By Lindsay Christ

Eleven school districts on Long Island that were previously ordered to improve their bookkeeping are facing follow-up audits from New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, he announced on Monday in Mineola.

The school districts include East Williston Union Free School District, Jericho Union Free School District, Seaford Union Free School District, Sewanhaka Central High School District, Uniondale Union Free School District, Brentwood Union Free School District, Commack Union Free School District, Hauppauge Union Free School District, North Babylon Union Free School District, Three Village Central School District and William Floyd Union Free School District. These schools were audited in 2006 and 2007, and now auditors are going to be checking to see if the districts have made improvements and put into practice the recommendations of the previous audits. Auditors are also following up on 23 additional schools across the state.

“Taxpayers have a right to know if their local school districts took action to address concerns identified by our auditors,” DiNapoli said. “Our audits determine if proper policies and procedures are in place and include recommendations on how school districts can better protect taxpayer dollars. Following up on these audits increases accountability of school districts and adds transparency to the school districts’ finances.”

Within 90 days of the audit’s release each school district is required to submit corrective action plans. Auditors are going to determine if the school districts have followed these plans, and will write the district a letter that will describes what improvements the district has followed and if there are any recommendations they still need to work on. These letters will be released to the public and be available for viewing on DiNapoli’s website. DiNapoli said this was so “citizens and the local community can see what the progress has been.”

Previous audit findings have uncovered a number of things, including lack of documentation to support thousands of dollars in credit card purchases in Jericho schools and $6.4 million in questionable and unauthorized expenses spent by the William Floyd district. Three Village schools was cited for paying $165,000 for meals and refreshments at meetings and unnecessary travel expenses.

DiNapoli also stated at the news conference that his office was on track to complete audits of all of the New York school districts and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services by 2010. The initial audits are available at http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/schools/index.htm