Questions remain on issue of cash register problems in E.B.
This letter is in regard to the article titled "Board Learns Its Surplus Account Is Seriously Low" that carried the subhead "Issue of ‘Missing’ $109,000 Explained by Handling of Cash Receipts" (Sentinel, Nov. 14).
It was reported in the article that Board of Education member Charles King stated that the problem was due to data entry errors resulting from new and unfamiliar cash registers. Was there a problem with the old cash registers? Or did the old cash registers have the same problem as the new registers — data entry errors?
It seems unlikely that $109,000 would be missing all at once. Wouldn’t some of the missing money show up in a weekly or monthly audit? However, according to statements by district auditor David Kaplan and board member Charles King, no money is missing at all.
And now, the president of the East Brunswick Education Association (EBEA) feels "… it is important to clarify that nothing inappropriate took place and that no person or group is suspected of any wrongdoing" ("School District Funds Neither Mishandled Nor Misappropriated," Letters to the Editor, Sentinel, Nov. 21).
What is suspect here is why the EBEA president has to clarify what was already clarified in the Nov. 14 article.
Wouldn’t it be "appropriate" for an independent audit by the attorney general?
Within the news article in the Nov. 14 issue, Mr. King stated that the surplus was currently $700,000. In June, the surplus was $1 million. It would be interesting for the taxpayers to know why. Alas. But I’m sure next year’s budget will take care of all the problems.
Douglas Daigneault
East Brunswick