During the public comments, a parent named Drea voiced concerns about recent changes in the school’s curriculum and the lack of effective communication from the administration. Drea highlighted the introduction of a spatial temporal math game during specials, which parents learned about indirectly rather than through direct communication from the school. Drea remarked, “this lack of communication from Administration is not a new issue,” and critiqued the newsletters for focusing on disciplinary procedures, busing, and lunches while neglecting significant curriculum changes. Drea advocated for more open and proactive communication to foster a better relationship between the school and the parent community.

Following public comment, the superintendent provided an update on the smooth opening of the school year, which included two days of teacher training on new Title IX provisions and a guest speaker emphasizing equity in education. The focus this year is on improving middle school math scores through the newly introduced ST Math program, which requires students to engage with the program for 90 minutes each week. The superintendent revealed that only 17 out of 117 middle school students qualified for Algebra 1 in grade 8. The school secured a grant to cover the $30,000 cost of the ST Math program.

The meeting also discussed a new cell phone policy implemented within the school. Principal Evans reported that 23% of teachers rated the new policy as excellent, while 71% rated it as very good. About 42% of teachers noted that 80-100% of students complied with storing their phones in designated pouches upon entering classrooms. However, there remained concerns about students not adhering to this rule and using phones during breaks. The principal noted, “students don’t always tell the truth to adults in schools,” indicating that some students may claim not to have their phones when they do. The policy’s effectiveness and the need for regular phone breaks during class were discussed, with two-thirds of teachers reporting they did not provide such breaks.

In the first few days of school, there were 16 reports of students using phones in hallways and bathrooms, involving 13 individual students. The committee agreed that addressing phone usage in non-classroom areas is a priority.

Communication efforts between the school and families were also discussed. Daily announcements posted on the school’s Facebook page and website received positive feedback, and an upcoming open house event was mentioned. The committee recognized a donation from Comics and More, a local comic book store, which provided over 100 high-quality masks and unexpired COVID rapid tests for students.

The meeting included updates on the upcoming joint conference organized by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, scheduled for November 6 to 9. Attendees from the committee planned to share insights upon their return.

A business update included plans for upgrading the high school kitchen dishwasher, with three quotes obtained for a new model pending approval from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The estimated cost is around $64,000, funded by the cafeteria revolving account. The installation is planned for the December break to avoid disrupting school operations.

The end-of-year report is being prepared, with most information gathered and final numbers for the summer Food Service program pending. The Personnel report for August noted the hiring of nearly 30 new staff members and six separations within the district. Current vacancies include special education teachers, a special education coordinator, and other positions.

The superintendent search was a significant topic, with the job posting for the permanent superintendent announced. Applications for the search committee will be accepted until October 4th, with efforts to ensure representation from various stakeholders, including parents and staff. The selection of the superintendent search committee and the MCAS update are slated for the next regular session on October 8th.