New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released a report today saying the former Superintendent and three administrative workers with the Greenburgh-North Castle Union Free School District received questionable payments of more than $100,000 because of lax oversight by the district's board.

The district was created as a Special Act public school by the state Legislature for students with special education needs. It works in collaboration with St. Christopher's Inc., a private not-for-profit company, to provide educational services to day students and students in residential programs.

DiNapoli's auditors found the District's Board of Education neither entered into formal employment agreements with administrative employees nor adopted district-wide policies to define compensation for those employees.

They also concluded the former Superintendent, while he had a contract with the Board, collected $59,708 vacation buyout payments he wasn't entitled to receive and $5,514 in payment for unused vacation time. Neither was in accordance, officials say, with his contract.

Also, in 2009 auditors fou,nd three administrative employees, the assistant superintendent for administration, a principal and the school psychologist, received unsupported lump sum payments totaling $47,822. 

"With education costs rising and school districts facing hardships, this is hardly the time to be careless with taxpayer money, " DiNapoli said. "The Greenburgh-North Castle Board has to do a much better job making sure district employees only receive compensation they're entitled to receive. The district's mission is too important to squander funds that should be used to help these special needs students."