School panel preps funding ask for legislators
Brookline's School Committee Government Relations Subcommittee finalized its 2026 state funding wish list, topped by Chapter 70 aid. Members Bob Weintraub and a staffer identified as Carolyn voted 3-0, alongside chair Suzanne Federspiel, to approve December 15 minutes and later to adjourn.
School Committee · Meeting of January 12, 2026
Brookline's School Committee Government Relations Subcommittee finalized its 2026 state funding wish list, topped by Chapter 70 aid. Members Bob Weintraub and a staffer identified as Carolyn voted 3-0, alongside chair Suzanne Federspiel, to approve December 15 minutes and later to adjourn. The group ranked special education circuit breaker reimbursement (seeking a rise to 90 percent) second, METCO funding flexibility third, a pre-kindergarten grant program fourth and a school cell phone restriction bill fifth.
Weintraub questioned METCO staffing costs, noting elementary coordinators earning $60,000 to $70,000 a year serve about 25 students each versus 100 at the high school, asking, "Is that the best way to use the METCO funds?" Members also planned to thank state Sen. Cynthia Creem for recent legislation and cited a report on a statewide fiscal "perfect storm." The priorities go to the full committee January 22 ahead of a February 9 legislative meeting.
In the full story:
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Source: the School Committee meeting of January 12, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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