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Committee approves 1% stipend increase, flags activity‑fee and transportation questions
Summary
The school committee approved an annual stipend memo that includes a 1% across‑the‑board stipend increase, removal of unused stipend lines and recommendations to review activity‑fee structures and family caps during budget conversations.
The Westborough School Committee unanimously approved the annual stipend memo after a stipend subcommittee recommended a modest 1% increase to stipends and the removal of several unused stipend items.
Superintendent Allison Borchers reported out from a stipend subcommittee that included community members and staff; she said the group proposed a 1% across‑the‑board increase and a cleanup of the stipend list to remove positions and activities with little or no participation. The committee voted 4–0 to adopt the memo, which the superintendent said can be incorporated into contract language so stipends count toward retirement where applicable.
Committee members urged further work on fee transparency and equity. Member Jane said the subcommittee identified several issues that merit broader budget‑level discussion, including the district’s family cap on activity fees and whether higher‑cost activities should carry higher fees or a separate transportation surcharge. Jane summarized: “We do have very reasonable fees in Westborough, especially compared to neighboring towns,” and recommended that any changes be discussed publicly as part of next year’s budget process.
Committee members also recommended a possible tiering approach or a separate transportation fee for clubs that require heavy travel; the idea is to preserve access while ensuring fairness for activities that incur substantially higher costs.
Officials said activity fees already go into a pooled student activity account. The district indicated it will refund fees when a club does not run. Trustees noted that newly formed clubs typically have a two‑year pilot window during which students are not charged activity fees, to encourage start‑up and student leadership.
Why it matters: Stipends are pension‑eligible when incorporated into the district’s contract and affect teacher compensation and retirement calculations; activity‑fee policies affect family affordability and program sustainability. The committee asked staff to bring fee structure options and impact data during the next budget cycle for public discussion.
