Shari Diamond

Tips to Prevent Wire and ACH Frauds

ACH payment fraud is becoming more common, and it is believed that the fraudsters target certain types of individuals. Unfortunately, school districts are one of those targets. Financial institutions play a crucial role in safeguarding bank accounts from fraud;...

Utility Bill Auditing

For many school districts, especially larger districts, reviewing the utility invoices can be a cumbersome process as schools have multiple accounts. We have noted that recently late fees have been added and are cropping up across the Island. Many districts have asked...

NYSLRS Enhanced Reporting – Gold Certification

Reminder: The New York State & Local Retirement System is requiring that all employers must switch to enhanced reporting by the end of 2023. There are many benefits of enhanced reporting.For employers: Maximize efficiency and improve service to employees...

Zero-emission School Bus Mandate – Update

In early August, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) released proposed eligibility guidelines for the Public School Bus Electrification Program being designed under the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs...

National Efforts to Improve K-12 School Cybersecurity

In early August, the White House and the Department of Education announced a federal effort to bolster K-12 cybersecurity at a summit and not a moment too soon. Shortly after the announcement, the New Haven Connecticut public schools suffered a $6 million breach as the email of one of the school officials was compromised. Schools are known to have a lot of sensitive data that is marketable on the dark web. Hackers also know that many schools do not have sufficient resources, both in staff and dollars, to adequately mitigate the risks.

New Rule Amends Community Eligibility Provision

This final rule amends the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) regulations by lowering the minimum identified student percentage (ISP) from 40 percent to 25 percent. Lowering the minimum ISP will give states and schools greater flexibility to offer meals to all...

Guest Article: Creating a Robust Travel & Expense Reimbursement Policy

One of the top issues we encounter when auditing travel reimbursement claims is determining what is considered an appropriate expense and does it comply with the district policy. As we are back out and traveling again, now is a good time to assess your travel and...

New Form I-9

The new version of Form I‑9, Employment Eligibility Verification (PDF, 483.6 KB) along with new instructions are now available for use. This version contains changes to the form and instructions, including shortening the Form I‑9 to one page and reducing the instructions to eight pages.

30 Years of Connecting with Cerini & Associates, LLP

Celebrate Cerini & Associates, LLP's 30th Anniversary with Ken Cerini, Founder & Managing Partner! Today, we celebrate a milestone: the 30th Anniversary of Cerini & Associates, LLP. From a humble garage start-up to a leading firm with seven partners and...

A Diamond in the Rough: How Transparency & Documentation Produces Incomparable Audits

It’s audit season…wait…isn’t it always audit season? Tune in with Shari Diamond, Partner at Cerini and Associates, LLP, who dives into the claims audit process, how Artificial Intelligence can affect our processes and what to look out for down the road.Shari has been...
Feeding Students During the Summer

Feeding Students During the Summer

School’s out for the summer, but it is more crucial than ever that children are provided the food they need to stay healthy, especially those who rely on the meals provided at school.

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The Book Fairies Sets Guinness World Record

The Book Fairies Sets Guinness World Record

The nonprofit organization, The Book Fairies, has officially set the Guinness World Record for the longest line of books. After a total of three hours, 150 volunteers, and 31,000 books winding through the halls and gyms of two Wyandanch schools for 3.81 miles, The Book Fairies broke the original world record of 2.6 miles of books set in Illinois in 2017.

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Board of Regents Update

Board of Regents Update

Today, on April 6th, 2020, the Board of Regents Acts released a series of Emergency Regulations and Amendments due to COVID-19. Below, you will find important factors in the full press release here. School and District Accountability One-year waiver from provisions of...

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COVID-19: Cybersecurity Considerations for Working Remotely

COVID-19: Cybersecurity Considerations for Working Remotely

Updated April 10, 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly turned everyone’s lives upside down. The virus has reached virtually everyone across the globe and is still spreading. Right before this virus took over the news, another type of “virus” was causing major...

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E-Rate – Answers to your Questions

E-Rate – Answers to your Questions

Private non-profit schools providing education to school-age children (K to 12) and Head Start programs are entitled to specific discounts for telecommunication and internet services and related equipment under the Federal E-Rate program. These funds are not given...

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