Weymouth School Committee Approves Handbook, Hears Bus Contract Protest

WEYMOUTH — April 30, 2026 — Weymouth School Committee approves high school handbook but faces pressure to cancel a disputed $1.5 million bus contract bid. The committee voted unanimously April 30 to adopt the 2026-27 Weymouth High School student handbook, which adds "smart devices" to its list of banned personal electronics, and heard Superintendent Melanie Curtin report that improved budget conditions have reduced projected staff cuts from as many as 25 positions down to between three and five, aided by a proposed 3.5 percent operating budget increase from Mayor Melise and a new $500,000 education reserve fund. The meeting's sharpest debate centered on a pending school bus transportation contract, where First Student drivers, Teamsters Local 653 representative Michelle McCrovitch, and procurement specialist Steve Hilson all urged the committee to cancel and rebid a contract whose low bid from NRT came in approximately $1.5 million below incumbent First Student over five years — a gap speakers attributed to an invitation for bid that omitted accurate route-hour data and late-run line items. Hilson cited Chapter 30B, Section 9 as giving the procurement officer explicit authority to cancel and re-bid, warning that awarding on a deficient specification "exposes the district to a complaint with the Office of the Inspector General." The contract is expected to be awarded by May 13.