Lunenburg School Committee Votes to Seek $350,000 at November Special Town Meeting

School Committee · Meeting of July 15, 2026

Lunenburg School Committee votes 4-1 to seek $350,000 in state education funds at a November special town meeting. The Massachusetts FY27 state budget, signed around July 7, delivered $418,056 in unexpected education-specific receipts to Lunenburg — $52,730 more than the town will allow the schools to spend. Committee member Mandy called the withheld amount "education money being taken away from our children," arguing it would flow into the town's free cash pool while the schools have faced three consecutive years of cuts.

Superintendent Dr. Fortuna presented a spending plan targeting two reading specialists, an expanded high school assistant principal from 0.5 to 1.0 full-time equivalent at $90,450, and a 52-seat online tutoring program at $129,450. Member Tony cast the lone no vote on the warrant article, demanding select board members publicly commit to placing the article on the warrant.

Resident Anna Lockwood, speaking during public comment, said she had confirmed with a sitting select board member that the board had never publicly discussed the $350,000 compromise, and offered to collect the 200 signatures needed to call a citizen's petition town meeting.

In the full story:

• The plan's five components
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,165 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of July 15, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.