The Methuen School Department will be able to pay its bills after all.
The City Council begrudgingly passed the $57.6 million school department budget tonight, with councilors rhetorically kicking and screaming. The council rejected the budget earlier this month. Without council approval of their budget, the school department can’t spend any money.
Councilors complained that Superintendent Jeanne Whitten didn’t give them details about what layoffs she plans to prevent, and that she didn’t take a pay cut.
Councilor Kenneth Willette Jr. even referred to the school budget as a “dog with many fleas.”
Councilors and School Committee members are planning to hold a joint meeting with school administrators in September, which may help them work through their differences. The School Committee usually has a spread of fruit and cheese at their meetings. No word on whether they’ll bring Milk Bone biscuits in September.
