The Unadilla Valley School Board is pondering changes to its non-residential tuition policy after a state audit found the district's rates are outside of state guidelines. (Photo by Shawn Magrath)

NEW BERLIN – The Unadilla Valley Central School District is making policy changes for the way it handles non-resident tuition (NRT) rates for special education students after a recent audit found it was out of line with the state regulations.

An audit conducted by the New York State Comptroller's Office revealed that for four of the last five school years, UV overcharged other contracting school districts for nonresidential students who receive special education services and it failed to adhere to the state’s NRT rate cap.

Consequently, UV overcharged seven school districts by a total of $183,250 since 2018.

Unadilla Valley Superintendent Brenton Taylor, who assumed district leadership in 2021, said auditors’ chief concern is one that preceded his role; the board had approved an NRT rate prior to his tenure as superintendent. He said the board is now pondering ways to stay under New York’s maximum allowable NRT rates.