Shrewsbury School Committee Accepts $31,385 in RISE Gifts, Backs Tuition Hike

SHREWSBURY — June 3, 2026 — Shrewsbury School Committee accepts $31,385 in donations to RISE program and signals support for a 5 percent after-school tuition hike. The committee voted unanimously Wednesday to accept two charitable gifts to the district's post-secondary RISE program: $23,885 raised by marathon runner and parent Emily Anderson and $7,500 donated by the family of recent RISE graduate Gotham Subramanian. Director of Mental Health and Counseling Jamie Millett presented data showing Oak Middle School alone logged just under 40 youth mobile crisis or emergency mental health referrals this year, compared with a combined total of 17 for Oak and Shrewsbury Middle School the prior year; under 5 percent of the 1,981 students screened for depression endorsed suicidal ideation, triggering mandatory same-day counselor follow-up. Director of Extended Learning Karen Isaacson recommended a 5 percent tuition increase — raising the five-day monthly after-school rate from $417 to $438 — with a vote scheduled for June 10; she noted a smaller increase "would literally zero out" the program's financial cushion. The committee also unanimously approved an updated position description for the assistant superintendent role held by retiring Dr. Jane Lazotte, renaming it assistant superintendent for well-being and community systems; Superintendent-elect Dr. Erin Ostrander, who presented the proposal, highlighted that Lazotte has secured $2.2 million in external funds for the district since 2019.