Lincoln School Committee accepts $60,000 in state grants, approves strategic plan

LINCOLN -- September 21, 2023, Lincoln School Committee accepts $60,000 in Community Compact grants for Hanscom contract and finance reviews. The committee voted unanimously on Sept. 21 to accept a $35,000 best-practices grant to fund an in-depth analysis of the U.S. DoDEA Hanscom contract and a $25,000 grant for a financial policies and procedures review, both to be conducted by the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at UMass Boston. Member Matina Madrick cited "preparation for the upcoming Hanscom contract negotiations" and a review of the district's Hanscom reserve level. Members also approved the 2023-24 District Strategic Plan, which Superintendent Parry Graham called "doable" but "ambitious," and authorized four FY25 capital submissions, including replacement of 62 wireless access points eligible for roughly 40 percent E-Rate reimbursement. Chair John McLaughlin urged the four continuing members to publicly signal their position on bringing the Reed Building pods to code, estimated at $3.4 million per pod, if December's community center vote fails.