Lincoln School Committee advances four superintendent finalists, sets January forums

LINCOLN -- January 12, 2023, Lincoln advances four superintendent finalists and a budget asking $383,000 above guideline. The School Committee unanimously accepted the search subcommittee's recommendation of Michael Kyra (Ashland), Annette Doyle (Sudbury) and Harry Graham (Wayland) among four finalists drawn from 24 applicants, with site visits and 6 p.m. public forums set for Jan. 19, 23, 24 and 26. Superintendent Becky McFall and Business Administrator Mary Ellen Normen will close $51,000 and $70,000 base-budget gaps from the personnel control account, then seek an extra 1 percent, about $72,000 per campus, for faculty negotiations after comps showed Lincoln seventh of seven peers at bachelor's step one. Member Adam Hogue backed the package, saying parents "want mental health addressed." A 0.6 adjustment counselor/BCBA pegged at $45,000 would support the foundations program, where enrollment may rise from four to eight. The committee also voted to post a 20-day notice voluntarily recognizing AFSCME as the food-service bargaining unit.