The Medford School Committee approved modest tuition increases for two district child‑care programs on April 14, voting to approve Kids Corner rate changes for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school years and to increase MEEP (the district preschool program) tuition by 3% for 2025–26.

District staff said increases are necessary to cover rising operational costs and to raise staff compensation toward a living wage; staff pointed to three years of planned, tiered increases for Kids Corner that had been communicated to families. Joan Bowen, director of student services, explained that some MEEP program entries represent full‑day offerings and therefore carry higher rates than half‑day options; committee members asked staff to clarify labels in the materials to avoid confusion.

The committee approved Kids Corner rates for 2025–26 and 2026–27 by roll call (six in the affirmative, one absent). The motion to raise MEEP rates by 3% for 2025–26 passed by roll call (six in the affirmative, one absent). Committee members noted an apparent clerical error in one MEEP line item and asked staff to correct the chart before broad publication.

District staff said the rate increases are intended both to improve pay for program employees and to preserve program quality and access. The committee did not complete a vote on the before‑ and‑after school program by the time the meeting paused for a technical recess; that item remained on the agenda for later consideration.

What happens next: Staff will publish corrected rate charts for families, implement approved increases for Kids Corner and MEEP for the specified years, and return to the committee with the before‑and‑after school proposals when the meeting resumes.