Officials hold closed-door meetings to set school budget for Spencer-E. Brookfield budget
By Kim Ring, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFFSPENCER — Representatives from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education met Wednesday with local officials in preparation for a state takeover of the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District, but the sessions were not open to the public.
While interim school Superintendent Edward Malvey said on Tuesday selectmen from East Brookfield and Spencer, along with the entire school committee, would meet with the state representatives, at least one school committee member who showed up at David Prouty High School for the committee's 5 p.m. session was sent home in order to avoid the committee having a quorum and a possible Open Meeting Law violation. The committee and selectmen had not posted a meeting.
An email sent to the Telegram & Gazette from DESE Director of Board & Media Relations JC Considine indicated that the meetings are not public.
The meeting is "called to gather any additional feedback that the district and towns feel is important that we have prior to the commissioner setting the budget for the school district," Mr. Considine wrote.
Spencer Town Administrator Adam Gaudette and Selectmen Gary E. Woodbury and Donald R. Berthiaume Jr. said they attended together and presented information about how municipal services will be affected if the state sets a school budget higher than what voters at a regional meeting approved. They also offered suggestions for possible savings that the school committee could explore.
Local officials were told not to bring a quorum, he said.
Mr. Gaudette said the state noted that the school district has been using reserves to balance the budget, which is ill advised, and will need additional funding. He said the town will now be forced to use reserves to meet budgetary obligations for local services, and cuts cannot be avoided.
East Brookfield Selectman Leo Fayard and Finance Committee member John Rossi met separately with the representatives, as well.
Mr. Gaudette said he expects to hear from the state as soon as Monday.
If the state sets the budget at the number approved by the school committee, Spencer will not have time to hold an override vote before the tax rate must be set and will begin Monday night making drastic cuts to local services, he said.
East Brookfield officials have said they can use their excess levy capacity to stave off some cuts and will not need an override if the higher number is set.
Geez Louise!
ReplyDeleteWhere's the transparency? Why does DESE get a pass from following the Open Meeting Law?
"While interim school Superintendent Edward Malvey said on Tuesday selectmen from East Brookfield and Spencer, along with the entire school committee, would meet with the state representatives, at least one school committee member who showed up at David Prouty High School for the committee's 5 p.m. session was sent home in order to avoid the committee having a quorum and a possible Open Meeting Law violation. The committee and selectmen had not posted a meeting. "
Maybe it's time for the Mass Association of School Committees to do some Open Meeting Law training. That school committee member had every right to attend that meeting.
Vote Mitchell for Selectman!
Remember the past to ensure a better future!
The nuclear option should never be used.
I do not think I would have been happy if I was elected by the people to do a job, then told to go home during what was the most important meeting of the year. As a matter of fact, I would have stayed !! Looks like the blame is being put on the selectmen for not posting the meeting, but I would think that meeting should have been open to the public, as they pay the bills. So the state does not favor the school using reserves to balance the budget ?? Ms. Miller and the School Committee need to make a note of that fact, as that is how they have done business in our school district. What is the point of having a override election if the school does not pay attention to the voice of the residents, and does business as usual, even when the override fails. What happens in Spencer/West Brookfield will give us a good idea of what to expect when it is our turn to deal with the state. As they say, stay tuned..it will all come out in the wash. Bev.
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