Auditor says Farmingdale school district’s financials in good shape

Local News Auditor says Farmingdale school district’s financials in good shape By Michael Campbell … Comments Posted on November 9, 2026 Farmingdale board of education gives standing ovation for Northside Elementary School Principal Christopher Peterson after he was granted tenure. Screenshot from Farmingdale Schools recording Farmingdale school district’s outside auditor said its finances were in good shape by at the board of education’s Thursday, Nov. 4 meeting. David Tellier of the auditing firm Nawrocki Smith gave a summary of his 70 page report at the meeting, complimenting the business office on their prudent management of the district’s more than $200 million dollar budget . “Your business office has been operating so effectively and efficiently,” Tellier said. “Everything was found to be in order. We had no material weaknesses, no significant deficiencies, no findings, no recommendations, no suggestions.” Tellier said he was especially impressed that Farmingdale’s expenditures were under budget last year, a strong sign that the business office was budgeting well. The board also unanimously granted tenure to Northside Elementary School Principal Christopher Peterson during the meeting. The board had a standing ovation for Peterson as they congratulated him on this hallmark moment in his career. “The reason why there are so many people here for you Chris … is just the man that you are,” said Superintendent Paul Defendini. Defendini lauded the improvements Peterson has made to the building and to various educational metrics in the elementary school, but he focused most on his open nature. “At the end of the day, [your] door is open, and you are certainly a listening party to any of the concerns from any stakeholder,” he said. The board also heard from parents Cathleen and David Connors, regular attendees who have been raising concerns over class sizes at Northside Elementary School for a year now. Cathleen Connors said that kindergarten enrollment is up to 25 students per classroom and in first grade, the two classes each have 26 and 27 students. She compared this to other schools in the district, which she said had between 18 and 22 students in a class. Her husband asked the school to create a third cohort for first grade the following year, which he estimated would cost the district over $100,000, but he said, would be well worth it. The couple was very complementary of the teachers and administration at the elementary school, but still stressed that larger class sizes could inhibit learning during young students’ crucial developmental period. Defendini also announced that the district should soon be adding a permanent facility dog. The superintendent has trained the new dog for two weeks, who is set to replace the district’s beloved temporary service dog, Daler, named after the school’s mascot. In 2023, the Farmingdale community was devastated and reeling after a bus crash in upstate New York injured dozens of the district’s students and killed the high school’s long-time band director Gina Pellettiere. In response, the district temporarily brought in service dogs from the nonprofit Canine Companions to help comfort students, and now, the district is looking to make one service dog permanent, pending their completion of a final test. The district will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 9. About the Author All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines . Schneps Media does not endorse the views shared by readers in our comment sections.