School Committee Approves $2.7 Million Solar Plan

School Committee · Meeting of June 18, 2026

Brookline's School Committee approved $2.7 million in solar panel installations at Pierce, Hayes and Brookline High schools, racing a July 4 federal tax-credit deadline. Director of Sustainability Alexandra Vecchio said the credit covers up to 40 percent of costs, and "none of the dollars for this capital project would be coming out of the school's budget." The unanimous vote authorizes the committee chair to co-sign contracts with vendor Select Solar. Separately, parents and a Ridley guidance counselor pressed the committee over a kindergarten section cut at Florida Ruffin Ridley School; counselor Jordana Spitz said "kindergarten is not the place to save a little bit of money." Superintendent Bella Wong reported FRR's kindergarten average had fallen to 18.3 students, under the district's guidance of 22.

The committee also approved Wong's 2026-27 evaluation goals and merged its Finance and Capital Projects subcommittees.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,364 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of June 18, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.