Purpose of Audit

The purpose of our audit was to examine the District’s accounting for leave time and separation payments for the period July 1, 2014 through February 29, 2016.

Background

The Valley Stream Union Free School District #24 is located in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County. The District, which operates three elementary schools with approximately 1,100 students, is governed by an elected seven-member Board of Education. Total expenditures for the 2014-15 fiscal year were approximately $27 million.

Key Findings

• District officials did not always account for employees’ leave accruals in accordance with applicable agreements.
• District officials do not have written policies or procedures in place to provide guidance to employees and District officials to ensure that separation payment calculations are reviewed, approved, accurate and sufficiently supported.
• The Assistant Superintendent carried over and used 6.5 vacation days from one year to the next even though his employment contract agreement stated that unused annual vacation time for the respective school year will be deemed forfeited.

Key Recommendations

• Establish and implement procedures for the review and periodic reconciliation of employees’ leave accrual balances.
• Develop and adopt procedures to ensure that separation payment calculations are documented, adequately supported, accurate, reviewed, approved and consistent with Board-adopted agreements.
• Review the Assistant Superintendent’s leave accruals to ensure that they are maintained in accordance with written agreements.