S-W school district gets high marks on fiscal audit

SUSSEX - The Sussex-Wantage Regional School District received the equivalent of an “A” for an audit of its 2008-2009 fiscal year. The district, which serves K-8 students in three schools throughout Sussex Borough and Wantage Township, is in “good financial condition” and its financial records for the 2008-2009 school year ended June 30, 2009 “were in excellent condition,” according to Heidi Wohlleb, a partner at Nisivoccia & Company LLP, a regional accounting and consulting firm with offices in Mt. Arlington and Newton, which conducted the audit. Wohlleb offered just three “minor” recommendations for improvements to the district’s financial processes. These include a suggestion that a final expenditure report for the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) grants be filed in a timely manner; that Care Program receipts be turned over for deposit to the Board Office within 48 hours of collection and that student body activity account receipt records reflect the actual date of collection. Wohlleb presented the audit at the school district’s Nov. 18 board of education meeting held at the Sussex Middle School. She said the school district’s administration has made “great improvement” from the prior year with its financial processes and record-keeping procedures. Christina Riker, business administrator for the school district, outlined several steps that have been taken since she began her role in April 2008. These include the creation of a detailed list of monthly bills that’s made available for the board of education to review and all voucher packages (purchase orders, receipt of goods, bills and invoices) are reviewed and signed off on prior to board meetings by different members of the board each month. In addition, oversight of aftercare programs and student activities accounts has increased and will continue into the next school year as suggested by the auditor, said Riker. “I have worked hard to obtain board confidence in the financial operations of the district,” said Riker, including her efforts to create transparency into the district’s financial operations for both board members and the public. The auditor’s report “speaks to the quality of the administration,” said board of education member Lisa Frisbie.