Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the District Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
School committee hears budget progress and DESE food-service audit; meal-pricing and grab-and-go lunches flagged
Summary
Committee members reported the district deficit has been reduced in recent weeks and discussed a DESE food-service audit finding two noncompliant policies, meal-pricing increases and documentation concerns for grab-and-go lunches on half days; the committee accepted a $15,560 summer-meals grant and scheduled further budget meetings.
The Revere School Committee on April 28 received a Ways and Means update showing the district's budget gap shrinking and heard staff explain two Department of Elementary and Secondary Education audit findings affecting food services and scheduling.
Mr. Kingston reported that the deficit initially described as about $9.1 million has been reduced in stages; he said the figure was cut to $4.8 million and later reported the number had moved to approximately $2.7 million after House budget adjustments. He said the subcommittee will meet again as new state numbers come in.
The committee accepted a Healey-Driscoll administration donation of $15,560 for the district's summer meals program; the donation was included on the consent calendar, which passed by roll-call vote with all recorded members voting yes.
On food services, staff said DESE's audit identified two school committee policies that are not compliant with current state rules (the audit cited outdated references tied to the district's participation in the Community Eligibility Provision). Staff said corrective-action responses will be drafted and referred to the policy subcommittee, with updates expected by August.
Officials also flagged pricing and meal documentation issues. A staff member told the committee that meal purchase prices for staff are expected to rise by about 40 percent and that current "grab-and-go" lunch procedures used on half days do not meet DESE documentation expectations because the department cannot confirm students actually consume those meals on site. Dr. Kelly said addressing the grab-and-go finding may require formalizing a lunch period and could involve contract negotiations with the teachers' union.
Committee members asked for more detailed proposals and scheduled additional Ways and Means sessions to refine options, including reserve use and state aid scenarios.
No formal budget vote was taken at the April 28 meeting; the committee plans follow-up meetings and further public discussion in May.
