During a recent school committee meeting, members discussed a letter from the Office of the Auditor General regarding an accumulated deficit affecting the school district. The letter, which had not been reviewed collectively by the committee, prompted a call for an in-person meeting to facilitate dialogue among school and town officials.

The committee chair explained that the deficit, identified in fiscal year 2024, is part of a larger accumulated deficit dating back to fiscal year 2022. In compliance with regulations, the committee notified both the town and the Auditor General's office about the financial shortfall. Following this, a discretionary spending freeze was implemented, and discussions began on a corrective action plan to address the deficit.

The chair noted that monthly meetings with the Auditor General's office have been ongoing for over a year, involving key leadership from both the school and town sides. These meetings focus on the status of various audits, with the audit for fiscal year 2022 completed in September and work on the 2023 audit already underway.

The Auditor General has requested an in-person meeting with representatives from both the school committee and town council to foster collaboration on addressing the accumulated deficit. Two members from each body will attend this meeting, which aims to initiate a productive conversation about potential solutions.

While the chair expressed hope for a lively discussion, he cautioned that it may not be realistic to expect a definitive plan by the end of the meeting. Instead, the goal is to bring together stakeholders to brainstorm and develop a strategy for financial stability moving forward. The chair emphasized the importance of this meeting occurring soon to ensure that all parties have the necessary input before further discussions take place.