Weymouth School Committee Approves $84 Million FY24 Budget, Chair Resigns

WEYMOUTH -- March 23, 2023, Weymouth School Committee approves $84 million FY24 budget as chair announces his resignation. The board voted unanimously to submit the $84,039,301 level-service operating budget to the mayor's office, while acknowledging a separate needs list of $2,514,736 and a broader $5 million wish list that administrators said could be roughly half-covered by ESSER funds. Chapman Middle School Principal Matt Meehan addressed the committee directly on recent behavioral incidents, saying "the communication lacked over the past two days" and accepting personal responsibility while laying out plans for enhanced security, a parent advisory group, and a student voice committee. Four Chapman parents spoke during public comment, with one urging administrators to join district staff already enrolled in trauma-sensitivity training through Lesley University, 67 staff members to date. The committee also approved the district's acceptable use technology policy on its third reading. The chair, who did not identify the family circumstances prompting his departure, said he will preside over one final meeting before the remaining members appoint a successor under section 4-6 of the town charter to serve through December 31, 2023.