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Following a surprise reveal of a forecasted $1.6 million deficit for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) at Sudbury Public Schools (SPS), the Sudbury Select Board has raised concerns about transparency and communication coming from Sudbury’s K-8 school district administration including Superintendent Brad Crozier and Director of Business and Human Resources Don Sawyer.
During the December 2 meeting of the Select Board, multiple members voiced their disappointment in the SPS administration for their failure to inform the Town Manager of an apparent (and large) structural deficit in their budget until after the Town Manager presented the Financial Condition of the Town on November 18.
Members raised questions about how SPS was handling pre-payments for special education costs, as well as concerns about the fact that SPS was not allowing either the Town Manager or a member of the Select Board to be in the room during contract negotiations with the teachers. It was pointed out that Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School included a member of the Sudbury Select Board in their contract negotiation sessions earlier this year.
Vice Chair Janie Dretler praised the current SPS School Committee for having a discussion about the three-year budget forecast at their last meeting. She noted that she did not recall SPS having such a forecast discussion last year. “I wish that there had been more transparency from the administration about the financial situation of the schools and I do hope that the school committee keeps pressing hard for more transparency.”
She also questioned the information provided by SPS Director of Business and Human Resources, Don Sawyer, when presenting the forecast on November 24. “I did hear [Sawyer] give some rationale. But It just didn’t seem to make sense to me given what I’ve experienced over the past number of years.”
Member Dan Carty repeatedly questioned why the Select Board would discuss this matter when they had so little information about the SPS budget and SPS would be discussing matters further later in the week. Board members continued to discuss the issues, including member Charlie Russo, who reiterated that the lack of information was the reason for having a discussion. “I think that’s my point, Dan. And that seems to be the whole problem.”
Member Radha Gargeya emphasized the importance of communication and collaboration between the cost centers, and talked at length about the importance of getting an accurate report on the SPS budget without the skewed view that is created by prepayments for special education costs. Gargeya previously served on the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee and has delivered presentations on school finance to the community.
“The half of the story that we have is that there’s a deficit that we were not informed of until last Monday. I’m sure they didn’t find out about it Monday morning.”
Town Manager Andy Sheehan
Later in the discussion member Carty repeated his argument to the board that they only had half the story, and that he expected to get the rest of the story on Thursday. He voiced a preference to discuss matters with the SPS School Committee at their upcoming joint meeting, but others on the board emphasized that the administration created the budget and would need to be present at any discussion.
Town Manager Sheehan chimed in with a stern reminder to the board “The half of the story that we have is that there’s a deficit that we were not informed of until last Monday. I’m sure they didn’t find out about it Monday morning.”
The discussion set up a critical series of meetings in the coming weeks. Town Manager Andy Sheehan and Assistant Town Manager Victor Garofalo will be joining the SPS School Committee for a budget conversation at their Thursday, December 4 meeting. Next week, the Select Board and SPS School Committee will meet jointly to appoint someone to the vacant seat on the SPS School Committee following the resignation of Mandy Sim.
The bottom line impact of the SPS budget revelation is significant for all three cost centers in Sudbury. While an override is one possible solution, Town Manager Sheehan was anticipating a need for a combined override in FY28 or FY29. If SPS jumps ahead of the Town for an override, that could materially reduce the odds of a successful override for the Town in the ensuing fiscal year.
With budget season in full swing it won’t be long before residents find out if the Town can assemble a plan to work its way out of what Chair Kouchakdjian called a “mess.” Whatever solution the administrations come up with, the Select Board seems intent on getting to the bottom of the lack of transparency from the SPS administration.