During the meeting, the superintendent presented updated budget figures and discussed the process that led to the current proposal, addressing the committee’s inquiries with detailed explanations and supporting evidence. The implications of not reaching a consensus on the budget were discussed, including the possibility of holding additional town meetings. The committee explored three scenarios to address the budget shortfall, each involving staffing reductions and potential impacts on educational quality.

Moreover, members expressed a debate over the extent to which they could advocate for a particular outcome in the upcoming vote, with one individual stressing the importance of remaining neutral due to the misuse of public funds. Despite this, there was acknowledgment of organized efforts to promote the budget, including the distribution of postcards and rallying support at town meetings.

The committee also discussed the superintendent’s report detailing the four goals for the year revised in February. These included participation in a new superintendent induction program, supporting math curriculum implementation, effective entry and direction setting, and school safety planning. The induction program, which provided professional learning and coaching, was underscored as instrumental in using data to monitor student progress. The superintendent highlighted the use of learning walks as a strategy to improve student achievement through classroom practice observation.

The student report was a positive note, celebrating achievements such as the successful performance of “The Little Mermaid” musical, sports team successes, and the feedback from a recent Japan trip. The students also discussed the start of term four and upcoming events like prom and graduation. Additionally, the winter percussion group’s trip and the art club’s field trip were mentioned.

Continuing with academic concerns, there was a presentation on the math curriculum’s implementation, reviewing its successes and discussing plans for future learning and strategic planning. This included data on student performance, teacher feedback, and the effect of math classroom observation on student achievement. The committee inquired about effectiveness and data interpretation, emphasizing the need for actionable feedback for teachers and the importance of building leadership capacity.

Results of the MAP testing showed an increase in projected math proficiency across the district. Questions arose about the length of the school day and math coaches’ availability, prompting the superintendent to explain the allocation of math coaches and changes in math lesson lengths. The MAP testing process was also dissected, focusing on how data is projected and used to gauge student progress.

The use of resources and the math curriculum’s implementation sparked concerns about discrepancies in instructional material use among teachers. The superintendent acknowledged these differences, attributing them to varied instructional decisions based on each teacher’s standards interpretation. The necessity of feedback and support for teachers to align their decisions with the curriculum was emphasized.

Community support was also acknowledged, with gratitude expressed for donations of women’s hygiene products and the establishment of scholarships, one of which allows the school to set the criteria. The superintendent presented evidence for the evaluation process, with evaluation forms to be completed by the next meeting.