School committee signals priority for full roster of elementary math interventionists if funds become available

The Winchester School Committee on April 10 discussed the FY26 budget and signaled that, if additional funds become available, the committee’s next priority should be to expand elementary math interventionists to one full‑time specialist in each school (five total).

What was before the committee: Superintendent David Hackett presented the FY26 budget and described outreach the administration had done in recent precinct meetings. The budget as voted and presented to the committee includes 2.5 full‑time equivalent (FTE) math interventionists for next year; advocates urged accelerating to five FTEs so each elementary school has a dedicated, student‑facing interventionist.

Advocacy from committee members and parents: Committee member Michelle Minyarji recalled precinct feedback and urged the committee to back a move to five math interventionists if funds can be found. “I was shocked to hear and find out that we currently don't have any. And the 2 and a half is a great start, but I feel like it would be a really high impact investment to go for the 5,” she said.

District capacity and constraints: Hackett described the district’s prioritization process and hiring outlook. He said implementing five interventionists is feasible from an operational standpoint and that the district could adapt, but cautioned that contract negotiations (multiple bargaining units) and other budget unknowns make timing uncertain. “If we are able to find the money, we would definitely have that be our next priority,” he told the committee.

Committee direction: Committee members voiced support for the concept but declined to change the FY26 budget at the meeting. Several members said the committee should look for funding opportunities between now and Town Meeting (or motions from Town Meeting floor) and that, if new resources appear, the committee would prioritize math interventionists. The superintendent said he would return with options if additional funds became available and that the administration regards math intervention as a high priority for tier‑2 supports.

What was not decided: No formal motion was made to change the FY26 budget during the meeting. The committee asked the superintendent to explore options — including reallocations, outside one‑time grants, or motions from the floor at Town Meeting — and to return with recommendations and a plan should funds materialize.

Ending: The committee left the 2.5 FTEs in the FY26 budget but recorded committee consensus to prioritize reaching five elementary math interventionists if and when funding becomes available; the district will report back with feasible implementation options and timelines.