[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6224392,"mediaKeyId","3550638-acf61055c4320d4563fdab4a960fd8f7","parentId",3550638,"title","Winchester School Committee reviews draft capital priorities; town requests recommendations by mid‑June","audioSeconds",1083,"startMs",1816980,"endMs",2900000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3550638-acf61055c4320d4563fdab4a960fd8f7&start=1816&end=2900","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3550638-acf61055c4320d4563fdab4a960fd8f7/thumbnail_1816980.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6224392/Massachusetts/Winchester-School-Committee-reviews-draft-capital-priorities-town-requests-recommendations-by-midJune","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224392-efdb8fb71f60e1f834d9214ea90fa7bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771046834&Signature=D44LBozhU0amWVo7SrnyAjNIFqnkDYs6OxgnAopral77eynvaa1gVhsocwqcagr0j2plcjpxnG3DSYU4ikoscWmRZJZ~2csIPczYT5L7b0U8wHQDx44YWf1VBBYBIU6EdSbtpRcvdKWgjnOEMxhpEgBbSTNcCNrkiHmTUGv7ewjPtB~BIWfT0WpaW3IVNyW4Mq6b3eehosUbHI5V75UZMd6YGzKD4orICNaO9cK9bIlTvMaaIjhW3MVm8SlNNmrMUl4CC40zEOhKL9370dSHhaLZbuusqZ~ve5swjx33gQPC4CiiI1YcmSOoqltiIWOCNLS7RX~JzkC8igsJ~uGhmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Winchester Public Schools, MA","date","2025-05-28T16:47:54.907Z","article","The Winchester School Committee reviewed a draft of capital planning recommendations and subcommittee assignments and was asked to provide priorities for the town’s capital process by mid‑June.

Committee members were told town management is requesting departmental capital recommendations earlier than usual this year, with a target date around June 13, to allow town managers to determine which projects could be funded through Community Preservation Committee (CPC) funds and to coordinate budgets. Facilities staff are scheduled to present at the committee’s June 12 meeting so members can collect questions and finalize their priorities.

Members also reported on the State of the Town committee, which launched a kickoff meeting to develop a comprehensive financial plan toward a potential override in 2026. The State of the Town committee will operate with a main group meeting biweekly and smaller working groups focused on operating needs, capital and asset strategy, and non‑levy revenue and structural costs. Committee members were asked to volunteer for the working groups; the next State of the Town meeting was scheduled for the week following the committee meeting.

Committee members noted the CPC working group intends to open a limited summer application round aimed at projects ready for fall town meeting funding; the CPC committee tentatively set a goal of using roughly half of available funds (about $800,000) in that round, with final application details and timelines to be announced.

The committee asked members to review the draft capital plan over the next two weeks and submit feedback to district staff ahead of the June presentation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Winchester School Committee Meeting 5-22-25","oneSentenceSummary","Winchester’s School Committee reviewed a draft capital plan and was asked to finalize project priorities for town management by mid‑June so town staff can assess funding options, including potential Community Preservation Committee support.","taxTitle","Winchester Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",71055,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6224395,"Winchester committee adopts revised student‑athlete concussion procedure, waiving second reading",265,2381970,2647828,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3550638-acf61055c4320d4563fdab4a960fd8f7&start=2381&end=2647","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3550638-acf61055c4320d4563fdab4a960fd8f7/thumbnail_2381970.jpg","/articles/6224395/Massachusetts/Winchester-committee-adopts-revised-studentathlete-concussion-procedure-waiving-second-reading","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224395-038f36ca12fee464a39b9bca55bd7b6b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771046834&Signature=S~F0ZbT4YBU2fy1i~tQld50Se5fP30RGD~mBLvTteRgJumO0D0FceUcw~e93SUpt3XaW7Ryf2xFewZ61ffRVnkkSbBi9u7CTh-cm4VksxtMwdD~j4eVhlT8LsVhqwXEP6wTaFuvgyWgcxZrIa7CFJoe3cmmPgYg9LVTD~D82NMKBIA37gZu8FWcgOOY1K6bk2Ume8uS63kePVyevihIzLvORb8OVMLzlX2pDomz8aWqUHMrBjNgiywz~g9cd5ZAJ0PdzzqIZ0Q~VcdqsziqVoY3gITKQDTtnG0qkL3Ny~F9Dz68MOqZZdY8vyEOOfa-~1xuFJxMAL4NoIHO2yfonQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Winchester School Committee voted unanimously to accept a revised student‑athlete concussion procedure, moving to accept the change without the typical second reading because the revision was developed and vetted by medical professionals and referenced Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidance.

Policy subcommittee members and district medical staff, including Director of Nursing Lynn Bozella and athletic trainer Heather Fanning, presented a streamlined concussion procedure and an accompanying post-sports-related head injury medical clearance form. The committee noted that detailed operational protocols (referenced in the binder as policy JJIFR) are better housed on the nursing or athletic department sites than in the policy manual.

A motion to suspend the standard second-reading practice and accept the revised policy JJIF was made and seconded; the committee recorded unanimous approval.

Officials said the revised materials include a chart of concussion stages and a medical clearance authorization form to guide return-to-play decisions.","The committee unanimously accepted a revised student-athlete concussion procedure (policy JJIF) in a single meeting, citing that the protocol was developed by medical professionals and aligns with Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidance.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6224400,"Winchester launches yearlong elementary literacy pilot, names new literacy coordinator; town meeting funded $455,000",629,610170,1240000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3550638-acf61055c4320d4563fdab4a960fd8f7&start=610&end=1240","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3550638-acf61055c4320d4563fdab4a960fd8f7/thumbnail_610170.jpg","/articles/6224400/Massachusetts/Winchester-launches-yearlong-elementary-literacy-pilot-names-new-literacy-coordinator-town-meeting-funded-455000","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224400-bd87ebe090145440abbcf8f818bb6d0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771046834&Signature=W6cAr6tEuOfCN71qfkc7pE~C4A6rGPIdYaeBtRaixuwbD6GXaiy4jJIIjCu4eKbj2qI61CIhKffMHp4giOTetOOn1rBCP3HaVS1jvRldMqVlGlXw2oGvEzXzDJot2xMe36qT6-SooROGl6pHV4bRSCdHPZbSV2jEfj9Q79q7H-dLDtd8kAChqoba~bmy~yGT1y~0BYk-opT4jq8WAmL~2cPm7HWrgOCV6hU7CunuURnzyVKv~MGVTUNretvPKOm-GZg2r9438SlRfWKCcUQ94KFwMqDe4ofDCzVwqV2HnYYwaWUbDDcBbXaBS4UOPgdkvHyX4~zPoj-3HoU-40yHig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Winchester Public Schools has begun a yearlong pilot of two elementary literacy curricula and appointed a new literacy coordinator after Town Meeting approved $455,000 to fund curriculum and embedded professional development.

Superintendent Dr. Hackett and district leaders described a kickoff event attended by elementary teachers where district literacy leadership presented on the “science of reading” and explained that the initiative is about building teacher knowledge and instructional practice rather than selecting a single program. The district will pilot two programs across grades and schools so both curricula are represented within each school and teachers can observe vertical alignment across grade levels.

Miss Kirby and district staff opened a volunteer form the morning of the meeting and reported representation from all five elementary schools by mid-day. The pilot is planned as a full-year implementation; vendors are prepared to support that timeline and the district emphasized that the purchased packages include both materials and professional development. Dr. Hackett said the district expects to use the full $455,000 allocated at Town Meeting for pilot implementation and associated PD.

Superintendent Dr. Hackett also announced the appointment of Melissa Newell as the new literacy coordinator, currently coming from Lowell, and said the district hopes to have her on board before the end of the school year for committee introduction. District leaders said they will present a fuller update, including progress and next steps, at the June 12 school committee meeting.

District officials encouraged ongoing communication with parents about how instruction will be consistent across classrooms whether or not a child’s teacher is in the pilot and said additional professional development beyond publisher training will be provided.","Winchester Public Schools has started a yearlong pilot of two elementary literacy programs, funded by a $455,000 warrant article approved at Town Meeting. The district also announced the appointment of a new literacy coordinator, Melissa Newell, to support implementation and professional development.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6224405,"Winchester School Committee unanimously opts out of state school choice for 2025–26",344,9761,354001,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3550638-acf61055c4320d4563fdab4a960fd8f7&start=9&end=354","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3550638-acf61055c4320d4563fdab4a960fd8f7/thumbnail_9761.jpg","/articles/6224405/Massachusetts/Winchester-School-Committee-unanimously-opts-out-of-state-school-choice-for-202526","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224405-1632215c2022d7cd554edf600a90daa5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771046834&Signature=eVpYWpG9euZi4mGLzBg6ksWNecF-H03hgXj~MzQTjaN2OUtsuOmcnAvRWqw6wi4QLbwiJrT7pe4lIXmr-ZssV2YY0C9Pn-wo-BRddL0mct-dpLjrJB4K0HCK9ymfeiCJIWHVATnp002NSqtifTvxfmOiD3xbW00YpueIOsKQsFhWUqvRnKP6t31jobEQt4df4YD3ewsKV657MOfDtdIhE228wYLC993dcY4S-9eXwS2w7Jf~05L7hq61J6Sb7GbuB6W2C8THeFDJNQcI-7Q49HWMgfaYTUfGJ3Bq5oQo~V0TNlVucsFpEv7xstqRUWDAPehKMeO32onzrVkBLBWcZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Winchester School Committee voted unanimously to opt out of the Massachusetts School Choice program for the 2025–26 school year after a brief public hearing and on the recommendation of Superintendent Dr. Hackett.

The vote came after Dr. Hackett told the committee that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requires each district to take annual action on school choice and that Winchester has not participated, to her knowledge. “The primary and somewhat only reason that you can vote to not allow for school choice is based on space constraints,” Dr. Hackett said, recommending the district not open to nonresident students next year because the district does not yet have the predictable capacity to accept additional students.

School choice allows nonresident students to attend a district for the state per-pupil amount, Dr. Hackett said, but districts can limit participation by grade level or cap the number of seats. She noted that Winchester is opening a new elementary school in the coming year and that enrollment at the middle and high school is at its highest since before the pandemic, which informed her recommendation.

No members of the public elevated or spoke during the hearing. A motion to accept Dr. Hackett’s recommendation to opt out was made and seconded; the committee recorded unanimous “aye” votes from Miss Munyarji, Miss Bergstrom, Dr. Matthews and the chair.

After the vote the committee closed the public hearing and continued with its regular agenda.","The Winchester School Committee voted unanimously to opt out of the Massachusetts School Choice program for the 2025–26 school year, citing limited space and uncertain near-term enrollment as the primary reason, following a required public hearing and recommendation from Superintendent Dr. Hackett.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Winchester School Committee reviews draft capital priorities; town requests recommendations by mid‑June

Winchester committee adopts revised student‑athlete concussion procedure, waiving second reading

Winchester launches yearlong elementary literacy pilot, names new literacy coordinator; town meeting funded $455,000

Winchester School Committee unanimously opts out of state school choice for 2025–26