Brookline School Committee unanimously delays D15 policy after members say it would 'decimate' high‑school scholarships

The Brookline School Committee on June 29 voted unanimously to postpone for one year the implementation of fiscal‑management policy changes labeled D15 and D15.1 after members said the revisions would effectively end many donor‑funded scholarships at Brookline High School.

Chair Bob (surname not stated) opened the special meeting, saying he had voted in March for the March policy change but later realized he would not have supported it “especially in the format that it is right now.” He told the committee the revisions—framed in the policy as a way to “minimize administrative burden”—would “basically decimate the scholarship programs at Brookline High School.”

Why it matters: Committee members and high‑school staff told the committee they had been blindsided by the change. The chair said high‑school staff distribute roughly $500,000 to $600,000 in scholarships each year and that the new rules would stop new “pay‑as‑you‑go” scholarships and discourage donors. He said the Brookline Community Foundation does not have capacity to assume management for the volume of scholarships currently handled at the high school.

Finance perspective and support: A committee member identified in the record as Jesse said that “from the fiscal and capital side” he had reviewed the proposal and “fully support[s] from the finance side” a one‑year delay to give staff time to evaluate the cited administrative burden and develop solutions.

Committee response: Several members voiced concern about the impact on students. Donna (last name not stated) said she had heard from families and students and called the scholarships “tremendously meaningful.” Sarah, who identified herself during the meeting, said pausing the change to allow broader discussion was appropriate and voiced support for the delay.

The motion and vote: Chair Bob moved to postpone implementation of D15 and D15.1 for one year while staff and stakeholders work on solutions to the identified administrative issues; an unnamed committee member seconded the motion. The committee conducted a roll‑call vote; Bob, Donna, Jesse, Laura, Sarah and Carolyn all voted yes and the motion passed unanimously.

What happens next: Committee members said the delay was intended to allow time for staff and the Brookline Community Foundation, school guidance staff and other stakeholders to clarify what administrative burdens exist and to develop workable alternatives that preserve donor‑funded scholarships. The chair noted the postponement was needed before the July 1 effective date. The meeting adjourned following the vote.

(For accuracy: the transcript identifies the meeting as a Brookline School Committee special meeting on June 29, 2026. The transcript records named staff and community figures who were cited in discussion—including Anthony Meyer, Hal Mason, Scott Bouchard, Kathleen Wayland, Mariah and John Hodgman—but those individuals did not speak on the record during this session.)