Lincoln School Committee approves Birches private school for one year, K-3

LINCOLN -- May 31, 2012, Lincoln approves new K-3 private school and hears Hanscom one-to-one technology results. The School Committee on May 31 granted The Birches a one-year conditional license to open in September in the First Parish space being vacated by Lincoln Nursery School, contingent on outstanding asbestos and playground inspections and a financial solvency document due Aug. 15. Founder Cecily Wardell, asked about an anonymous benefactor, told the committee, "I will keep these doors open personally out of my bank account." Hanscom Middle School Principal Erich Ledeburr and teachers Joanne Fazel, Janice Fairchild, Dave Joseph, Josh Gold and Monica Albacheck demonstrated the first-year iPad and Chromebook rollout. Science teacher Joseph called the shift "a game changer." The committee also approved $1,123,328 in warrants, including a $314,000 Hanscom retiree health insurance payment, and noted Hanscom's final-design bid documents now run roughly 3,000 pages.