Lincoln School Committee approves three-year McFall contract, advances building warrant article

LINCOLN -- May 14, 2020, Lincoln School Committee unanimously extends Superintendent Becky McFall through 2023 and advances $828,945 building-project warrant article. The five-member committee voted aye on a three-year contract running July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023, with retirement-clause modifications vetted by outside counsel, and separately moved to ask the Select Board to put a school building project funding article on the June 13 Town Meeting. The School Building Committee, working from Finance Committee guidance that roughly $840,000 in free cash is available, prioritized seven value-engineered items totaling $628,945 plus a $200,000 partial FF&E restoration, down from the $2 million list considered in March. Four teachers and counselors used the meeting's first formal Zoom public comment session to ask for community compassion; LTA co-president Elaine Hirshag said criticism had been "really tough to hear," and fifth-grade teacher Julie Barkin said decisions must consider "the whole teacher, the whole family." McFall said state reopening guidance is expected by mid-June.