At a joint meeting of the Town of Lakeville and Town of Freetown select boards, officials agreed to reopen discussions about their regional school district agreement, a document they said is 14 years old and in need of review.

Board members and administrators described three related priorities: improving regular access to school financial information, clarifying who participates in superintendent hiring, and setting a predictable audit practice for the district. They also discussed whether to pursue local or special‑legislation changes that would allow recall petitions for regional school committee members.

Why it matters

The agreement governs shared governance between the two towns and the regional school committee. Officials said the document has not been updated in more than a decade and that clarifying reporting, hiring roles and audit procedures would increase transparency and reduce recurring disputes over finances and oversight.

What officials discussed

Financial reporting: Multiple select board members asked for more timely financial information from the district. Town representatives said they have discussed regular monthly budget reports with district staff; one official noted that the district currently provides committee reports but that the towns sometimes receive them on a different cadence. Town administrators were asked to pursue a routine monthly or bi‑monthly budget report from the district business office.

Audit frequency and scope: Several participants proposed instituting a periodic, full‑scope audit of district operations in addition to the annual financial audits. Suggestions included scheduling a comprehensive audit every five to 10 years and defining automatic “trigger” events — for example, a threshold of irregularities (one participant suggested an illustrative $500,000 threshold) — that would prompt an additional review. Officials emphasized the need to define the audit scope before procurement; a prior recommendation from a select board had been delegated to the regional finance committee, which later lost capacity after turnover.

Superintendent hiring: The agreement contains a provision for a hiring committee. Speakers recommended confirming whether and how town members may participate in that committee and asked town administrators and counsel to check for any relevant provisions in state law before altering the district document.

Recalls and legal route: Select board members reported residents have asked for recall rights for regional school committee members. Officials reviewed options raised by town counsel and outside legal advice: (1) a majority vote of the regional school committee to amend the agreement, (2) each town adopting a warrant article and pursuing special legislation through the state legislature, or (3) a referendum process if the agreement’s language allows it. Attendees emphasized that any change likely will require coordination with the regional school committee, joint legal review, and discussion with state legislators before placing language on town meeting warrant articles.

Next steps and direction

Participants directed town administrators from Lakeville and Freetown to coordinate with school committee members and counsel to draft recommended language or a shared plan for review. Several speakers suggested convening a small working group that includes school committee representation, legal counsel review, and community stakeholders to identify specific amendments or a supplemental agreement. No formal amendment was adopted at the meeting.

Ending

Officials agreed to resume planning and to schedule meetings among town administrators, the regional finance committee and the school committee. The select boards did not take formal action to change the agreement during this session; they moved to adjourn later in the meeting.