The superintendent and her district leadership team begin work on the budget for May Town Meeting the preceding September, gathering information from staff, assessing student achievement to determine areas of need, looking at enrollment projections, etc. It is a "needs based" budget, meaning everything is on the table for analysis every year. The school department also consults with the town finance committee. As the new budget is being developed, it is brought to the School Committee for discussion several times, before a vote. The school budget also must be brought before the Finance Committee for approval prior to final approval via a vote at May Town Meeting. Current year budget expenditures are monitored by the School Committee, through reports at meetings.