Committee accepts book donations, announces DESE grant and approves COLA extension for nonunion staff

The committee approved acceptance of donated books from AFT Massachusetts and the Lynn Teachers Union in partnership with First Book for City Arts and Sciences Academy; Deputy Superintendent Loofe said the donation amounted to roughly $10,000 in books for a new library.

Leadership also recommended accepting $250 donations from Menino Construction and William Kamet to student activity accounts and announced the creation of a grants administrator position to improve grant monitoring and timelines.

Superintendent leadership reported a $435,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to expand dual-language programming at Thurgood Marshall Middle School, and said the district plans rollout steps tied to enrollment progression.

Later, the committee moved into executive session for contract negotiations with nonunion personnel. Upon returning to open session, the chair announced that a motion made and approved in executive session would extend the cost‑of‑living adjustments contained in collective bargaining agreements to the listed nonunion personnel at a rate of 3% per year for three years. The committee then moved the corresponding open-session motion and recorded a roll-call approval.