Woburn Schools Overspent Budget By $2.9 Million

WOBURN, MA — Woburn Public School officials are citing increased special education expenses and contractual obligations as the key factors in a projected, $2.9 million budget deficit. The overspending for the current fiscal year was disclosed at a school committee meeting on April 1o. In a letter to the school community, Superintendent Matthew Crowley said Woburn "is not alone" in facing rising costs for special education and transportation for special education students.

"Moving forward, please know that the district is working collaboratively with our local and state officials to do all we can to rectify this situation and ensure that this challenge has a minimal impact on the teaching and learning that occurs daily in our school system." Crowley wrote. "Woburn has always provided quality educational programming for our students and there is no intention of interruptin the progress that has been made in recent years."

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).