School Committee tells superintendent to revise FY25 budget before January vote

LINCOLN -- December 14, 2023, Lincoln School Committee pushes back on three new administrator positions in FY25 budget. Members told Superintendent Parry Graham at the Dec. 14 meeting to return in January with prioritized scenarios, written justifications tied to student outcomes, and items previously labeled "above guidance" folded into the 2.5 percent Finance Committee envelope. Chair Matina Madrick said it would be "imprudent" to approve more than one new administrator without a long-term plan or completion of the Collins Center governance study. Susan Taylor said the committee had repeated a flawed process from 2021, while METCO Representative Kim Mack flagged that METCO Director Marika Hamilton is filling two roles: "Burnout is a real thing." The committee separately adopted a 2024-25 calendar starting students before Labor Day by roll call, with member John Black absent.