Weymouth School Committee Accepts $52,000 Estate Gift for Pingree School

WEYMOUTH -- October 20, 2022, Weymouth School Committee accepts $52,000 estate gift and reports near-doubling of MCAS student growth percentile. The committee voted unanimously Thursday to accept a $52,000 bequest from the Sandra A. Cunningham Revocable Trust, designated for materials and teacher continuing education at L. W. Pingree School. Assistant Superintendent Melanie Curtin reported the district's average student growth percentile rose from 30 percent in 2021 to 49.3 percent in 2022, moving toward a two-year goal of 60 percent, though the share of students meeting or exceeding expectations declined. The committee also voted to adopt amended policy DBG clarifying that final school budget authority lies with "the elected officials who comprise and who are entitled to vote at the appropriate meetings." During public comment, John Hanula of 300 Next Street told the board his kindergarten daughter suffered a concussion playing on pavement during recess in the life skills program at Ralph Talbot School, a program recently relocated from Nash Elementary without, he said, an adequate outdoor play space for high-needs students.