School Committee approves 14 new METCO enrollments, 25 employee-child placements for 2021-22

LINCOLN — April 15, 2021 — Lincoln School Committee greenlights 14 new METCO seats and plans fully in-person fall reopening. The committee unanimously approved enrollment of up to 14 new Boston resident students in grades K-2 — bringing the program back toward its grant cap of 91 — along with up to 20 employee children in K-8 and five in preschool. Superintendent Becky McFall reported that more than 90 percent of district faculty and staff are vaccinated or scheduled, calling herself "actually surprised" by the pace. The district will ask May 15 Town Meeting to approve a $12,347,239 operating budget, with the Finance Committee separately proposing a $263,281 FY22 reserve fund for COVID-related school expenses including two additional class sections to allow three-foot distancing. Pool testing — 5,015 samples and two positive pools to date — will continue through June 15 with DESE funding.