Mary Jane Ron, one of the finalists for the superintendent position, was interviewed by the committee members. Mary Jane praised the district’s early childhood education model, notably the Mountain View school, which offers a structured transition from half-day programs for three-year-olds to a full-day kindergarten for four-year-olds. She emphasized the importance of early literacy and intervention, commending the district for its focus on career and college readiness programs at the high school level.

However, Mary Jane identified several challenges facing the district, including a growing need for social-emotional support for students. She highlighted the importance of having adequate support staff to address these needs, pointing out the difficulties teachers face in balancing standardized testing with a holistic education approach. The need to maintain and potentially expand high school programs despite budget constraints was another critical point raised during the interview. Mary Jane suggested that community support and partnerships with local businesses could help sustain essential programs.

The conversation also delved into the district’s budget allocation, focusing on the need to balance curriculum integrity with the enrichment provided by arts and extracurricular activities. Budget constraints were a concern, with discussions on how to prioritize resources amid rising costs and special education demands. It was noted that approximately 85% of the district’s budget typically goes towards staffing and benefits, leaving limited funds for other expenses such as curriculum and facilities maintenance.

In terms of addressing these budgetary challenges, there was a proposal to collaborate with local representatives and neighboring towns to share services and resources. This approach could help maintain programs without compromising student experiences. The importance of engaging with state representatives and town administration to advocate for additional financial resources was also emphasized, given the national trend of increasing special needs enrollment.

The meeting also explored the potential integration of AI in educational settings, particularly for students with special needs. AI tools could assist students in articulating their thoughts and enhance their writing development by providing visual representations based on their input. However, concerns about plagiarism and the ethical use of AI were raised. The discussion compared current apprehensions about AI to initial fears about cell phones in education.

The potential benefits of AI, such as enhancing instructional practices and supporting students with different learning needs, were acknowledged. However, there was also recognition of the challenges posed by excessive screen time and the quality of content accessed through digital platforms. The importance of digital literacy education, starting at the elementary level, was highlighted to equip students with skills in evaluating online information and understanding digital citizenship.