Case Study

Springfield, MA (Springfield Financial Control Board) Public Schools Operational Assessment Study

The Springfield Financial Control Board engaged PFM to conduct an operational assessment for the City's public schools. The City's schools faced many challenges. Administrative costs were high; buildings had not been adequately maintained. The food services program drained general funding from the School Department.

PFM took a critical look at all of the Department's non-pedagogical functions to change the way that the Department operated, including:

- Central Administration;
- Purchasing;
- Facilities Maintenance;
- Transportation;
- Telecommunications;
- Food Services; and
- Special Education.

The final report included over 75 quantified recommendations, and PFM was subsequently retained to assist Springfield in selecting private vendors to provide school food services and certain school facilities maintenance services.