9/17/25 - Finance Subcommittee Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the 

Monson School Committee

Finance Subcommittee Meeting

Date 09-17-25

Present: Karen Nothe-Valley, (Chair), Alison Morgan, Leah Zippin, Paul Foster 

Ms. Nothe-Valley called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m.

Meeting information: 

FY 26 Budget Update

Superintendent Paul Foster and Leah Zippin, Director of Business & Operations announced they created a new monthly report, the Monson Public Schools Budget Variance report. This report shows an approved budget and a working budget. The working budget takes into account fluctuations that occur that are within the nature of running a School District.  

Paul and Leah reviewed the structure and content of the first report (September 2025) with School Committee Finance Subcommittee members (Alison and Karen). The report is broken out by school buildings, administration, special education, system wide, and operation and maintenance.  In addition to providing an up-to-date snapshot in time for total operational expenses, grant revenue and money moves, the report also includes a section on  unanticipated and unbudgeted expenses as they arise.  This section will be cumulative so that there will be a clear running record over time of these types of events and expenses that occur.  For instance, in September, there was a cybersecurity incident, plumbing issue at the high school, and an additional special education ESP for a 1:1 student. 

Alison and Karen asked questions about particular expenses and differences. In some cases, it was reported that things like staff changes accounted for certain differences, such as a veteran teacher being hired.  The total operational expenses for the FY26 Budget Approved is $11,144,619, which includes $300,000 approved at the May annual town meeting by amendment. It was also mentioned that a $75,000 earmark positively impacting the school budget has been secured for Monson in the Massachusetts state budget.  At this snapshot in time (September 2025), the working budget is a plus (+) $52,505, but administration cautions that unbudgeted items are not yet included in the table within the report yet. 

Mini-Triboard 

Alison Morgan gave a preview about the recent Mini-Triboard meeting she attended. This was simply a brief preliminary discussion of some items from the Mini-Triboard meeting, including discussion of two of the upcoming Fall Special Town Meeting warrant articles that are relevant to the School District, both involve Monson Parks & Rec and use of approved CPC funds: 1.) to redo with clay the JV softball field, and 2.) revamping of the entire Veteran’s field space, including repairing the 90 ft. JV baseball field and finishing an ADA-compliant walking path around Veteran’s field, etc. Alison also described a budget exercise that Jennifer Wolowicz asked from all departments essentially showing what it truly takes to run your department.  This exercise will help inform whether the town may need to move in the direction of an override. However, Alison made clear the takeaway here is that we are one town, one budget, and everyone needs to be in the understanding that it’s not just one department that suffers; we’re all in this together.  Karen asked for clarification on who attends Mini-Triboard to ensure transparency with the public and open meeting law is being followed. It was reported that Mini-Triboard meetings  include Jennifer Wolowicz, Town Administrator, a member from each of three boards (Select Board, School Committee, and Finance Committee {FinComm}), without achieving a quorum on any board.  Alison Morgan is the liaison from the School Committee attending with Paul Foster and Leah Zippin.  

Discussion of five year forecast 

Paul and Leah announced that they are working on 5-year forecast, that it is currently a work-in-progress, but it will be shared at upcoming School Committee Finance Subcommittee meetings, at Mini-Triboard, and with the full School Committee at a regular meeting at a later date. 

The meeting was adjourned at 5:47  PM

Documentation for this meeting: Agenda

Distributed at meeting: MPS Budget Variance - September 2025 report 

Approved by Committee:

Peter Wiggins, Secretary