|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District is expected to be released of receivership by the state soon, ending more than a decade of fiscal oversight.
Massachusetts law allows the Board of Education to assume control of underperforming school districts and appoint a receiver—an individual, group or organization to oversee a turnaround plan.
School Committee chair Jason Monette said under a previous administration, “the district went belly up and fiscally in the hole by $1.2 million.”
Superintendent Paul Haughey said the district transitioned to working with a consultancy model over the past few months. Over the years, it has reported to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and paid off the money that was owed.
Earlier this summer, the central office team submitted all the documentation needed for the DESE finance team to review.
“They are still going through and looking in detail all of our activities through June 30, 2024, the end of the fiscal year,” he said. “With the state government, things take time. However, I remain confident that when they complete their review of all submitted documentation, the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District will be released from `fiscal oversight’ by the Acting Commissioner of Education Russell Johnston.”
The superintendent said when his office receives official word, he will alert the School Committee and public immediately.
“This is a big deal and a lot of work went into getting to this (point) by people in two communities,” Haughey said.
He said losing oversight means that the school district “has wrapped its arms around what to do fiscally and our future looks strong.”
Monette echoed the superintendent’s thoughts.
When released from receivership, “It means we have fiscal responsibility now,” he said. “The state is saying we can do well on our own and that we can handle our finances in a responsible way.”
Monette said the superintendent, Business Administrator Gary Suter and School Committee worked as a team to get the district’s finances in order and currently in “good shape.”
He added, “We have a great bond rating now. That is how we have been able to renovate and add on to the David Prouty High School with a major project because we have (demonstrated) this good fiscal responsibility.”
The superintendent expressed his appreciation to the residents in both communities for the resources they continue to provide the school district.
