Lincoln School Committee directs $100,000 search to preserve four fourth grade sections

LINCOLN -- December 1, 2016, Lincoln School Committee directs administrators to find at least $100,000 to keep four fourth grade sections. Superintendent Becky McFall told the committee Dec. 1 that 38 percent of the 71 students in the current third grade require additional support, IEPs, 504 plans, ELL services, or social-emotional and behavioral needs, with the IEP-only share at 21 percent and possibly rising to 30 percent as evaluations close. Three sections would yield classes of 23 and 24; four sections would yield 17 and 18. "You're talking about a third of the students in each class having pretty high level needs," McFall said. Adding a section requires a new teacher plus tutor support. The committee also approved revised policy LBC governing private school approvals, prompted by a Birches School candidacy update, and approved warrants of $809,311.82.