8.19.2026 Fall River School Committee - Finance

The Fall River School Committee's Finance Subcommittee met to discuss several key financial matters ahead of the new school year. The primary topics included a new waste removal contract, the budgets for the district's alternative education programs, and the end-of-year financial report for fiscal year 2026. Chief Operating Officer Ken Pacheco detailed the new 3-year city contract with Capital Waste, which he said would provide greater accountability through individual weighing of school waste. However, committee members, led by Kevin Aguiar, expressed significant concern that the School Committee had no input on the contract and requested a five-year history of waste removal costs.

A major point of contention arose regarding the budgets for the Evolve, Resiliency Preparatory Academy (RPA), and new virtual school programs. Committee members argued that the administration was reallocating the approximately $3.3 million budget from the former RPA program to create new, separate budgets for the three schools without the required approval of the School Committee, circumventing their budgetary authority. The new CFO, Mr. Petronio, explained he was creating new cost centers and moving budgeted funds as staff were assigned. Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Smith acknowledged the committee's concerns and committed to providing a full budgetary breakdown for their approval at a future meeting. The CFO also presented the FY26 end-of-year report, which showed a balanced budget, and a comprehensive list of the district's revolving accounts, which sparked a discussion on McKinney-Vento transportation funds and varying school utility costs. The meeting concluded with a unanimous vote to adjourn.

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