Winthrop School Committee approves warrants, bids farewell to three departing members

WINTHROP — December 15, 2025 — Winthrop School Committee closes 2025 with farewells, nearly $1.9 million in warrants approved, and a leadership transition ahead. At the December 15 meeting, the committee voted unanimously to honor outgoing Chair Jen Powell, Vice Chair Julie Barry, and Member Suzanne Leonard — who served eight, six, and four years respectively — with formal citations entered into the official record. The body approved two financial warrants totaling $1,919,221.89, a prior-year invoice of $349, a donation from the Viking Pride Foundation to the drama department, and a facility request from Jessica Gordon's Academy of Performing Arts. Superintendent Potvin reported that budget work for the coming fiscal year is underway and that she plans to ask all four bargaining units to accelerate contract negotiations to two sessions per week, calling the current one-unit-per-week pace an obstacle. "The school committee has communicated to me — they wish to move this process along faster than slower," Potvin said.