Winthrop School Committee approves Howard contract extension through fiscal year 2027

WINTHROP -- June 29, 2026, Winthrop School Committee extends Superintendent Lisa Howard's contract and approves nearly $4.76 million in warrants. The committee voted unanimously Monday to approve the final two years of Howard's contract, setting her salary at $216,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $220,000 for fiscal year 2027, with all other terms unchanged. The board also cleared six financial warrants, one vendor warrant of $475,816.11 and five payroll warrants totaling roughly $4.28 million, all without discussion. Howard, thanking the committee for its patience, noted the delay was a product of competing priorities: "We had many pressing tasks to get through the last two years between the override and all the contract negotiations, which are, to me, more important than mine." She said the district is preparing for leadership transitions headed into the new school year, with Brian Curley being onboarded as assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction, and accountability, and that a revised district budget reconciling federal grant lines and updated salary figures is expected within one to two weeks.