The meeting commenced with an accolade for school nurses Bethany Hakunowitz and Benjamin Blake, who were recognized for their swift and effective response during a critical health event at the high school. Their actions underscored the vital role of trained medical personnel in educational settings. Superintendent Mark Pellegrino emphasized the significance of their contributions. The committee paused for a brief recess to capture photographs.

Following the recognition of the nurses, the meeting pivoted to address the academic performance of students, with a particular focus on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) results. Dr. Fabino presented an analysis of the English language arts, math, and science scores across grades three through ten. While overall scores demonstrated a slight decline, science scores notably increased, providing a positive counterpoint to the broader trend. The district’s accountability status revealed that Gardner High School was not in need of assistance, but Gardner Elementary School and Gardner Middle School were identified as requiring support, prompting collaboration with the Supporting Schools Office System (SSOS) from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

Dr. Fabino stressed the importance of focusing on high-needs students, outlining initiatives such as partnerships with the Lynch Leadership Academy and the implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) academic teams across the district. These teams are tasked with evaluating formative assessments and refining instructional practices to better serve diverse student populations. The introduction of instructional coaching at the middle school level has been positively received, and a decrease in office referrals at the high school was attributed to effective curriculum implementation.

A discussion ensued regarding common planning time for educators, a feature of the district’s approach to collaborative teaching strategies. This initiative, negotiated as part of the teachers’ contract, ensures that teachers from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade have dedicated periods to plan lessons and discuss strategies for supporting students with disabilities and English language learners. Facilitated by 40 teacher leaders, these sessions are bolstered by training from the Lynch Leadership Academy.

Financial matters were addressed by a committee member who reviewed the year-to-date expense report, highlighting a necessary $30,000 transfer from city hall to cover the athletic director’s salary, a shared city expense. Negative balances in certain budget lines were discussed, attributed to unforeseen absences and management information line issues, which are expected to stabilize over time. The district’s financial health was affirmed, with ongoing work noted on punch list items for the Gardner High School auditorium and the roof project for Gardner Middle School.

The meeting also touched on disparities in educational outcomes for students with disabilities and English language learners. A committee member expressed frustration over persistent discrepancies, noting a 38-year advocacy journey for improved support. The district has made progress in reducing disparities in social-emotional outcomes and dropout rates through robust MTSS, with a current focus on expanding this system to address academic needs.

Routine updates from various directors, including those from school health services and the grant administrator, were noted without further discussion. Superintendent Pellegrino expressed gratitude for the school committee’s support and highlighted positive developments at the middle school, such as the hiring of 18 new staff members and the enthusiastic adoption of improved teaching practices.