State reviews options for South Country schools financial struggles
State Sen. Dean Murray says he hopes the state doesn't have to do a takeover.
The South Country community is seeking transparency and accountability after the school superintendent, Antonio Santana, stepped down right before Wednesday's budget meeting.
School officials say they have a financial plan, but community members are looking ahead to see if more help from the state is coming.
The Department of Education says they can't take over or appoint a school monitor without legislative action.
State Sen. Dean Murray says nothing is off the table, but those decisions can't be made until the state budget is complete and the district budget is approved.
at that point, they'll decide if South Country needs a fiscal monitor, control board, or complete takeover.
“It's very, very rare that something like that would happen," said Murray. "And it's not what we want, because we want the people to be able to pick their school board, the members of their community that are running this. But with that said, when it gets to this point where we're in such dire straits, again, something needs to be done and we'll do what is necessary.”
Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, May 19 to vote on South Country's proposed $150 million budget.
