The Collaborative for Educational Services (CES) has presented its report on the state of early literacy in Winchester public schools. Commissioned by Superintendent Dr. Frank Hackett in response to pressure from parents, the report is the culmination of months of meetings, surveys and interviews — and it paints a stark picture
Winchester High School is forming a committee to evaluate the GPA scale after one parent asked school officials to consider making a change. Parent Michelle McCarthy on May 17 met with WHS Principal Dennis Mahoney and other staff members after speaking at a recent School Committee meeting, where she asked
Results from last April’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey have school officials concerned by what middle and high school students reported about their mental health. Administrator of Counseling, Health & Wellness for Winchester Public Schools Erin Kuehn presented the results at last week’s School Committee meeting. The survey, conducted
A few weeks ago, the Select Board was ready to fund a replacement of the failing HVAC and electrical systems at the Mystic School, but those plans appear to be on hold now, after cost estimates came in much higher than anticipated. The issue initially came up during a Jan.
The literacy discussion continued last week with more statements from parents during the public comment period of the latest School Committee meeting, followed by updates from Superintendent Dr. Frank Hackett later in the evening. Cheryl Timko started the March 19 meeting by thanking Hackett and the School Committee members “who
Educators, parents and students joined members of Winchester’s boards, committees and town staff to commemorate the ground breaking for the new Lynch elementary school on a chilly Friday afternoon. Dignitaries and speakers included Superintendent Dr. Frank Hackett, School Committee Chair Tom Hopcroft, member Chris Nixon, Town Manager Beth Rudolph,
After the previous meeting on Feb. 13 was canceled due to bad weather, Superintendent Dr. Frank Hackett on Feb. 27 updated the School Committee on the process of evaluating the elementary literacy curriculum. However, Hackett did not present the details many had been waiting for, leading to a contentious discussion
Parents continued to use the public comment time at the Jan. 30 School Committee to express concerns about the elementary level literacy curriculum in Winchester. Laura Malone who has two young children and recently moved back to town, said she “was upset to learn that we are using a reading
The school budget isn’t a lock yet. School officials have unanimously voted to support three initiatives for additional programming. At the Jan. 30 School Committee meeting, Superintendent Dr. Frank Hackett gave another update on the fiscal year 2025 budget process. As promised at a Jan. 23 public hearing, Hackett
Town officials have committed to undertake the replacement of the heating system at the Mystic School, which houses the Recreation Department and Kids Corner childcare program. The Select Board on Jan. 22 voted to earmark approximately $900,000 from ARPA funds, along with possible grants from either Green Communities or
Winchester parents have questions about literacy in the schools. Lots of questions. In fact, many frustrated parents have attended recent School Committee meetings to express concerns about improving the literacy curriculum. At a recent public hearing on the education budget, several parents questioned where there might be money for literacy
The school budget is going up by nearly 5%, but officials say there are no extras and only contractual increases. The School Committee presented its fiscal year 2025 budget Tuesday night to the public, a proposed $66.2 million, an increase of 4.74%. Additionally, a question and answer session
While school officials planned to talk about the coming budget, parents came to voice concerns about literacy raised by a recent media report. The Winchester School Committee met Jan. 16 over Zoom to discuss the fiscal year 2025 budget only to find many parents using the public comment period to
School officials kicked off the New Year with a full agenda, including updates on its budget planning process ahead of Spring Town Meeting, negotiating the new three-year transportation contract, building a new Muraco school and the possibility of transitioning to electric school buses. The first meeting of January started with
Town meeting voted Monday night under two separate articles to allow the town to either purchase the Lynch school solar panels outright or enter into an agreement to lease the equipment. The Select Board will decide which option is best for the town after the construction bids come in for
How the Winchester town Finance Committee operates and appoints its members will be the subject of debate at Fall Town Meeting, which started Monday night and continues Thursday evening. Two warrant articles being put forth as citizen’s petitions are attempts to change the by-laws that govern the committee. Both