FY24 A.I. Addressing OPEB Liability in a Regional School District

Only available as part of a package

Regional school districts are unique in that they have their own OPEB liability (vs. being incorporated into the municipality's liability for GASB). NRSD school committee formed an OPEB Management Advisory Committee (OMAC) that reviewed what defines OPEB, what makes up the district liability, what would changes to trust contribution mean, etc. The OMAC was comprised of school committee, town officials, fin comm members, and the school business administrator. The result was education materials to school committee and the public along with a recommendation for budget. This session will walk through how we defined problems, created goals, formed groups, and made recommendations.

Ross Mulkerin

Director of Finance and Operations

Nashoba Regional School District

Ross Mulkerin is the Director of Finance and Operations for the Nashoba Regional School District (Lancaster, Bolton, and Stow). Prior to taking on this role in the district, Ross was the principal of The Center School (Stow) for seven years. He has experience in other districts as a principal, special education administrator, and special educator. Ross holds a CAGS in Educational Leadership, a Master of Education in Special Education, and a Bachelor of Arts in Financial Economics.

Jay Sullivan (Moderator)

Associate Commissioner, School Finance and District Support Center; MASBO Treasurer

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Jay Sullivan is the Associate Commissioner for District & School Finance in the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education. In this capacity, he directs the Offices of School Finance, School Business and Regional Governance. He also oversees a variety of financial programs, including Special Education Circuit Breaker, School accounting, End of Year Financial Reporting and Auditing, Transportation, as well as federal compliance issues relative to maintenance of effort requirements and the calculation of district’s indirect cost rates. Jay has worked for the Department for over 43 years as an auditor, administrator and business manager.