Marblehead schools end fiscal year without budget deficit

MARBLEHEAD-The Marblehead schools ended Fiscal Year 2008 with a zero budget balance.The potential $25,000 deficit predicted as a possibility by former School Business Manager David Keniston on May 12 was reduced by Interim School Business Manager Gene Case and finally eliminated by the new School Business Manager Jonathan Goldfield.Keniston, a Tewksbury resident, left Marblehead to become school business manager in Andover June 30. Case, a consultant, served as interim school business manager until Goldfeld began his tenure in late July.Superintendent of Schools Paul Dulac said Thursday the credit for erasing the potential 5-figure deficit should go to the school administrators and curriculum directors, who stuck by a budget freeze instituted by Keniston in January.State law allows School Departments to transfer money within their budgets, covering shortfalls in one area with surpluses in another. Dulac said the use of grant money and income also made a significant difference.In his May report, Keniston told the School Committee he estimated a budget shortfall of $13,579 at year end, noting that the figure was $6,079 more than the deficit he anticipated in April. Keniston added that he had just been informed of $11,000 in labor counsel expenses, making the total shortfall just under $25,000.School Committee members pointed out that his worst-case scenario was one-tenth of 1 percent of the $25 million school budget.?We work as hard as we can to come in at zero (deficit),” Keniston said.?The fact that you?re this close is tremendous,” said School Committee Chairman Amy Drinker.