COHASSET - September 3, October 1, October 8 - Cohasset parents have forced a showdown over full-day kindergarten tuition with a citizen petition bearing 124 certified signatures demanding the district eliminate the $300,000 fee immediately. The October 8 School Committee meeting drew a standing-room-only crowd as residents clashed over whether reinstating free kindergarten represents educational equity or fiscal irresponsibility, with both sides invoking the district’s recent budget crisis to support their positions.
The Full Story
The petition strikes at the heart of the district’s decision to reverse a prior commitment by charging families for full-day kindergarten in fiscal year 2026. Petition organizers Will Ashton and Victoria Lattanzi presented stark data: Cohasset is one of only 14 school districts statewide still charging for the program, even though the town ranks in the 90th percentile for per-capita education spending. “95% of school districts in Massachusetts already provide full-day kindergarten tuition-free, and this number declines every year,” Ashton told the committee. With 124 certified signatures surpassing the 100-signature threshold, the petition has triggered the requirement for a special town meeting where voters will decide the issue.
Cassandra Dragon-Archambault delivered an impassioned appeal during public comment, framing the issue as both a matter of educational equity and district integrity. “This is not simply a question of fairness or affordability. It’s also a test of the district’s stated commitments under the Cohasset Public Schools strategic plan 2025 to 2030,” she said. “Every year that families are required to pay tuition, inequities compound. Children lose access to early learning opportunities that are critical for long-term success.”
However, the petition drew sharp opposition from Katie Dugan, a former school committee member who now serves on the Cohasset Educational Foundation board. Dugan warned that the petition “undermines critical trust and cooperation between the town and schools” forged during the past year’s budget crisis. She traced the fiscal troubles back to fiscal year 2023, when the town made a one-time $300,000 appropriation for full-day kindergarten with the understanding that future state Chapter 70 aid increases would cover ongoing costs. Instead, the district developed mounting deficits in transportation and athletics during fiscal year 2024, which grew to $839,000 by fiscal year 2025 and required depleting precious free cash reserves.
Superintendent Sarah Shannon and Director of Finance and Operations Susan Owen presented the committee with detailed analysis of what reinstating tuition-free kindergarten would require. Owen outlined three main scenarios: using one-time reserve funds to cover the $300,000 cost, making equivalent cuts elsewhere in the operating budget, or seeking a supplemental appropriation from town meeting. Each option carried significant tradeoffs that sparked extensive committee debate.
The presentation sparked extensive debate among committee members about budget priorities, the wisdom of using one-time funds for recurring expenses, and the political implications of various approaches. Committee members expressed concerns about the fiscal sustainability of reinstating the free program without a clear funding source. Newly appointed member Jake Squatrito, attending his first full meeting, asked probing questions about the budget process and long-term planning.
Jennifer, a resident from Virginia Lane, opened public comment with blunt criticism of what she termed “fiscal mismanagement or a lack of planning” in school budgeting. “More than 61% of our taxes go to the schools, and yet you guys could not figure out how to make full-day kindergarten something that is available in 95% of the communities in Massachusetts,” she said. “Something that should be standard here, that the community voted on, that the community thinks is a good idea.” Jennifer announced her intention to advocate for increased Select Board oversight of school spending.
The committee ultimately postponed any vote after determining they needed additional information from town counsel on several procedural questions: whether the citizen petition is binding on town meeting, whether voters could modify the petition’s specific dollar amount, what timeline constraints exist for calling a special town meeting, and what legal obligations the committee faces in responding to a certified petition. These unresolved technical questions left committee members uncertain about their range of options and the consequences of various approaches.
Beyond the immediate procedural issues, the debate exposed deeper tensions about governance and accountability. Multiple residents questioned whether the School Committee has sufficient financial discipline, with some suggesting the Select Board should exercise greater oversight of school spending. The discussion revealed frustration on both sides—supporters of the petition saw a broken promise on kindergarten, while opponents viewed the petition as second-guessing a collaborative budget process that had just stabilized district finances after crisis.
While the kindergarten controversy dominated the October 8 meeting, the committee had welcomed its newest member just one week earlier at a joint October 1 session with the Select Board. Three candidates interviewed for the interim seat vacated earlier in the year: Drew Knowlton, a PwC partner with three children in the district; Victoria Lattanzi, a biotechnology professional and Boston University instructor with deep family roots in Cohasset; and Jake Squatrito, a 2022 Cohasset High graduate completing his senior year at Northeastern University.
After extensive questioning, the School Committee members unanimously supported Squatrito, citing the value of bringing a recent student perspective to committee deliberations. Select Board members expressed mixed views, with some preferring other candidates’ professional experience, but ultimately respected the School Committee’s preference. “If it were a decision for this board, I would make a different decision, but it’s clear to me that the majority of the school committee has a preference, and I have to respect that,” said Select Board Chair Ellen Maher, who cast the tie-breaking vote.
School Committee member Corey Evans, who made the motion to appoint Squatrito, emphasized the importance of student voice in governance. “I’m a big believer that the students have the best perspective,” Evans said, drawing on his experience with student ambassadors on the Safe Harbor committee. Squattrito committed to attending all meetings and participating fully despite his college course load, noting that his classes are scheduled in the mornings, leaving evenings free for committee work.
The September 3 meeting, which kicked off the new school year, featured introductions of numerous new faculty members across all three schools. Principal Amy Gaudette introduced new Osgood staff including Skylar Fedor as the STARS special education teacher, Caitlin Downs as a half-time reading specialist, and Megan Reese as a part-time music teacher. Middle School Principal John Scopelleti presented an especially large cohort of new staff, including special education teacher Joe Bandera, band teacher John Farrell, chorus teacher Amy Freida, school psychologist Vanessa Leary, and French teacher Jen Scott, among others. Deer Hill School welcomed Noah Edge to teach third grade and Abby Bizarro for fourth grade.
Superintendent Shannon shared photos from the opening days of school and described professional development activities for staff, including community circles focused on the district’s new strategic plan. “It has been a fantastic start. We’ve had two days, and they’ve been really a great two days,” Shannon told the committee, expressing enthusiasm for the year ahead.
The September meeting also included routine business such as subcommittee assignments and a policy vote to separate the service animal policy from the general animals-in-schools policy. This administrative change was requested to provide clearer guidance on accommodations for students with medical needs requiring service animals, distinct from classroom pets or educational animal visits.
Why It Matters
The full-day kindergarten battle represents more than a dispute over $300,000 in tuition. It embodies fundamental questions about what kind of community Cohasset wants to be and whether educational equity or budget caution should drive policy when the two conflict. For the roughly 50 families currently paying kindergarten tuition, the financial burden is immediate and tangible—averaging about $6,000 per family. For the broader community, the outcome will signal whether Cohasset aligns itself with the 95 percent of Massachusetts districts providing free full-day kindergarten or remains in an increasingly isolated minority charging for what most consider a basic educational service. The resolution will also test whether the hard-won collaboration between town and school officials during last year’s budget crisis can survive this community challenge, or whether the governance tensions exposed by this petition will deepen into more fundamental divisions over school oversight and spending authority.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
September 3, 2025
Motion: Separate service animal policy from animals-in-schools policy. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:00:05)
Motion: Move into executive session regarding governance matter under section 7. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:04:23)
October 1, 2025 (Joint Meeting with Select Board)
Motion: Appoint Jake Squatrito as interim School Committee member until next election. Outcome: Approved by both School Committee and Select Board. Vote: School Committee 4-0, Select Board 5-0. (Timestamp: 1:16:01)
Motion: Adjourn School Committee meeting. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:17:38)
Motion: Adjourn Select Board meeting. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:17:54)
October 8, 2025
Motion: Approve minutes from May 21, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 3-0-2 (Dial and Squatrito abstained). (Timestamp: 2:35:55)
Motion: Approve minutes from August 20, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 3-0-2 (Dial and Squatrito abstained). (Timestamp: 2:36:37)
Motion: Approve minutes from September 17, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 3-0-2 (Dial and Squatrito abstained). (Timestamp: 2:36:55)
Motion: Move into executive session for collective bargaining, not to return. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 2:37:37)
Note: No vote taken on citizen petition regarding tuition-free full-day kindergarten; committee requested additional information before making a decision.
Public Comment
September 3, 2025: No public comment.
October 1, 2025: Public comment period reserved for candidate presentations. Three candidates for interim School Committee seat presented their qualifications and answered questions from both boards.
October 8, 2025: Substantial public comment focused on the citizen petition for tuition-free full-day kindergarten. Jennifer from Virginia Lane criticized school budget management and the decision to charge kindergarten tuition. Cassandra Dragon-Archambault strongly advocated for reinstating free full-day kindergarten, citing equity concerns and alignment with the district’s strategic plan. Katie Dugan, a former school committee member, opposed the petition, arguing it undermines the collaborative budget process that stabilized school finances after the fiscal crisis. Will Ashton and Victoria Lattanzi, petition organizers, presented detailed data comparing Cohasset to other Massachusetts districts and outlined the educational and equity rationale for eliminating tuition.
What’s Next
The School Committee must vote at an upcoming meeting on whether to support the citizen petition for tuition-free full-day kindergarten. Before that vote, the committee has requested town counsel provide written guidance on the legal requirements and procedural options for responding to a certified citizen petition. The administration will also prepare detailed budget scenarios showing how the $300,000 could be funded through various combinations of reserves, budget cuts, or supplemental appropriations. If the committee declines to voluntarily implement the petition’s request, state law requires the matter proceed to a special town meeting where voters will make the final decision. The Select Board must schedule that special town meeting within a timeframe determined by statute once the petition is formally submitted. Residents should expect this issue to come to a head within the next several weeks, likely before the end of calendar year 2025.
Full meetings available via Channel 143 TV. September 3, October 1, and October 8.