The answer to the current budget crisis facing our schools is not to just fully fund and raise taxes as has been suggested. Much of the 9.6% increase reflects overruns in this year. For the past several years we have had increases of between 50% and 200% on numerous line items to the tune of millions of dollars, as well as staffing increases despite enrollment being down 10% and flat since Covid. If we don’t show some resolve, seek to understand, and get control of our spending this will keep happening every year, as it already has been, and it is unsustainable. Public Schools of Brookline leadership needs to fulfill its obligations, that means ensuring we preserve the rich learning environment PSB and its educators provide our students (which the initial proposal for cost savings decidedly did not do), and do so while competently managing school finances and spending responsibly. The administration needs to take a hard look at its staffing and spending habits and focus on the necessary and the impactful. The school committee and the public need to hold them accountable, and not simply keep opening the wallet time and again.
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