The town’s auditors presented its final findings to the Brookfield Board of Education on Wednesday night, and school administration has provided the information and responses, and redone financial statements, such that they have complied with the requirements and will have a “clean” audit as of next week.
That does not mean the administration does not still have to atone for $1.17 million in overspending over the last two years; but auditors from Mahoney Sabol were clear that these errors were procedural rather than results of fraud or misappropriation. All of the expenses they reviewed were deemed legitimate, and even credit card expenses that were questioned were found to be appropriate.
Schools Superintendent Tony Bivona said the overspending issue is one he and his fellow administrators “take very seriously” and corrective action has begun and will continue to be certain future issues are handled as prescribed by state law and town charter.
The majority of the school board seemed satisfied with the auditors’ explanation, and seemed ready to move beyond this issue that has overshadowed the district in recent weeks.