Kingston School Committee Withdraws from School Choice Program
Budget concerns and infrastructure limitations cited as primary reasons for decision
KINGSTON - April 7 - The Kingston School Committee votes unanimously to withdraw from the school choice program for the upcoming school year, citing infrastructure limitations and budget concerns as the primary reasons.
"I think we should not participate in school choice. I don't think we have the capacity or the infrastructure for additional students," says Committee member Michael Shekane during the April 7 meeting. "We have to make sure that we can take care of everything in our own town first before even diving into something like this."
The decision follows a brief public hearing where no community members came forward to speak on the matter. The committee's vote to withdraw includes specific reasoning related to infrastructure and budget concerns that have been discussed over recent months.
School choice is a program that allows parents to send their children to schools in communities other than the city or town in which they reside. Districts must vote annually on whether to participate.
In a separate financial matter, the committee addresses a significant budget shortfall in substitute teacher funding. Director of Finance & Operations Sarah Hickey reveals that Kingston elementary schools spent $246,503 on substitutes in fiscal year 2024, more than double the budgeted amount of $116,512.
"For the FY24 budget, this was the budget that was created by Christine Healy. For all of the substitute lines, there was $116,512.11 budgeted," Hickey explains. "In the past three weeks, I have completed the end of year report for the Kingston elementary schools. And I know that our FY24 expenditure for substitutes at the two elementary schools was $246,503."
Committee member Jeanne Coleman suggests the increased costs may be related to a policy change that raised pay for long-term substitutes.
"It was in 24 that we approved the long-term subs be paid at the bachelor rate," Coleman notes. "Instead of $106 a day, which I think at the time it was only $96 a day or something, they were being paid bachelor step one."
To address the ongoing substitute funding issue, the committee approves moving $95,924 from a speech and language line item in the FY26 budget to the substitute lines. Hickey identifies this amount as an anomaly in the budget where a speech teacher position at Kingston Intermediate School appears twice in salary projections.
"I'm fine with moving the money around because we can always move it around again if we need it," says Committee member Sheila Vaughn. "I don't want to have to find it somewhere else later."
The committee also addresses air quality concerns at Kingston Intermediate School following a water leak on March 3. Principal Andy Materna reports that a broken pipe in a univent heating system affected four classrooms, which have been professionally cleaned and mitigated.
Despite these efforts, concerns remain about potential air quality issues related to new ceiling tiles installed during repairs. The Kingston Teachers Association requests air quality testing, which would cost approximately $2,500 if paid for by the district.
"The KTA has asked that I complete an air quality test, due to concerns that their membership has about the safety of these classrooms," Materna explains.
After discussion, the committee agrees to allow the Massachusetts Teachers Association to conduct and pay for the air quality testing in approximately two weeks, with results expected during April vacation.
Other notable items from the meeting include:
* The Kingston Elementary School outdoor classroom construction is progressing with help from Silver Lake High School's Career and Technical Education carpentry program students.
* MCAS testing is underway at Kingston Intermediate School, with fourth grade scheduled to take the test on Thursday and Friday.
* The district is conducting searches for a new director of special education and Halifax Elementary School principal, with interviews scheduled in the coming weeks.
* Three policy updates related to bullying prevention, student restraint, and nondiscrimination in school meals are approved in a single reading to comply with state requirements.
* The Kingston Teachers Association plans to hold a technology recycling fundraiser on May 10, with the committee approving distribution of flyers to students.
* Kindergarten enrollment for the upcoming year stands at 121 students as of the meeting date.
The committee concludes the public portion of the meeting before entering executive session to discuss collective bargaining strategy for contract negotiations with the Kingston Teachers Association and Kingston support personnel.