School committee seeks Collins report draft, votes to authorize liaison to request early review

Stoughton School Committee members on Nov. 4 voted 5–0 to authorize their liaison to the Select Board to formally request a draft of the Collins report as soon as it is released so the committee may review and provide feedback.

Members said the Collins report — a consultant review of municipal operations that the town manager expects to issue in draft form within days — could include recommendations with direct implications for school funding, capital projects and use of free cash and stabilization accounts. Committee members argued the governing board should have an early opportunity to review the draft and participate in cross‑board discussions rather than receive the report only after other town bodies have acted.

Miss Powers moved to authorize the school committee’s delegate to request the draft; Jen Sears seconded the motion. The committee discussed the timing and potential link to the town’s effort to obtain an improved bond rating, which members said could accelerate implementation and affect borrowing costs. The motion passed in a roll call vote, 5–0.

During discussion, Dr. Baietta noted that local policy cannot supersede state statute and said she would share the draft electronically with committee members once it is available. Members asked that two committee members, together with the finance committee and select board, be included in early deliberations so the schools can review recommendations that affect long‑term budgets.

The committee also discussed recent local fiscal actions: the superintendent reported the district now has a stabilization account and said the town moved a significant amount into that account earlier in the year; she described free cash as “significant” this year but did not provide a precise figure at the meeting.