The meeting began with a “Spotlight on Excellence” segment, honoring Tiffany LeGrand, a paraprofessional at Ridley School, who performed life-saving CPR on a student who was choking. Principal Whitmore introduced LeGrand, emphasizing the critical role paraprofessionals play in the school environment. LeGrand shared details of the incident, crediting her CPR training for enabling her to act quickly and effectively. The committee expressed gratitude for her prompt response and highlighted the importance of CPR training for all staff members.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the need for a crossing guard at Pierce School. Public comments brought attention to the safety challenges students face when crossing a state highway to access a playground, particularly during busy pickup times. Town meeting member and parent Marissa Vote highlighted the unsustainability of current PTO funding for the crossing guard, urging the committee to seek alternative funding sources, potentially from the Pierce School building committee. The committee recognized the urgency of the issue and the need for a swift resolution to ensure student safety.

Another major topic was the success of a diversity recruitment event held on September 7th at Brookline High School. Organized by the Massachusetts Partnership for Diversity and Education, the event was described as a “resounding success,” with superintendents from other communities expressing admiration for Brookline’s facilities. Discussions emphasized the importance of continuing such initiatives to strengthen diversity within the school district.

The committee also delved into the District’s strategic plan, presented by Dr. Fortuna and her colleagues. The revamped 30-page document, featuring photographs and a table of contents, outlined five key goals: teaching and learning, community connections, climate and culture, management and capacity building, and governance. A focus was placed on climate and culture, with emphasis on creating safe environments that promote belonging for families and the community. The results of a recent climate survey were discussed, revealing that only 64% of staff felt a strong sense of belonging, with paraprofessionals notably reporting lower levels of satisfaction.

Concerns about staff perceptions of district climate were raised, with only a third of staff reporting positive experiences. The committee acknowledged the necessity of addressing these issues to improve staff retention and foster collaboration between families and schools.

The meeting also touched upon private school enrollment trends in Brookline. Historical data showed fluctuations in private school enrollment percentages, particularly around the COVID-19 pandemic. While private school enrollment increased during the pandemic, it has since begun to trend downwards as public school enrollment rises. The committee discussed strategies to strengthen public schooling in light of competition from private institutions.

Budgetary concerns were another focal point, particularly the integration of the Strategic Plan into budget guidelines for fiscal years 2026 to 2030. Committee members debated whether the Strategic Plan should serve as a guiding principle for budget decisions, with some expressing concerns about potentially ceding authority.

Further, discussions addressed the inclusion of a robust K-5 World Languages curriculum. While there was consensus on the necessity of integrating world languages, concerns were raised about the impact on the overall length of the school day and other academic priorities. The idea of expanding preschool offerings was also introduced, emphasizing the need for feasibility studies for a universal pre-K program.

The meeting also featured updates from various subcommittees. The Capital subcommittee announced upcoming meetings to discuss crossing guards and the Davis Path footbridge replacement project. The curriculum subcommittee reported on literacy initiatives and the implementation of new programs across grades pre-K to three. The government relations subcommittee reviewed warrant articles for the November town meeting, including a proposed tree removal article and a resolution to establish Jewish American Heritage Month.