Winthrop School Committee approves policies, warrants as new school year begins

WINTHROP — August 25, 2025 — Winthrop School Committee approved updated policies and more than $660,000 in warrants as the district prepared to welcome students back Wednesday. The committee voted 7-0 to approve five revised school policies aligned with Massachusetts Association of School Committees model language, including a student fees policy that will require a separate board vote to set a new activity fee schedule — rates that rise from a flat $1.25 per year to as much as $4.75 per year depending on the number of days a student participates, driven by the expiration of federal ESSER funds that had covered an estimated $35,000 to $50,000 annually in after-school programming costs. Spending warrant SVW 26-3 for $141,099.91 and payroll warrants SPW 26-02 for $253,423.37 and SPW 26-03 for $266,109.25 were all approved. Seven homeschool plans were approved unanimously, a figure the superintendent called lower than the post-pandemic high of roughly 20. The committee tabled a vote on a new competency determination policy — needed should MCAS be dropped as a graduation requirement — and adjourned into executive session on collective bargaining.