SMETHPORT — The Smethport Area School District has received the report of “a clean, unmodified audit with no exceptions” for the fiscal year that ended this past June 30.
David DiTanna, who manages auditing, accounting and consulting for school districts for the Olean, N.Y., accounting firm of Buffamante Whipple and Buttafaro, explained on Monday the major findings of the audit, including internal controls and compliance.
“There were no incidents of non-compliance,” he told the Smethport school board during its meeting.
Of special importance, DiTanna did note, is the district’s cafeteria account deficits, which continue despite various corrective measures, such as transferring funds from the general account.
Superintendent David London said his administration is looking closely at the issue and working to reduce the deficit. It may require changing the way the district’s cafeterias operate.
“We’re hitting the problem on all fronts and considering different options, such as having one cafeteria and reducing staff,” London said. “We have not replaced one part-time retiree. Cutting food costs will not erase the deficit because expenditures for salaries and benefits keep rising.”
Food Service Director Toni Morris said she has checked with other local districts to see how they’re coping with the matter.
“Many of those districts have one or two full-time cafeteria employees, while we have six full-time workers with benefits,” Morris said.
London said that decisions about cafeteria operations will be made by April.
In a related matter, the board tabled a motion approving a memorandum of understanding with the Smethport Area Education Support Professional Association for a temporary alteration of assignments for the custodial and cafeteria staff. London recommended this action, saying, “The language was not ready tonight.”
By resolution, the board approved the district’s 2018-19 school calendar, which incorporates five additional “official local school district holidays” as permitted by the Public School Code. These are the day before Thanksgiving and four during the Christmas vacation.
In another unanimous vote, the directors took a stand opposing Senate Bill 2, which would allow some parents to use state tax funds to send their children to private or religious schools. This bill, which renames tuition vouchers “educational savings accounts,” could drain some $500 million in state funding for public schools, opponents say.
The board also noted that school will be in session Monday, Presidents’ Day, to make up for a snow day.
