Silver Lake Regional School Committee Opts Out of School Choice, Approves Handbooks and Eagle Scout Shed

HALIFAX -- April 16, 2026, Silver Lake Regional School Committee voted to withdraw from Massachusetts school choice for the coming year at its April 16 meeting, citing a gap between the $5,000 state reimbursement and the more than $15,000 actual per-pupil cost of educating a student. Legislative agent Jason Fraser also reported that a supplemental state budget delivered earmarks of $50,000 to Halifax for extraordinary special education costs, $50,000 to Silver Lake Regional for phone system replacements, $20,000 to Kingston and $11,000 to Plimpton for phone systems, and $15,000 to Plimpton for roof repairs, secured in coordination with Representative Lanatra and Senator Fernandez. The committee unanimously approved updated student handbooks for both the high school and middle school, a school improvement plan for the middle school, a one-time $30,000 student activities fund transfer, and a CTE outdoor carpentry project at 52 Kiggins Road in Kingston. A $204,000 state capital skills grant for the automotive technology program was announced. The meeting also included a farewell to departing member Jeannie Coleman, who served three years on Silver Lake Regional and nine years on the Kingston School Committee.