School Business Manager Put On Administrative Leave

School Business Manager Ruth Quinn Berdell was placed on voluntary, paid administrative leave from her position last Friday, School Superintendent Bella T. Wong has confirmed.

School Committee Chairman Suzy Littlefield also confirmed the move, and had no further comment other than to say, “if and when this status changes we will have more to say then, not before.”

Berdell has been at the center of controversy since the discovery last March that more than for more than a year.

Since that revelation, Berdell’s tight control on a department that was found to be has been a focus of attention from residents who have called for changes.

Along with Berdell’s departure, Wong two weeks ago announced year citing “ongoing public concern over school operation protocol.”

Berdell has worked in the school department for 26 years.

Last month is was discovered that during that time she has has been allowed to carry in an exception to the town’s current “use it or lose it” vacation policy.

She has already received one check in the amount of $43,000 for that unused time, and was to have received a second check for the same amount next year.

Specifics of when she will now receive that second check have not been made public.

An independent review of the business department done by the accounting firm of Sullivan & Power in the wake of the lunch money issue found an overall lack of communication and cooperation between those collecting money and those accounting for it.

It also showed the department has few checks and balances, no standardized system for turning checks into the business department and no clear system in place to keep track of incoming checks or process them and pay bills in a timely manner.

A of the department commissioned by the School Committee is in the process of being completed by the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials.

Results of that review are expected by the end of the month.

Littlefield has said she is looking forward to seeing what this review finds and what recommendations it makes to help improve the department.

Berdell’s leave comes as the School Committee must begin formulating a budget for the coming year which is expected to include asking voters to override Proposition 2 1/2. In the past, Berdell has taken a central role in providing budget figures and forecasts during the budget process.

Bret Silverberg contributed to this report.