Two school districts get good audit news

State auditors have found that Sachem Central School District has established adequate and effective controls over purchasing, according to an audit released last week.

“We are extremely proud of the fact that Sachem school district has established adequate internal controls and is safeguarding community tax dollars,” Associate Superintendent Bruce Singer wrote in a letter to the state comptroller, Thomas DiNapoli.

In another report released last week, auditors approved Sagaponack Common School District’s nonresident tuition rate.

Five students paid $3,000 each to attend the district’s only school last year, for total revenue of $15,000. The district can charge up to $52,179 per student, according to the State Education Department.

Auditors found no evidence that the out-of-district students significantly increased the district’s costs, according to the report. So even though the district is not charging the maximum rate, the tuition it collects helps cover a small portion of the district’s costs, officials said.

According to the audit report, the Sagaponack superintendent has said the nonresident rates are designed to increase diversity and maintain a minimum enrollment at the school, which has grades 1 through 4. It had 18 students last year.