The new schedule at Nichols Middle School features a six-day, six-block rotation that accommodates professional learning community time, teacher duty time, and equitable lunch periods. A “Wind Block” has been introduced for targeted interventions and support for students’ individualized learning needs. Additionally, the schedule includes unified arts trimesters, availability of the library media center for research, and an advisory block designed to help students track and monitor their assignments. The principal of Nichols Middle School presented the schedule, emphasizing the collaborative effort behind its development and its potential impact on student learning and engagement.

Beyond educational scheduling, the committee discussed the upcoming athletic events and initiatives. A local orthopedic clinic is offering free physical exams for high school students, and the athletic director shared details about scheduling these exams. The athletic director also highlighted the success of the summer Youth and Community Track and Field program and previewed the upcoming fall sports registration. Furthermore, a partnership with the Positive Coaching Alliance was announced, and excitement was shared for a proposed road race in November, the Tim Harnett 5K, which serves as both a scholarship fundraiser and a boost for the athletic boosters.

The committee also addressed concerns regarding the use of the school’s tennis courts by community members, explaining that the courts are locked during school hours for safety and liability reasons. Additionally, a budget update was provided, reporting a positive balance of $41,500, which will revert back to the town, and discussions about the circuit breaker filing for special education expenses were held, with a conservative estimate for potential reimbursement provided.

Another topic was the superintendent’s goals, which include professional practice, student learning, district improvement, and communication and community relations. The committee outlined key focus indicators for evaluating the superintendent’s progress, such as instructional leadership, management and operations, family and community engagement, and professional culture. The superintendent’s subcommittee held multiple meetings to ensure that the goals were actionable and supported by evidence for assessment. It was noted that the goals could be amended after committee approval, pending the superintendent’s agreement and another committee vote.

The meeting included discussions on the superintendent’s focus indicators, such as continuous learning, human resource management, data-informed decision-making, and community engagement. A clear schedule for reviewing and evaluating the superintendent’s progress on the goals was proposed, with updates planned for December and March, followed by a formal evaluation in April. The committee debated over the timing of the superintendent evaluation, considering the alignment with the school district’s calendar and the election cycle. The committee emphasized the importance of having standard operating procedures for future superintendent evaluations.

In addition, the committee covered updates on various educational conferences, including the Institute for Superintendent for Professional Development and the upcoming Joint Conference with the School Committees and Superintendents. The superintendent shared her experience as a speaker at the Institute and encouraged attendance at the Joint Conference, highlighting its value for school committee members. The committee also recapped the 30th annual Paul J. Andrews Executive Institute, which focused on topics such as strategies for streamlining initiatives, state metrics on chronic absenteeism, cybersecurity, diversity, equity, and inclusion, negotiation strategies, and legal updates.

Furthermore, the committee announced a meet and greet event for Berkland families to introduce the new principal and discussed the superintendent’s goals, which may include multi-year objectives. A motion to approve the superintendent’s goals for the 2024 to 2025 school year was made, with the understanding that the goals could be amended after a training session to add additional evidence related to surveys. The motion passed with the majority in favor.