School Committee receives $35M FY25 proposal as members push back on new administrators

LINCOLN -- December 7, 2023, Lincoln School Committee gets a $35M FY25 budget with three new administrators and pilot programs. Superintendent Perry Graham presented a $13,548,732 Lincoln base budget at the Finance Committee's 2.5 percent guidance plus a $19,093,202 Hanscom budget that runs roughly $700,000 above the final-year DoDEA contract. New positions include an assistant principal at Lincoln, a permanent second assistant principal at Hanscom, and a central-office DEI director, partially offset by eliminating vacant communications, faculty-in-residence and English-language positions. Chair Matina Madrick said she was "struggling" to see how the administrative additions connect to gaps in student services. Member Susan Taylor objected to the process: "This isn't COVID. We don't have to do something immediately." A roughly $83,000 one-time pilot package including Fundations phonics for Lincoln first grade ($13,000), a data warehouse pilot (about $23,000), and free field trips on the Lincoln campus drew warmer reception. A final vote is targeted for Jan. 25.