A key topic was the district’s academic performance data, highlighting the achievement gaps among various student subgroups. Students with disabilities exhibited the largest performance gap, followed by English Learners and economically disadvantaged students. Across all grades, students showed significant challenges in critical thinking and reasoning tasks, particularly in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics. As a result, the district is shifting its academic focus to increase opportunities for critical thinking and reasoning. The newly adopted STAR assessments from Renaissance Learning are being used to inform the district’s Improvement Plan, which aims to leverage both academic and social-emotional learning data to guide instructional strategies and interventions.

The committee elaborated on its five-year partnership with the Lynch Leadership Academy, which aims to enhance leadership capacities for instructional improvement and implement district-wide changes. A targeted assistant grant focusing on the middle school has been introduced to support instructional improvements. The Department of Elementary Education’s Statewide System of Supports (SSOS) is set to engage with the district, particularly targeting the middle school, to ensure effective planning and monitoring of instructional strategies. This includes evaluating common planning times, classroom lessons, and observation feedback to closely monitor student outcomes and adapt focus where necessary.

The superintendent plans to conduct a residency at the middle school to observe school operations firsthand, assess strengths and weaknesses, and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by students and staff. This initiative aligns with the district’s triangulation of various forms of data, including dropout rates, attendance, and graduation rates, to provide comprehensive support tailored to student needs.

In another important development, the committee approved contract amendments for Units A and B of the Gardner Educators Association. These amendments were necessary due to missed updates in the contract language concerning safe and supportive schools. A motion to accept the amendments was passed without opposition.

The meeting also included recognition of community contributions, notably the efforts of a retired principal and teacher who, along with a dedicated team, has been supporting immigrant families through the Gardner Immigration Circle. This group, formed in November 2022, has been instrumental in addressing the needs of a significant influx of Haitian immigrants, providing language lessons and additional resources. The program has expanded to accommodate children of immigrant families, fostering a welcoming environment and assisting immigrants in securing jobs, driving licenses, and housing.

In financial matters, the finance subcommittee reported unexpected costs, such as the need to split expenses for a water heater replacement between the Gardner Academy Building Maintenance and District Building Maintenance budgets. Additionally, the district school nurse’s salary was noted to be in the negative, with plans to address this by reallocating funds in the following month. The report highlighted a negative balance in the district tuition collaborative due to encumbered funds for students placed in collaborative settings, although there was a surplus of $44,000 in the English Language Learner (ELL) teacher line.

Several donations were acknowledged, including $1,484 from the class of 1974 for a new picnic table for Watkins Field and $224.95 from Jersey Mike’s to support the Gardner High School music department. The committee expressed gratitude for these contributions, which aim to enhance the school environment and student experiences.