This spring, public attention has focused on the school committee’s request for additional funds to fix the High School roof. Meanwhile, there’s been little scrutiny of the proposed FY26 MPS operating budget. Is this because we’re not currently facing a four-alarm budget shortfall or general operating override request?
Whatever the reason, I believe the school committee must recommit to sound, fundamental financial management practices, regardless of the level of public attention. Good governance of the budget will help the school committee bring trust and accountability to the district’s financial management practices.
In recent years, the school committee’s oversight of its approved budget has been a roller coaster ride of uncertainty, with anticipated budget shortfalls and unexpected operating surpluses. I believe our schools need a model of fiscal management that minimizes surprises and emphasizes stability. We must focus on our main priorities – student learning, educator compensation and facilities management – not just in our budgeting, but in our day-to-day spending too.
To accomplish that, our full school committee needs to take a more active leadership role in budget management, a central area of school committee responsibility. If elected, I will advocate for:
Monthly, detailed financial reporting by the administrative team to the full school committee with adequate meeting time spent explaining trends and asking questions of administrators;
Quarterly reports of budget-to-actual spending by the administrative team to the full school committee, including discussion of how spending compares to prior years;
Detailed review of the preceding year’s financials prior to, or early in, the creation of the next year’s budget to ensure that budgets are built on actual spending and not prior projections.
School committee management of actual school department spending is essential to restoring credibility with taxpayers. The school committee can only advocate for the needs of our students and schools through consistent demonstration of responsible financial management practices.
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