Farmingdale auditor reports $200 million budget in order with no material weaknesses
Outside examiner praises business office for keeping expenditures under budget, while parents raise alarm over rising class sizes at Northside Elementary.
By Naomi Tesfaye ·
David Tellier, an auditor for the firm Nawrocki Smith, informed the Farmingdale board of education on Nov. 4 that the district’s finances were in sound condition. Tellier presented a 70-page report during the meeting, noting that the business office managed a budget exceeding $200 million with prudence. He stated that the district’s expenditures were under budget for the previous year, which he cited as evidence of effective planning.
Tellier told the board, “Your business office has been operating so effectively and efficiently. Everything was found to be in order. We had no material weaknesses, no significant deficiencies, no findings, no recommendations, no suggestions.” The auditor’s assessment stood as a clear endorsement of the district’s fiscal management, free of the caveats often found in such reviews.
During the same meeting, the board unanimously granted tenure to Christopher Peterson, principal of Northside Elementary School. Superintendent Paul Defendini praised Peterson for his open-door policy and his ability to listen to stakeholders. Defendini also cited improvements made to the school building and educational metrics under Peterson’s leadership.
The board received testimony from parents Cathleen and David Connors, who have attended meetings for a year to address class size issues. Cathleen Connors reported that kindergarten classrooms at Northside now hold 25 students each. In first grade, the two existing classes contain 26 and 27 students, respectively. She contrasted these numbers with other district schools, where class sizes range from 18 to 22 students.
David Connors proposed creating a third first-grade cohort for the following year. He estimated the cost at over $100,000 and argued the expense was justified by the need to lower class sizes. The couple praised the teachers and administration but maintained that larger groups could hinder learning during a critical developmental stage for young students.
Defendini announced that the district plans to add a permanent facility dog soon. The new animal has been in training for two weeks and is set to replace Daler, the temporary service dog named after the district mascot. The district brought in temporary dogs from the nonprofit Canine Companions in 2023 after a bus crash in upstate New York injured dozens of students and killed band director Gina Pellettiere. The permanent dog is pending a final test.
The Farmingdale board of education will hold its next meeting on Dec. 9.
