VIENNA — With financial uncertainty swirling around school districts and the Mathews Board of Education allowing several extracurriculars to survive another year, one of its members is proposing greater oversight.

Board member Beth Haddle during last week’s meeting proposed the establishment of a community finance subcommittee.

Haddle said she believes public education functions best when it is “transparent, accountable and connected to the community,” adding that a subcommittee that includes community members could strengthen the district’s financial oversight and improve trust.

“Our budget involves millions of taxpayer dollars, and community members often want to understand how those funds are allocated,” Haddle said. “A subcommittee dedicated to financial review can provide a regular forum for examining budgets, expenditures and long- term financial planning in detail.”

Haddle noted the district’s budget shows a deficit in the coming years, which they are expected to see as early as fiscal year 2027, according to Superintendent Russell McQuaide, who said this was part of his reasoning for proposing extracurricular cuts.

She acknowledged that the board received “insightful information” from community members regarding budget cuts.

Haddle said the district also could benefit from local expertise, recognizing that some residents have professional experience in accounting, finance and business management, as well as public administration.

Haddle said a subcommittee also could help the board conduct a deeper review without overburdening regular meetings that typically cover a broad range of topics and leave limited time for detailed discussion.

In other action, the board:

• Approved a freeze on coaching salaries for the 2026-27 school year, keeping supplemental coaches at their current rates.

• Approved granting educational aide Victoria Matthews an unpaid day of leave April 21 and 22, 2025.

• Accepted the retirement resignation of special education teacher Lisa Albani, effective July 31.

• Approved Dan Vokyko as a detention monitor at a rate of $15 an hour.

• Approved Brittany Schillaci as a home instructor on an as-needed basis, at a rate of $30 an hour.

• Approved the district’s school career navigator services agreement for $11,985.

• Approved the district’s 2026-27 academic calendar.