A total of 123 South Country School District community members signed an online petition, Google Doc form, in support of a New York State audit, addressed to the New York State comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

The petition requests help from New York State to address the “persistent financial instability in our school district.”

The NYS Comptroller’s office could not be reached for comment in time for press.

The petition also references the district’s budget crises, including the board’s lack of awareness about the state building aid schedule in 2022, “steep unforeseen expenses in costs” in April 2025, and now, “unexpected increases in expenses exceeding the 2024-25 budget.”

“Unfortunately, it is our children who suffer,” the petition reads. “This past year, personnel cuts were made. Our schools lost recently hired teachers and teaching assistants, and are dealing with program cuts.”

According to FOILs obtained by the petition creators, a total of 42 percent of the teachers and teaching assistants excessed by the district in 2025 were hired on or after 2024.

According to the Long Island Advance, in a story written in April of this year, the South Country Board of Education adopted the 2025-2026 budget eliminating 51.2 FTEs across all bargaining units through a combination of layoffs, retirements and separations. They also laid off 15 teachers and switched five teachers from full time to part time.

When the most recent deficit was discovered in September, the board of education voted to hire a forensic audit. The shortfall was discovered after the regularly planned annual audit of the district’s finances.

According to the district, the exact number amount will remain unknown until the external auditors submit their final audited report. The report will provide the exact amount of the incurred overexpenditures.

“The board of education recently learned that the annual audit of the school district’s finances will reflect the district incurred expenses exceeding the budget for the 2024-2025 school year,” said E. Anne Hayes, the president of the BOE. 

As of Sept. 9, the board authorized the engagement of forensic auditors to determine the extent of the issue, to review and make recommendations regarding the system of internal financial controls and protocols currently in place, and to provide guidance on the necessary corrective actions to prevent any such issues from recurring in the future. 

Recently, the superintendent of schools Antonio Santana released a letter addressing the concerns.

“This reality is deeply concerning to all of us—board of education, administration, and community alike,” he said. “We want to assure you that we are responding with both urgency and transparency.”

He also stated that the board anticipates formally approving the engagement of the “global firm” at their Oct. 8 board meeting. At that time, the board will share the firm’s name with the community.

The external auditors, he said, will deliver the district’s final audited financial report for 2024–2025. Once accepted by the board, the report will be posted publicly on their website.

Additionally, the district, he promised, is developing a Corrective Action Plan that will “focus on reviewing every expenditure line by line, strengthening the flow of financial information to the board through budget status reporting, and identifying cost reductions in non-mandated, non-instructional areas in ways that protect our academic programs.”

He also promised exploring tighter internal controls and improving training for budget custodians, as well as potential adjustments to the budgeting models.

As far as transparency, he added, they will be launching a Transparency Hub on the website that will include an F.A.Q., a corrective timeline, and regular updates so that everyone has access to the same information.

“Difficult moments test organizations, and how we respond defines our character. I remain confident that—together—we will navigate this period with honesty, accountability, and Clipper Pride,” he wrote in his letter.