Berlin-Boylston School Committee Votes to Raise Adult Meal Prices, Defers Band Decision

BERLIN — May 12, 2026 — Berlin-Boylston School Committee approves adult meal price hike, defers band restoration debate. The committee voted unanimously May 12 to raise the district's adult cafeteria meal price from $5.25 to $6.00 per meal effective July 1, 2026 — the first increase since at least 2023 — while declining to take action on a proposal to restore a eliminated band director position at Boylston Elementary School using reserve funds. Committee member Jessica proposed restoring between 0.05 and 0.2 FTE of band instruction at an estimated cost of $3,841 to $15,366, arguing that "once it's completely gone, it's really hard to put back together again," but colleagues warned that adding spending days after both towns voted to approve a tight budget would damage the district's credibility with taxpayers ahead of a potential Proposition 2½ override campaign in Boylston. The committee also received notice that the Massachusetts Attorney General found no open meeting law violation in a complaint filed by Lindsey McKinney Tierney — a defense that cost the district approximately $5,000 in legal fees.