Brockton School Panel Denies Old Bills, Holds Police Invoice Pending Agreement

BROCKTON — April 1, 2025 — Brockton school finance panel denies years of unpaid invoices and holds police detail bills pending a formal agreement. The School Committee's Accounts Review Subcommittee voted unanimously at its April 1 meeting to deny a tranche of invoices from fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024, following a prior November cleanup of roughly $260,000 in overdue bills that failed to stem the flow of late submissions. Superintendent Dr. Teihani told members that fiscal years 2022 and 2023 are "an absolute no" and that vendors seeking payment for fiscal year 2024 work must provide documentation proving timely submission. In a separate 5-1 vote, the subcommittee postponed payment of approximately $16,000 in Brockton Police Department detail invoices — billed after school police officers temporarily lost their police powers for roughly five days in January — until the city and district execute a memorandum of agreement with provisions to prevent a recurrence. Chair Tony Rodriguez cast the lone dissenting vote on the police invoice item, arguing the lapse originated with city leadership and that the district should not absorb the unbudgeted cost; the superintendent said she supports payment but wants a signed MOU first. The subcommittee also unanimously approved a final batch of community school purchase orders from credit cards the district has since closed, as it shifts the program to standard procurement.