Arlington School Committee Approves Preschool Tuition Hike, Defers Building Rental Vote

ARLINGTON -- May 14, 2026, Arlington School Committee splits on rental rates, approves preschool fees 6-0. The committee voted unanimously to raise Monomoy Preschool tuition and transportation fees by 5 percent for fiscal year 2027 but deferred a vote on building rental rates after members raised concerns that high school cafeteria and gym pricing could deter nonprofit and parent group use of the newly opened facility. Director of Operations Chris Schweitzer reported that 82 percent of the district's 525 rental permits in fiscal year 2026 were internal, no-charge Group 1 uses. Committee member Liz Exton said an informal survey of PTOs found "vast variance" in understanding of what space would cost and flagged inconsistency in enforcement of the three-hour custodial minimum. Superintendent Dr. Jill Homan also announced a $2 million Green School Works Grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center for the Hardy School electrification project, the largest competitive grant the district had sought, and the district reported serving more than 4,000 meals daily with a fully staffed nutrition team for the first time since before COVID.