The Cornwall Central School District Board of Education approved the 2024–25 internal audit report, accepted the audit’s corrective action plan and held a first reading of a change to Board Policy 61.50 that would raise the district’s threshold for budget transfers and clarify end‑of‑year authority.
Board members spent substantive time on a finding that the auditor described as the district not recording accounts‑payable on a monthly basis but instead recording at year‑end. District business staff disputed that characterization as a practical description of internal controls: John, a district business official, told the board the district conducts weekly and other regular purchase reviews and that the auditor’s item was a finding “by the letter of the law,” but district practice includes multiple audit and review layers.
The board discussed operational impacts and transparency. The proposed amendment to Policy 61.50 would raise the transfer cap (previously $10,000) to $25,000 in order to reduce frequent board action on small reclassifications and allow the superintendent and assistant superintendent for business to approve end‑of‑year transfers in June to expedite close‑out and the external audit process.
Supporters of the change said it provides needed administrative flexibility and is consistent with practices in some other districts; opponents urged continued board oversight for material transfers and asked for clear reporting. The administration said transfers would still be reported to the board via the routine transfer report.
The board voted to approve the internal audit report (item 10), the corrective action plan (item 11), and the first reading of Policy 61.50 (item 13). The actions passed by voice vote as recorded in the meeting transcript; no roll‑call tallies were included in the public record excerpt.
Next steps include finalizing the policy language for a second reading and adopting any technical changes recommended by staff and counsel.