Lincoln-Sudbury committee dissolves superintendent evaluation subcommittee, reshuffles assignments

SUDBURY — November 8, 2022 — Lincoln-Sudbury braces for IEP surge and a 14 percent out-of-district tuition hike. Director of Student Services Richard Whitehead told the Nov. 8 School Committee that 22.5 percent of 10th graders and 23.3 percent of ninth graders are on IEPs, well above the pre-pandemic 17-to-19 percent range, driven by emotional and specific learning disabilities. Superintendent Bella Wong said a state-set 14 percent jump in out-of-district tuition — versus a typical 2.5 to 3 percent — could cost roughly $1 million and called it "truly devastating" for districts statewide; out-of-district placements have nonetheless dropped from 60 a decade ago to 49 today. The committee voted unanimously by roll call to dissolve the superintendent evaluation subcommittee for 2022-23 and reshuffled policy, capital and negotiations assignments to free search-subcommittee members Harold Ingstrom, Kevin Matthews and Candace Miller for hiring work. Member Candace Miller pressed Ingstrom over unilateral outreach to search firms, demanding a "clear strategy" before the subcommittee meets Monday.