Lincoln School Committee approves school-choice withdrawal and adopts Town Meeting stakeholder statement

LINCOLN -- March 21, 2024, Lincoln superintendent's entry plan calls for K-3 literacy overhaul and AID action as Chair exits. Superintendent Parry Grant presented findings from 47 listening sessions, six with students, 10 with parents, 31 with staff, plus surveys and MCAS data, framing the work as "reestablishing our foundations in the post-pandemic world." Priorities include a continuous curriculum review starting with K-3 literacy, moving Tier 2 academic interventions outside core instruction, tightening discipline expectations, expanding proactive mental health supports and recruiting a more racially diverse staff. METCO Liaison Kim Mack pressed Grant for action that is "not performative," citing an equity audit from three to four years ago. The committee also voted unanimously to withdraw from Massachusetts School Choice for 2024-25, approved the LEAP license, and adopted a stakeholder statement on the proposed community center. It was Chair John McLaughlin's last meeting after three years.