Stoneham School Committee Accepts Two Scholarships, Moves Budget Presentation to January

STONEHAM -- December 18, 2025, Stoneham School Committee accepts two new scholarships and sets January 15 as budget presentation date. The committee voted unanimously Thursday to accept a $1,000 scholarship from Dollar Tuition, a student-founded club targeting first-generation, low-income Stoneham High School seniors, and a $2,500 annual Jan Houghton Spirit of Community Scholarship presented by Stoneham Bank marketing director Lauren Constantine in honor of longtime board member Jan Houghton. Dollar Tuition founder Matteo Molinaro, who started the club after finding that median household income for Hispanic and Latino households in Stoneham is roughly half that of white and Asian households, said the group has raised approximately $1,500 through events at Stop and Shop and the Confetti Moments Festival. Athletic Director Mr. Pignone reported that the loss of freshman sports to budget cuts continues to force program-level cuts, including in boys basketball and girls basketball this winter, with enough players cut in boys basketball alone to have fielded a full freshman team. Superintendent Dr. DeFrancisco confirmed that a recommended budget will be presented January 15 and a public forum held January 22, with the committee needing to deliver a budget number to the town administrator by month's end following voters' passage of a $9.3 million override.