Winthrop School Committee reaffirms school choice opt-out for another year

WINTHROP — April 6, 2026 — Winthrop School Committee voted unanimously to opt out of state inter-district school choice for another year and heard a detailed account of last Friday's threatening phone call to the high school. Superintendent Ruggiero told the committee that a secretary answered the call on the morning of April 3, followed protocol by attempting to question the caller, and immediately alerted Principal Crombie, who placed all three district buildings in a hold-in-place within minutes; police determined the threat was not credible after about an hour and 25 minutes. On school choice, Ruggiero noted the state reimbursement rate of roughly $5,000 per incoming pupil falls well below actual per-pupil costs, a key reason the district has historically declined to participate. The committee also approved warrants totaling approximately $1.22 million and moved into executive session on collective bargaining, with a public budget hearing set for April 27 and a full committee budget vote targeted for May 4.