School Committee Strikes Back

The Dighton-Rehoboth School Committee is defending its decision to adjust the district assessments for the two towns ahead of the October 29 Town Meeting. Another district-wide meeting may take place on November 2 if the 2020 school budget is rejected by voters.

Committee chairperson Katherine Cooper explained the vote on September 30 did not change the overall reduced budget amount that the School Committee voted on September 24. “What we corrected on September 30 was each Town's respective share of that amount in light of a change in minimum required local contributions set by the state,” Cooper noted. “Our calculation on 9/30 was made in accordance with the law and our regional agreement.”

Regarding the recent lawsuit filed by the Rehoboth Board of Selectmen, Cooper said the District’s financial records were available to anyone under the public records law. “My understanding is that any existing financial records the BOS asked for have been provided,” Cooper continued. “That being said, we would be happy to provide any additional existing records requested in accordance with the provisions of the public records law. Regarding the audit, even though the District undergoes an outside independent audit every year costing over $35,000, we welcome an audit by an outside firm retained by the BOS and provide cooperation. It’s unfortunate that the BOS think a costly lawsuit is the best way to broach their concerns.”