Lunenburg School Committee Tables PE Waiver, Authorizes Band Negotiations After Override Defeat

LUNENBURG -- June 3, 2026, Lunenburg School Committee accepts $2,555 donation, approves handbooks, and tables PE sports waiver at post-override June meeting. Meeting Tuesday, the committee voted unanimously to accept a $2,555.38 PTO book fair donation, approve FY2026-27 student handbooks for all three schools, with a new middle school rule requiring sneakers in gym class, and authorize the superintendent to negotiate a union stipend for a proposed before-school fifth grade band program at approximately $100 per student. A student-driven proposal to allow MIAA athletic participation to substitute for physical education graduation requirements was tabled with two members absent, pending policy examples from Amesbury, Littleton, Pembroke, Franklin, and Taunton. Resident Peter Beardmore urged the committee to ask the Select Board to schedule a special August town meeting to appropriate a potential $350,000 to $450,000 in additional state Senate budget aid for the district. Superintendent Dr. Fortuna reported that reading proficiency rates rose from 46 percent in the fall to 85 percent in the spring, and Director of Facilities Chris Stevens announced roughly $30,000 in three-year savings through competitive maintenance contract bidding.