In Auburn, a principled approach toward government spending is emerging, as new school and city officials displayed fiscal common sense this week by changing principals.

On Wednesday, Auburn’s school committee approved what seemed a minor plan: shifting an assistant principal from Edward Little High School and a dean from Auburn Middle School into the vacant principal job at Washburn School, and new administrative position split between the middle school, high school and superintendent’s office.

The proposal originated from Auburn City Councilor Ron Potvin, the council’s liaison to the school committee. It won support because it was practical – filling two vacancies and saving money without hiring, or firing, existing staff.

And it eradicated the controversial $45,000 consulting contract for former superintendent Barbara Eretzian, which was excessive and unpopular.

By some official reactions to Potvin’s proposal, however, one might think he called for wholesale layoffs, instead of shifting two jobs. Or that by pushing for the change before the official budget process had begun, he was corrupting a sacred ceremony. This response seems excessive as well.

Approving these job transfers signals more than jobs shifting in Auburn; influence is shifting too. It also indicates school spending will be reviewed cautiously, line-by-line, in upcoming weeks, and school district officials will defend their budget with vigor. These are all positive developments for Auburn taxpayers and citizens.

Wednesday’s shakeup shows spending complacency is unwelcome, pragmatic problem-solving is popular, and the school committee and city council will hold toes to the fiscal fire. Checks and balances.

Auburn is exempt from consolidation occurring in school districts across the state. So is Lewiston, which we consider a negative quirk of the state’s efforts, as no two school districts are better primed for embracing innovative partnerships, collaborations and combining.

So, of course, the full effect of consolidation doesn’t apply to them. How these districts’ finances fare, compared to those subject to the state law, is a yardstick for evaluating the governor’s entire consolidation agenda.

Yet just because Auburn and Lewiston can stand on their own, this doesn’t exempt the two districts from pursuing the ends that consolidation means to instill: lessening administrative costs, and securing cost efficiencies.

Rather, this means nobody is forcing Auburn or Lewiston to change. Change must come from within.

Auburn, in Wednesday’s vote, shows willingness to change. New school and city officials – exemplified by Potvin’s challenge of district staffing traditions – won’t stand on ceremony, but give the budget fresh oversight and scrutiny.

They appear ready to question Auburn’s every spending principle, at the expense of principals, if necessary.