WOBURN - Based upon informal discussions with Winchester school officials, Woburn Asst. Supt. Joseph Elia recently revealed that Woburn may host the Thanksgiving football contest between the Tanners and the Sachems for the foreseeable future.

Earlier this year, the stands at Knolton Stadium in Winchester were condemned after they fell into serious disrepair and became unsafe for spectators.

"I was talking to the business manager from Winchester and it doesn't look like they're going to have a stadium for quite a while," Elia said. "So we'll probably have the Thanksgiving day game here for quite a few years."

This November, despite worries about widespread parking and traffic congestion, Woburn hosted its first home game in four years without any major issues.

The city, which made shuttle buses available in Woburn center and designated several satellite parking areas nearby the high school, had a large contingent of public works and public safety officials on-hand for the Thanksgiving day game.

According to School Committee member Dr. John Wells, receipts from ticket sales were able to cover the costs of the event. After expenses, Woburn and Winchester each received half of the $13,124 in net profits from the game.

"We reviewed the expenses and receipts for the Thanksgiving football game and it turns out we covered expenses and got a little back too," Wells said.

Billing errors corrected

The city's School Committee authorized nearly $90,000 worth of transfers recently in order to correct multiple billing errors.

According Elia, the majority of the dozen transfers were required because various bills had been posted against the wrong accounts.

For example, several payments for purchases and expenses had been made out of athletic revolving accounts, when they should have been withdrawn from the regular athletic budget line-items.

Elia stressed that none of the corrections being made would have a negative impact on the district's FY'08 operating budget.

"Most of them deal with corrections to postings," the asst. supt. explained. "Some of the others are due to corrections with grants. Because individuals go up in stipends, we have to put part of that salary in the regular budget."

A list of the transfers are as follows:

* $36,757 to refund charges made against a closed-out grant;

* $20,000 to fund the district's summer school program;

* $407 for copier maintenance and supply accounts;

* $5,122 for athletic revolving accounts;

* $8,546 to various special education grants;

* $9,258 for an unspecified grant;

* $5,200 to shift salaries from a grant to the regular budget;

* $3,000 to refund a tech supply account;

* $1,103 to athletic revolving accounts.

Lunch accounts

The School Committee again reminded parents that electronic lunch accounts can be funded through the Internet.

"After consultation with our lunch program director, we just want to remind parents that they can register with mynutrikids.com," said Wells. "They'll get emails when the balance is low."

According to the School Committee member, parents will receive two separate notices from the school department, if their child's lunch account has run into the red.

After the second notice, if the outstanding balance hasn't been paid, students meal accounts will be shut-down.

According to School Committee member Denis Russell, the district still provides an alternate lunch for pupils in the event that they're turned away at the cafeteria.

"When a lunch is denied [because of deficit accounts], a substitute is offered, so kids don't go hungry," the School Committee member said.

Budget season approaches

Schools' Supt. Dr. Carl Batchelder informed the School Committee that he will unveil the district's draft FY'09 budget next month.

"I anticipate that before the end of January, you as the School Committee will receive a budget," Batchelder said.

According to the supt., he plans to consult with the mayor's office as he prepares a spending plan for next year, in order to avoid any misunderstandings about the school department's needs.

Last year, Batchelder unveiled a FY'08 budget that called for a $3 million increase in expenditures, but Mayor Thomas McLaughlin later rejected that proposal — although he did allow for a $1.5 million jump in spending.