School committee begins policy updates and reviews FY26 budget calendar
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Summary
At its Sept. 12 meeting the committee conducted a first reading of revised Section D procurement and student activity account policies (based on MASC guidance) and reviewed a revised FY26 budget calendar and stakeholder engagement plan; members were asked to submit redlines and the district aims for a draft budget before the December break.
The Winchester School Committee conducted a first reading of updated Section D procurement policies and Policy JJF on student activity accounts, material the policy subcommittee reviewed Sept. 9. The revisions draw from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) templates and local practice; staff and committee members discussed delegations to the superintendent, legal references and places where Winchester may deviate from model language.
Committee members asked that track changes and proposed redlines be circulated; a member noted that while model language is useful, the committee can choose to modify MASC recommendations to reflect local priorities. The policy subcommittee and administration said they will accept suggested edits and return revised language for subsequent readings.
Separately, the district presented a revised FY26 budget calendar using a Gantt‑chart format intended to start stakeholder engagement earlier (principals, directors, staff and parent groups) and to provide a solid draft prior to the December recess. Staff noted bargaining units (five negotiating units) and salary/benefits assumptions remain a major unknown going into drafting.
This was a first reading and no policy adoptions were finalized Sept. 12; the committee asked for a clean set of redlines and the updated article language for review before any vote.