The approval of the School District Improvement Plan was a focal point of the meeting. The plan was developed with input from a February 2024 staff and community survey, administrative team retreats, and standards from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. It centers around four overarching goals: curriculum development, inclusive practice, embedding the vision of the graduate into daily practice, and ensuring supportive and safe learning environments. The curriculum goal focuses on enhancing academic and social-emotional support systems, while the inclusive practice goal aims to reflect and respect diverse student identities.

The committee emphasized the importance of creating a safe and supportive school environment, discussing programs like the Yale RULER and anti-bullying initiatives. Digital safety was also addressed, with cybersecurity measures and awareness campaigns geared toward protecting student data and promoting safe technology use.

Further, the meeting saw the Middle School building project advance as the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) board voted in favor of the town’s preferred schematic design. The design team had engaged with educators and staff across both middle schools to gather feedback, which will inform future decisions. The committee authorized the chair to sign a crucial enrollment certificate for submission to the MSBA.

In addition to the Middle School project, the Center School accelerated repair program was discussed. The MSBA’s early acceptance of the district’s application was noted, with an emphasis on addressing the school’s roof issues. The committee approved the initial compliance certificate, allowing the MSBA to assist in identifying a design team and contractor.

The committee also delved into the concept of academic rigor, with a focus on balancing course difficulty and fostering deeper learning. Instead, it should create opportunities for individually appropriate challenges, fostering students’ passions.

Capital improvements were another prominent topic. A proposal for nine projects aimed at enhancing the district’s infrastructure and technology was introduced, with a focus on safety, facility-related requests, and technology-related initiatives. A $75,000 request for additional security camera coverage and upgrades to the public address system at Williams were among the safety-related proposals. Facility-related requests included a significant ask for $700,000 to upgrade the HVAC chiller system at Blueberry, while technology initiatives aimed to replace outdated wireless access points and switches.

The committee recognized the challenges of securing funding, noting that only a fraction of the $2.1 million annual allocation is likely to be fulfilled. Efforts to identify projects suitable for MSBA funding were ongoing, with a focus on addressing the needs of aging facilities. Concerns about technology readiness, particularly regarding internet infrastructure, were also raised.

The need for ongoing assessments to ensure academic rigor aligns with student capabilities was acknowledged, with suggestions that individual school plans could provide further insights.

As the meeting concluded, the committee transitioned into an executive session to discuss strategy related to collective bargaining and the release of past executive session minutes. An announcement was made regarding the upcoming retirement of Diane Janis, the executive assistant to both the superintendent and the school committee.