By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Lynnfield Public Schools will not be participating in the state’s School Choice program once again after the School Committee voted not to during a May 6 meeting.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s School Choice program, which was established in 1991, allows families to enroll their children in schools in communities other than the city or town where they reside. The sending school district pays tuition to the receiving school system.
“Historically, Lynnfield has never participated in School Choice, the main reason being that we want to maintain small class sizes,” said Superintendent Tom Geary. “Welcoming students from other towns would contradict that. In addition, the nominal revenue that we would receive definitely would offset the number of students that we bring in. I would recommend once again voting ‘No.’”
Similar to previous years, there were no members of the public who spoke during the School Choice public hearing.
The School Committee unanimously voted not to participate in the School Choice program due to class size and philosophical reasons.