01:18Public comments opened the meeting, revealing significant frustration among community members. Sarah Bogdan critiqued the committee for repetitive discussions without resolution, emphasizing a need for early engagement with families and teachers. Bogdan accused the committee of lacking accurate data and meaningful questioning in decisions impacting marginalized communities, cautioning that current plans could disrupt the education of vulnerable students. She urged the committee to adopt a more thoughtful approach to their responsibilities and learn from ongoing discussions.

03:25Deianne Rockwood further highlighted transparency issues by recounting her experience at a recent NASDAQ event at the high school, where not all remote participant comments were shared, leading to mistrust. Rockwood pressed the committee to narrow decisions for the building needs task force, citing long-term implications of declining enrollment in upper-grade levels. She suggested initiating a redistricting process immediately and invited committee members to a meeting with Falmouth Educators Association members to review survey results critical for evaluating the superintendent’s performance.

05:40The committee also faced scrutiny from Megan Zodie, who challenged the legality of the Lawrence School dress code. Zodie referenced Massachusetts General Law protecting students’ rights to personal dress and highlighted a court case deeming certain dress codes unconstitutional. She argued that the current dress code violates state law and urged the committee to review it as an agenda item.

09:01Amidst these critiques, the meeting shifted focus to the superintendent’s progress review, highlighting goals set for student learning and the results of an equity audit. The superintendent detailed steps to address equity goals, emphasizing the importance of curriculum development and community engagement. The K-6 English Language Arts curriculum was unanimously selected by teachers involved in field testing, with professional development slated to begin in May.

The meeting also addressed the second step of the equity audit, focusing on student discipline and the student code of conduct. A consistent system using PowerSchool’s behavioral support has been adopted across all grades, with ongoing efforts to ensure uniform understanding. A guide for implementing Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) is under development, aimed at aligning practices across educational levels.

18:55In environmental stewardship, the committee discussed expanding educational opportunities around sustainability themes. Partnerships with organizations like NBL HOIE and the Kunamescent River Trust are being formed, with courses like the food justice initiative and environmental science receiving attention. Waste reduction strategies, including school and community composting efforts, were noted, alongside challenges in procuring steel cows for milk distribution. The committee approved an article related to solar projects, with Falmouth High School receiving the first installation.

28:03The superintendent evaluation process was also reviewed, with the committee now at the summative evaluation stage. Each member will prepare an end-of-cycle summative evaluation report, assessing the superintendent’s progress on goals, performance on four standards, and an overall rating. The evaluations will inform discussions with the superintendent, with a completion deadline set for April 23.

37:16The meeting concluded with updates on the Lawrence renovation project and the approval of a memorandum of agreement for additional assistant coach positions. An update on the Model UN staff and students’ participation in a recent conference was shared, along with plans for improving community communication through a retreat workshop guided by legal counsel.