Winchester School Committee backs superintendentrecommended FY26 budget after hours of debate

The Winchester School Committee voted 4-1 on March 20 to approve a recommended FY2026 district budget of $70,870,718, representing a 7.15% increase over FY2025, the committee chair announced after the roll-call vote.

Superintendent Dr. Hackett presented the recommendation, describing it as a targeted package that prioritizes a one-year literacy pilot and accompanying professional development, investments in data systems to manage DIBELS and multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) data, and a set of additional priorities the administration labeled "tier 1." Dr. Hackett told the committee that the recommended package includes a projected $455,000 for assessment and MTSS software and professional development tied to literacy work.

The committee framed the vote within a larger budget process that the superintendent and members said has been unusually extended this year to gather more staff and community feedback. "We have gone over this budget multiple times," Dr. Hackett said, noting the district used ThoughtExchange surveys and public presentations to refine priorities. He described the $300,000…