TIMELINE: Who knew what when about Brockton Public Schools' $14.4 million deficit?

Cody Shepard, The Enterprise
Updated ·4 min read

BROCKTON — It should be no secret to city residents at this point that the Brockton Public Schools are dealing with a $14.4 million deficit from fiscal year 2023.

Members of the public, the mayor and school committee members have expressed frustration over the situation.

A lot of rumors have swirled, with some being quickly debunked.

Public and private meetings have been held and employees have been placed on administrative leave.

Information has been released at different times through various avenues.

All of this can make it difficult to track an ongoing situation that residents are clearly interested in.

Here's a timeline of what we know, including who knew what and when, surrounding the deficit.

Mayor Robert Sullivan addresses a large crowd at a Brockton School Committee meeting at Brockton High School on Wednesday evening, Sept. 6, 2023 regarding a $14.4 million deficit recently discovered in last year's school budget.
Mayor Robert Sullivan addresses a large crowd at a Brockton School Committee meeting at Brockton High School on Wednesday evening, Sept. 6, 2023 regarding a $14.4 million deficit recently discovered in last year's school budget.

Aug. 8, 2023

Mayor Robert Sullivan said at a Sept. 6 school committee meeting that he was first notified by Aldo Petronio, the chief financial officer for Brockton Public Schools, of a deficit for fiscal year 2023, which ended on June 30, on Aug. 8.

Aug. 15, 2023

Under "new business" at the Aug. 15 school committee meeting, Sullivan asked Petronio to give an update on the budget. Petronio told the school committee that he and Chris Correia, the schools' director of financial services, had been tying up the fiscal year 2023 budget and informed Superintendent Michael Thomas that they were expecting "deficits in several accounts that we may not be able to clear this year." Petronio said he notified City of Brockton Chief Financial Officer Troy Clarkson and Sullivan "last Thursday," which would have been Aug. 10. Sullivan said on Sept. 6 that he was notified on Aug. 8.

Troy Clarkson, seen in this 2012 Enterprise file photo, was appointed as the Brockton's chief financial officer in 2019. He replaced the retiring John “Jay” Condon, who held the position since it was created by the legislature in 1990. (Marc Vasconcellos/Enterprise file photo)
Troy Clarkson, seen in this 2012 Enterprise file photo, was appointed as the Brockton's chief financial officer in 2019. He replaced the retiring John “Jay” Condon, who held the position since it was created by the legislature in 1990. (Marc Vasconcellos/Enterprise file photo)

Aug. 29, 2023

An agenda is posted at 3:11 p.m. by Brockton Public Schools for a special meeting of the Brockton School Committee on Thursday, Aug. 31, at 6 p.m.

Aug. 31, 2023

An agenda is posted at 2:26 p.m. by Brockton Public Schools for a regular meeting of the Brockton School Committee on Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m. The agenda includes the hearing of visitors, or public comment.

Rumors swirl on social media regarding the Brockton Public Schools, including a possible FBI raid, embezzlement claims and arrests. The rumors are determined to be false.

A special meeting of the Brockton School Committee is held. The agenda only includes a call to order, executive session and adjournment. The public was not allowed into the meeting, even for the meeting to be called to order and for a vote to enter executive session.

'Definition of the smoke-filled room': Brockton School Committee broke law, expert says

Following the four-hour, closed-door meeting, Sullivan, with members of the school committee behind him, read a prepared statement to members of the media and public who had gathered outside Brockton High School. He announced a $14 million "deficit" for fiscal year 2023 and said that Thomas had informed the committee that he would be taking an extended medical leave.

Brockton Mayor Robert F. Sullivan read a statement from the School Committee after a four-hour closed-door meeting. Sullivan announced that the district recently learned of a $14M deficit and that Superintendent Michael Thomas is out on "extended medical leave."
Brockton Mayor Robert F. Sullivan read a statement from the School Committee after a four-hour closed-door meeting. Sullivan announced that the district recently learned of a $14M deficit and that Superintendent Michael Thomas is out on "extended medical leave."

Sept. 1, 2023

An agenda is posted at 10:15 a.m. by Brockton Public Schools for an emergency meeting of the Brockton School Committee on that same day, Sept. 1, for 3:30 p.m.

Petronio, the chief financial officer for the schools, and Correia, the director of financial services for the schools, are placed on administrative leave, Sullivan later announces at the Sept. 6 school committee meeting.

An emergency meeting of the Brockton School Committee is held. The public is allowed to attend the meeting, but there is no public comment period. The committee voted to promote James Cobbs to acting superintendent and voted to hire an external auditor before going back into "closed session" for 2 1/2 hours.

Mayor Robert Sullivan, left, announces James Cobbs as acting superintendent of Brockton Public Schools at an "emergency meeting" of the Brockton School Committee at the high school on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.
Mayor Robert Sullivan, left, announces James Cobbs as acting superintendent of Brockton Public Schools at an "emergency meeting" of the Brockton School Committee at the high school on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.

Thomas, the superintendent on medical leave, speaks to The Enterprise. He took full responsibility for the $14.4 million deficit, but said emphatically there was no embezzlement or missing money. Thomas said the overspending was mostly in staffing, transportation and security.

Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan, right, and Brockton Public Schools Superintendent Mike Thomas talk during a recess at a school committee meeting on May 16, 2023.
Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan, right, and Brockton Public Schools Superintendent Mike Thomas talk during a recess at a school committee meeting on May 16, 2023.

Sept. 5, 2023

Brockton Public Schools, on its website, releases a frequently asked questions document regarding the fiscal 2023 deficit. The district says the $14.4 million is not missing. They say its a fiscal year 2023 deficit, not for the current fiscal year 2024. They say neither the district nor mayor's office have been in contact with any law enforcement agency.

Sept. 6, 2023

Patrick Quinn of Brockton, a candidate for Ward 7 city councilor, speaks at a Brockton School Committee meeting at Brockton High School on Wednesday evening, Sept. 6, 2023 regarding a $14.4 million deficit recently discovered in last year's school budget.
Patrick Quinn of Brockton, a candidate for Ward 7 city councilor, speaks at a Brockton School Committee meeting at Brockton High School on Wednesday evening, Sept. 6, 2023 regarding a $14.4 million deficit recently discovered in last year's school budget.

A regular meeting of the Brockton School Committee is held. Sullivan says he was first notified of a deficit by Petronio on Aug. 8. He announces that Petronio and Correia were placed on administrative leave. Sullivan says he asked Clarkson to expand his system of oversight and budget management to include the schools. Sullivan says he plans to retain a firm to conduct a full financial audit of the city and that he has reached out to state officials to seek guidance.

From left, Brockton Public Schools Assistant Chief Financial Officer Chris Correia; Brockton Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Aldo Petronio; and Brockton Chief Financial Officer Troy Clarkson leave a closed-door Brockton School Committee meeting at Brockton High School on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023.
From left, Brockton Public Schools Assistant Chief Financial Officer Chris Correia; Brockton Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Aldo Petronio; and Brockton Chief Financial Officer Troy Clarkson leave a closed-door Brockton School Committee meeting at Brockton High School on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023.

'You failed at your jobs:' Brockton parents tear into school board over deficit

At the school committee meeting, members of the public are allowed to speak and ask questions for the first time. Over more than 45 minutes, more than a dozen people tore into the committee over the deficit.

Enterprise staff writer Cody Shepard can be reached by email at cshepard@enterprisenews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton schools: Timeline for superintendent, CFO leave and deficit