Winchester School Committee approves $598,540 literacy funding, votes to drop athletic fee family cap

PEPPERELL — April 16, 2026 — Winchester School Committee unanimously approves $598,540 literacy curriculum funding and eliminates athletic fee family cap amid FY27 budget pressure. The committee, chaired by Tim Matthews, voted Thursday to set the appropriation figure for a Spring Town Meeting article funding a full K-5 elementary literacy rollout, drawing down existing pilot funds first before requesting the balance from voters. A Budget Subcommittee recommendation to eliminate the family cap on sports fees and raise per-sport fees from $400 to a range of $550 to $600 — plus facility surcharges for high-cost sports — passed unanimously as the district works to close a roughly $246,000 athletics budget deficit not covered in its 5 percent budget request. Transportation and nutrition fee increases were also accepted unanimously. Superintendent Dr. Hackett, responding to extended community pressure over a postponed Morocco Elementary School feasibility study, maintained that the shovel-ready date for Morocco would be "approximately the same" in spring or fall, citing the need to develop a quality educational plan and address district redistricting before entering MSBA eligibility. A community organizer reported approximately 70 town meeting members already committed to supporting the budget, literacy, and Morocco feasibility articles. The committee directed Hackett to return next week with scenarios for restoring 2.5 to 5.0 FTE math interventionist positions within the 5 percent budget envelope, with a joint budget meeting tentatively set for Wednesday, April 23.