Wareham School Committee Raises Preschool Tuition, Clears Six Overdue Minutes

School Committee · Meeting of April 16, 2026

Wareham School Committee raises preschool tuition and clears six overdue meeting minutes. The committee voted 5-0 on all items at its April 16 meeting, approving an increase in full-time preschool tuition from $4,000 to $6,000 per year for families not qualifying for free and reduced lunch, with the reduced rate held at $4,000 for those who do. Superintendent Dr.

D'Andrea said the change is expected to generate roughly $50,000 for the preschool revolving account, against a budgeted assumption of $30,000, and noted that comparable programs across the state average $6,500 annually. The board also approved three budget transfers covering food service insurance ($24,397), one-on-one nursing services ($25,000), and contracted special education transportation, with the finance director projecting vendor transport costs will reach $1,140,000 this year, up from $886,000. Athletic Director Ed Roderick won approval to raise game-worker pay from $50 to $60 per event, describing workers at a boys basketball game as earning the equivalent of "$10, $12 an hour" under the old rate.

Chair Geoffrey Swett acknowledged a community-reported open meeting law violation stemming from the backlog of six unapproved minutes, all of which were cleared Thursday night.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 1,116 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of April 16, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.