Committee presses administration on graduation costs, Munis contractor and purchase orders as budget review continues

During the May 14 finance subcommittee meeting, committee members scrutinized specific budget line items and consulting contracts that helped drive questions about the FY27 recommendation.

Graduation and event lines: The superintendent identified a $115,004 running cost for Brockton High School graduation covering tents, sound, diplomas, yearbooks and law‑enforcement detail; members pressed whether culinary and CTE programs could reduce catering costs, questioned why the district buys yearbooks for all students, and asked for vendor and purchase order details for expensive plaques and golf carts.

School police overtime: The superintendent attributed high overtime to being short‑staffed in patrol positions and noted new recruits in the academy. Committee members asked about how many officers are active and whether the district is buying uniform items for Brockton PD details.

Procurement and Munis support: Members raised concerns about paying both Pam Woods (a Munis contractor who does daily payroll and Munis work) and Open Architects (a consultant the state previously brought in); the superintendent said the roles differ — Woods does day‑to‑day Munis and payroll tasks (contract held with the city), while Open Architects consult on facilities — and agreed to provide a breakdown of contracts, daily rates and responsibilities.

Other cost drivers: Questions were raised about Yondr pouch purchases and whether alternate vendors or bulk purchasing could yield savings, a landscaping line for graduation (~$4,500) that needs itemization, and storage container invoices totaling $529/month for three locations.

Next steps: Committee members requested vendor invoices, purchase orders and the Pam Woods contract breakdown; the superintendent agreed to supply the documentation and noted the procurement/position‑control work will improve future transparency.