The Lincoln Squirrel – News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

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State of the Town, community center discussions on tap

The two community center options chosen in 2018 (click to enlarge).

The proposed community center, which is headed for a town meeting vote later this month, will be one of the topics discussed at the first of two State of the Town (SOTT) meetings on Monday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. Click here to register for the first night and get the Zoom link.

At a Special Town Meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m., residents will decide whether to spend up to $325,000 to develop preliminary schematic design options for a new community center, which would be built on the Lincoln School’s Hartwell campus. The Community Center Building Committee has compiled a list of FAQs and is posting them in segments on its new website at lincolncommunitycenter.com. You can also use the site to ask a question and get on the mailing list using that page, which will be updated with more background soon. The town’s official CCBC page with the March 2022 Town Meeting presentation, list of members, agendas, etc. can be found here. You can see also Lincoln Squirrel stories about the history of the project here.

Both SOTT meetings will feature presentations, Q&A sessions, and breakout rooms. Also on the SOTT agenda Monday night: 

  • Council on Aging & Human Services
  • Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Anti-Racism (IDEA) Committee
  • Lincoln Public Schools
  • Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School 

The agenda for the second night of SOTT on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. is below. Click here to register and get the Zoom link. 

  • Green Energy Committee/Climate Action Lincoln 
  • Conservation
  • Bicycle &Pedestrian Advisory Committee
  • Housing Commission
  • Lincoln Land Conservation Trust/Rural Land Foundation
  • Planning Board

News acorns

FELS Thanksgiving pies on offer

FELS, the Foundation for Educators at Lincoln-Sudbury, www.FELSGrant.org, is offering its Thanksgiving pie sale again this year after a four-year hiatus. Pies baked by The Hyve will be sold through Friday, Nov. 11. Pickup will be available at the high school and the Lincoln Council on Aging on Tuesday, Nov. 22 from 3–6 p.m. Pies can also be gifted to staff and faculty at L-S and will be delivered by FELS Board members. For more details, go to www.FELSGrant.org. Pies can also be purchased for donation to the food pantries in Lincoln and Sudbury and the fire and police departments in both towns. Those who are traveling and can’t buy a pie may donate to FELS, a non-profit organization that awards enrichment grants to L-S faculty and staff to pursue their professional and personal interests and passions.

Family portrait fundraiser for food pantry

On Saturday, Nov. 12, Lincoln photographer Corey Nimmer will host a family portrait fundraiser at Flint Farm, where 100% of proceeds will be go directly to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lincoln and Weston, which operates the local food pantry and provides financial support to families in need. Sessions will be about 5 minutes each. To participate, click here to book a time slot; when it’s time to pay, just select “Cheque” as your payment method. The suggested donation is $75, but any amount goes a long way toward helping your neighbors this holiday season, and you can either bring a check made out to the St. Vincent de Paul Society or click here to make an online donation.

See “Seussical” at L-S

Tickets are now on sale for the LSB Players’ production of “Seussical,” with shows on Thursday to Saturday, Nov. 17–19 at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m.  This bright and energetic musical combines several well-known Dr. Seuss characters to tell the story of Horton the Elephant and his fierce determination to protect the land of the Whos, despite the scorn and disbelief of his fellow jungle folk. This show explores hope, identity, inclusivity, and the importance of having that “one true friend in the universe who believes in you.” Directed and choreographed by Carly Evans, music directed by Michael Bunting, and conducted by Tom Grandprey, and performed in the Kirshner Auditorium at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. Click here to buy tickets. Please pick up your reserved, prepaid tickets at the will-call table on the night of the performance. 

Donate gift cards and items for food pantry clients

SVdP board member Alpheen Menachery and her grandchildren with Turkey Tins they’re donating.

Because of high inflation, Thanksgiving will be more difficult than usual for many of the clients of St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lincoln and Weston, which operates the shared food pantry, and its distributor is unable to supply turkeys this year. As a result, the food pantry is asking for donations of $25 gift cards from grocery stores (preferably Donelan’s) and/or items that will go into “Turkey Tin” food baskets. They expect about 130 families will receive the baskets and gift cards. To find out more and to sign up to donate, click here. Questions? Call 781-899-2611 x4 or email svdplincolnweston@gmail.com.

Substitute teachers needed

Lincoln Public Schools need full and half-day substitute teachers at a variety of grade levels in Lincoln and Hanscom Air Force Base. For more information, click here, email Kerry Parrella at kparrella@lincnet.org, or call 508-958-6872.

Another Lincolnite firefighter hired

Michael Goldblatt, Lincoln’s newest call firefighter.

Michael Goldblatt was one of 22 recruits to graduate from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Call/Volunteer Recruit Firefighter Training Program on November 1. The program delivers a standard recruit training curriculum, meeting national standards, on nights and weekends. Recruits learn to respond to all types of emergencies including gas leaks, chemical spills, drug overdoses, and trapped people as well as fires. Goldblatt was initially hired in Lincoln as an EMT and had to finish this training before he was allowed to ride on a fire truck or enter a structure fire (the Fire Department has three career firefighters and one per diem call firefighter at night to make up a shift of four.) He’s the third Lincoln-raised candidate who’s been hired in Lincoln as a call firefighter in the last three years. The other were Ronnie Row (who was hired three years ago but left for a job in Maynard) and Tom Blair.

Superintendent/Principal Bella Wong to leave L-S after 10 years

Bella Wong

Bella Wong, Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School’s Superintendent/Principal for almost a decade, will not be returning in the fall in what L-S School Committee Chair Heather Cowap said was a mutual decision.

In a statement, the committee praised Wong’s fiscal management, work in building community within the school, and strengthening special education and accommodation services, particularly in overseeing creation of the Beacon, Link, ACE, Excel, L-S Academy, and Partners programs. Many of these programs have allowed students to remain at L-S who might otherwise have to be placed out of district at another school that was better equipped to educate and support them — a costly alternative.

Those programs were a joint effort between Wong and the special education staff at L-S. “It was very much a collaboration and a willingness to say yes, let’s do this and commit to the kids in this way,” Cowap said.

In an email to the Lincoln Squirrel, Wong also pointed to those efforts as one of her key achievements. “We’ve extended services for students with emotional disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, transitional needs, and non-language disabilities. We’ve also expanded targeted intervention services for students not on IEPs or 504 plans. This is rare at the high school level,” she said. 

Wong said she was proud of the school’s expanded student access to travel abroad (a “personal interest” of hers) and “coming strong” out strong out of the pandemic. “We completed several tasks on time such as review of our schedule, developing a new advisory program, and successful completion of our decennial NEASC accreditation. Our students report being well supported by adults at school,” she said.

However, it was clearly time for a change, not only due to Wong’s long tenure at L-S but also because of some public discontent. “From the School Committee point of view, there’s been a very loud community majority asking for new leadership,” Cowap said. “The most consistent ongoing concern has been communication, which has been a confusing conversation because in her evaluation survey, parent feedback said it was fine and they were being provided with information, and yet we’ve heard from the general public in emails and other venues such as personal conversations that they find the communication frustrating and confusing.”

Most Massachusetts school superintendents serve terms of five to six years; “ten years a phenomenally long time to serve in a district,” Cowap said. “You reach a point where you need fresh eyes, new ideas, a new approach.”

The School Committee has begun looking for a search firm to identify a replacement for Wong. and will discuss it at its October 25 meeting. The firm will help map out a timeline and hiring process. Although the goal is to have a new superintendent on board by July 1, “as a committee, we’re unwilling to rush the process,” Cowap said, adding that an interim hire was possible if the right candidate didn’t emerge.

Becky McFall, superintendent of the Lincoln Public Schools, also recently announced her retirement. The Lincoln School Committee has hired the Edward J. Collins Center Center for Public Management at the University of Massachusetts–Boston as its search firm. “Certainly we’ll consider them, but we’re not necessarily expecting  that we’ll be using them” for the parallel L-S search, Cowap said.

Wong was named interim superintendent/principal in June 2013 after two other interim candidates dropped out. She has already been at L-S for 14 years (seven as a science teacher and seven as a department coordinator). Previously she was an assistant superintendent and superintendent in Wellesley. She resigned from the latter position in 2012 following public concern over the operations of the district’s business office, according to a 2013 Boston Globe article.

Lincoln School ribbon-cutting on Oct. 28

One of the new breakout rooms at the Lincoln School.

After five years of planning and building, the renovated Lincoln School will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours on Friday, Oct. 28 starting at 1:30 p.m. in the Learning Commons. Here’s the schedule:

  • 1 p.m. — Doors open
  • 1:30 p.m. — Ribbon-cutting ceremony
  • 2:30 p.m. — Reception in Dining Commons
  • 3 p.m. — School tours leave from Dining Commons

Materials from the 1994 project time capsules will be on display in the Dining Commons throughout the event. Additional tours will be offered on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 9–11 a.m.

To attend the October 28 event in person, RSVP to apearson@lincnet.org by October 21 (RSVP not needed for October 29 tours), or watch the ceremony live on Zoom at www.lincnet.org/ribboncutting.

For photo galleries and a full history of the project, visit the School Building Committee website at lincolnsbc.org.

McFall to retire as Lincoln’s Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Becky McFall

Dr. Rebecca McFall, Lincoln’s Superintendent of Schools since 2012, announced that she’ll retire after the 2022-23 academic year, concluding a tenure that saw both upheaval and renewal.

“While we commend Becky for the day-to-day management of the district, the truly exceptional component of her tenure with us has been her leadership through three building projects and a global pandemic. Dr. McFall’s tireless leadership, dedication and creative problem-solving is something that we are grateful for and will not soon be forgotten,” School Committee Chair John MacLachlan wrote on behalf of the group.

He also paid tribute to her good working relationships with union leadership, Lincoln administrators and committees, and the Department of Defense, which funds the Hanscom schools, as well as her cross-district initiatives, strategic planning and execution, and commitment to anti-racism, inclusion, diversity, and equity.

McFall began her career as a middle school teacher assistant 39 years ago and has also worked as a middle school teacher, a director of curriculum and instruction, a K-5 science coordinator, assistant professor of education at Endicott College in Boston, she wrote in a letter to the School Committee posted on LincolnTalk. She succeeded Michael Brandmayer as superintendent after served as an interim principal and elementary science coordinator in Wellesley.

The School Committee has hired the Edward J. Collins Center Center for Public Management at the University of Massachusetts–Boston to help with the search for a new superintendent. John R. Brackett, a consultant at the center, will hold an orientation on the search process at the committee’s October 3 meeting. They hope to have a replacement selected by Town Meeting in March.

“Together we have created a great place to work and an exceptional place for students to attend school. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity I have had to lead this district for the past ten years and I extend my thanks to the entire LPS community for your support, hard work, and collaborative nature,” McFall wrote. “I am confident that this will be a highly coveted position providing several strong candidates. Please know that I will be doing everything in my power to ensure that the district is in good standing and ready for a transition to new leadership.”

Minuteman High School offers programs for kids and high school grads

Online registration is now open for a range of summer programs for preschoolers through adults starting on July 11 by Minuteman High School in Lincoln and Lexington. They include:

Minuteman Technical Institute (MTI), the adult evening division of the Minuteman school district, is also offering workforce development programs. Classes begin in August or September, depending on the program. The 10-month programs run the length of a traditional school year and require tuition. The 15-week programs are funded through grants from the Governor’s Workforce Skills Cabinet and are free for qualified applicants, which includes most recent high school graduates.

Classes are held weekday evenings and Saturday mornings depending on the program. MTI is open to any student over 18 with a high school diploma or GED (applicants do not need to be a resident of a town in the Minuteman school district).

Minuteman Technical Institute will offer ten-month programs for automotive technology, cosmetology, and electricity from August 2022 to June 2023. Tuition payment plans are available, and additional tuition support may be possible for students ages 18-24 or for anyone who is unemployed or underemployed. View MTI’s Applications and Admissions page for details.

Fifteen-week programs beginning in September 2022 are CNC machine operator, carpentry pre-apprentice, facilities management, robotic technician, and welding. Anyone interested in these courses must apply through a designated MassHire Career Center: MassHire Metro North in Cambridge, MassHire Metro South/West in Framingham, and MassHire North Central in Leominster.

Masks no longer required indoors in Lincoln as of March 14

Masks will no longer be required indoors in Lincoln as of Monday, March 14, and the Lincoln Public Schools will move to a “less masking” policy on the same day.

Wearing masks in the schools and on buses will be optional with the following exceptions. Mask wearing is required/necessary:

  • In nurses’ offices and healthcare settings, per the state Department of Public Health
  • For all individuals in days 6-10 following a positive Covid-19 test result, indoors
  • When directed by a school nurse for health and safety reasons

Mask wearing is strongly recommended for unvaccinated individuals and those with health risks. Everyone is welcome to wear masks at any time, “and a culture of support and acceptance for those continuing to wear masks is the expectation,” according to a March 11 statement form the School Committee.

The schools will continue to monitor Covid-19 cases on a daily basis. “As necessary, we will make decisions about reinstating mask requirements on a classroom, grade, school, or district level in order to minimize or stop potential spread of the virus. Decisions may include a short-term, temporary mask requirement or a longer-term requirement depending upon the circumstances of the positive case rates and distribution of the cases,” the statement said.

After a spike due to the omicron variant in February, the case rate everywhere has dropped substantially. Last week, for the first time since pool testing began at the schools, there were no positive cases.

The Board of Health rescinded the town-wide indoor mask mandate, though they and the DPH recommended that residents with weakened immune systems or at increased risk of severe Covid-19 because of age or medical conditions (or who have a household member at increased risk) continue to wear a mask when indoors other than in their home, even if they’re vaccinated. Private establishments may continue to require masks upon entry.

The board also noted that there are free Covid-19 treatments available that can prevent hospitalizations and reduce the risk of becoming very ill for those who test positive for the virus and have symptoms, or for those at increased risk of severe disease. Treatments now include Paxlovid, an oral antiviral agent that physicians can prescribe. Prevention now includes Evusheld preventive antibody injections for immunocompromised persons.

Town completes second round of bonding for school project

The town has sold bonds worth $8,489,000 in the second portion of borrowing to fund the school project. The sale generated a 2.6% interest rate with annual debt service at roughly $440,000, according to Lincoln Finance Director Colleen Wilkins.

Prior to the sale, the town’s AAA credit rating was affirmed by Standard & Poor, which helped keep interest rates low. “As part of their report, S&P cited strong credit rating factors for the town, including Lincoln’s very strong economy, very strong management with strong financial policies and practices, and the town’s thoughtful practice of building financial reserves,” Wilkins said.

The tax impact on the median tax bill is $215 and will be reflected in real estate tax bills issued in fall 2022.

In the first round of borrowing in early 2019, the town sold bonds worth $80 million at an interest rate of 3.379%. At that time, the Finance Committee was basing property tax impact estimates for the project on an expected interest rate of 4–5%, resulting an estimated tax hike of 18–20%, but officials revised that down to 14–16%.

The combined bond sales plus $4.4 million from the town’s debt stabilization fund and $1 million from free cash in 2019 are funding the $92.9 million project , which is scheduled for completion this summer.  For fiscal year 2023,  the Finance Committee projects in the Annual Town Meeting warrant that debt service for the school project will be $4.29 million, or 9.6% of the $44.52 million town budget.

My Turn: Carty is running for L-S School Committee

(Editor’s note: Carty is one of three Sudbury candidates vying for two seats on the the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee.)

To the editor:

My name is Maura Carty and I am pleased to share that I am running for the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee.

I have three children; my oldest is a graduate of L-S, my second is currently an L-S senior, and my youngest is an eighth-grader at Curtis heading to L-S next year. My family has lived in Sudbury for over 20 years. During those years, I have been deeply involved in the community by serving as a board member on many nonprofit organizations. I presently serve on many community boards in leadership positions, including Lincoln-Sudbury Parent Organization and L-S’s Senior Safe Night (formerly known as Jamaica Jammin’). This has afforded me the opportunity to cultivate deep connections with many community members and to gain an understanding of what is important to them. 

So why am I running? Lincoln-Sudbury is an incredible school, and I believe together we can elevate it. I am running to bring a current perspective to the Committee. I am plugged into the community and feel I can make an impact on the lives of students and their families by concentrating efforts on student mental health and academic growth. I look to leverage what I have learned and decisions I have made in my many years of public service to benefit the L-S community and all of its students.

Students have been overwhelmed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Their academic experience and mental health has been impacted. Collaboration to find safe, appropriate solutions to the complicated issues that arose during the pandemic and are certain to continue as we transition to the next phase of this evolving virus will be key. Our decisions must be made based on science with the needs of students at the forefront. I believe it is the role of the School Committee to ensure both happen.    

I am a dedicated and passionate individual and proud member of the L-S community. I build relationships by listening, asking questions, and embracing different viewpoints to accomplish the best outcomes. I look forward to advocating for all students and helping them advance to their full potential. Together we can make a great place better, and I ask for your support on Monday, March 28th.

Sincerely,

Maura Carty
15 Stonebrook Rd., Sudbury, MA

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to  Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

My Turn: Kevin Matthews seeks reelection to L-S School Committee

(Editor’s note: Matthews is one of three Sudbury candidates vying for two seats on the the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee.)

To the editor:

I am excited to be running for re-election for L-S School Committee. It has been an honor and a privilege to have served the communities of Lincoln and Sudbury for the last 12 years. I believe, in that time, I have been able to make a difference. I hope you consider voting for me for the L-S School Committee on Monday, March 28.

As in 2010 when I was first elected, we are again facing uncertain times; this time we are entering a post-pandemic era, with a growing war in Europe and with the economic threat of rising inflation. As before, I promise to provide steady, bold, and reasoned leadership.

As a community of teaching and learning, we must prioritize our mission: the development and education of our communities’ students. It is our public charge to provide the best possible education for all of the students who enter our doors. There is perhaps no mission more important.

We must provide a safe, supportive, and sustainable environment for this period of developmental growth for our students. In order to do so, we need the appropriate resources and responsible financial management, and a faculty and administration who bring educational and administrative excellence. We as a high school and a community need to work together to provide a safe environment and to inspire our children with a sense of grit and optimism toward learning here and in their lives beyond these walls.

We as a school need to remember we serve the community in this role. And in service, we work together with the community, the families of our students, and the taxpayers and always remain sensitive to the needs of the community.

While we have the tools to guide and develop our students, our families depend upon us to heed their concerns and the taxpayers require us to manage their resources responsibly and efficiently.

I promise to serve the community openly, honestly, and always with a sense of urgency. You have entrusted this committee with tremendous responsibility. I hope to earn your trust once again. I ask for your vote on March 28. 

Sincerely,

Kevin Matthews
137 Haynes Rd., Sudbury MA

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to  Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.