Lincoln School Committee debates first written policy on year-end tuition prepayment

LINCOLN — May 21, 2026 — Lincoln School Committee weighs first-ever written policy on year-end special education tuition prepayment. Chair Matina Madrick presented a draft restricting prepayment to known and high-likelihood out-of-district placements, in response to Finance Committee pressure to formalize or stop the practice. Business Administrator Angela's memo showed unbudgeted out-of-district tuition has run $70,000 to nearly $200,000 annually for four years; the district prepaid about $148,000 last year. Member Susan Taylor pushed for a third provision allowing recourse to FinCom emergency reserves, comparing it to the fourth-kindergarten arrangement. Member Kenneth Lepage called it "a good compromise" but noted "no other school district has the policy." Separately, the committee voted unanimously to accept a $7,613 eighth-grade gift, reappoint the school physician, and heard plans to replace iReady with Track My Progress for $7,200 in annual savings.