.
Furious over the proposed cuts to school staff and programs, hundreds of angry parents packed the two budget presentations to voice their concerns. There, parents openly contested the administration and the board of education's plan, prompting some to call for an independent audit of school finances.
Still, the 2002-2003 budget narrowly passed on May 21 by less than 100 votes. It took effect July 1.
East Meadow Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Administration Leon Campo maintains that a select few members of the community are responsible for the letter -writing campaign that has prompted the audit.
"The critics of the school district have a political and personal agenda," Campo said. "They have sent anonymous letters and refused to have their names associated with it. The majority of East Meadow does not subscribe to the allegations of this minority."
The Nassau County District Attorney's Office had also received numerous anonymous letters lodging various complaints with the East Meadow School District, said district attorney spokesman Rick Hinshaw.
"We did not find that most of the complaints [could be characterized as criminal offenses worthy of investigation], except for one or two of them," Hinshaw said, noting that after looking into the matter the district attorney "did not find any criminal irregularities."
The letters were then passed on to the state comptroller, he added.
Campo also noted that the district welcomes the audit and is cooperating completely, although he could not specify what records are being reviewing. "I can't really elaborate, but it's a thorough, in-depth procedure."
He also stressed that every year the independent firm Pappas and Company audits the district and makes its findings available to the public.
Bourgeois said it is still unclear when the state comptroller's audit will be finished, though Campo believes it will most likely be done in about 30 days.
"Once the audit is complete, then the information will be released to the public," Bourgeois said.
Richard Bivone, vice president of the Council of East Meadow Community Organizations, believes the audit will put to rest the issues critics have with the district's financial management.
"I think the best thing that can happen is that the state audits the school district," he said. "If we do find that everything looks good, then those people that have been critical should realize that this is inappropriate. And if we find something is wrong, the school district should step up to the plate and correct it."
