Accountability posts

LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE — January 13, 2026: What you need to know

The board made several significant decisions at this meeting — but how some of them were presented to the public raises real accountability concerns.

FIRST: The agenda listed a single item called 'LHS Proposed Science and World Language Curricular Changes.' What the board actually voted on included the elimination of the entire German language program. Lexington parents of current and prospective German students, and any resident who wanted to weigh in on killing an established program, had no specific notice that a program elimination vote was on the table. The enrollment decline data (50% over 9 years) may justify the decision — but it does not justify obscuring what the decision actually was. Affected families deserved a plain-language agenda item.

SECOND: Parent Wendy Hoffer, speaking on behalf of 79 signatories, formally requested the creation of a Technology Advisory Committee to address cell phone use, student streaming access on school devices, and broader ed-tech policy. She noted this was a repeat request. The board's response was complete silence — no acknowledgment, no commitment to follow-up, no explanation for why the request wasn't being acted on. Seventy-nine organized community members deserve at least a response.

THIRD: Superintendent Hackett was direct about the FY27 budget: 14.5 staff positions are already slated for elimination, and 20 to 30 additional cuts are likely coming in the spring. Healthcare costs rose 13.5% year-over-year, and the district is relying on up to $4.4 million in circuit breaker reimbursement funds. A public commenter asked whether administrative positions — not classroom staff — would be prioritized for cuts. The administration pointed to a future line-item budgeting upgrade but did not answer the question directly.

Finally, three parents raised specific concerns about the AP science restructuring — arguing the new second-pass requirements effectively double the course load for multi-AP science students and could disadvantage them in college admissions. The board expressed strong support for the changes, citing teacher and student testimony, but none of the three speakers received any direct response to their concerns. The board votes on the full FY27 budget in January–February 2026. If these issues matter to you, now is the time to make your voice heard. https://meetingwatch.org/ma/lexington/school-committee/2026-01-13/ #MeetingWatch #LexingtonMA