The committee’s selection of Imagine Learning and EL Education followed a review process, which included field testing in classrooms and visits to other districts. The curriculum was chosen for its strengths in providing complex, authentic texts and explicit instruction in reading, writing, speaking, and listening, which align with the district’s instructional vision. The implementation plan involves targeted training for educators and communication with families to ensure a smooth transition to the new curriculum. Recognizing the need to support foundational skills, the committee also discussed strengthening and expanding the current Foundations program.

The contract guarantees a return of $441,842 to the district in the first year and includes the employment of a food service manager, a chef manager, and a part-time sustainability manager. The district plans to develop an advisory board consisting of students, parents, and staff to support the school nutrition program. The committee discussed the positive feedback from kitchen managers and a parent representative who visited Whitson’s Food Services in another school district, and expressed confidence in the direction for school nutrition. The contract was reviewed with legal counsel and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and includes financial provisions to cover various costs associated with meals, labor, procurement, and equipment.

In addition to the literacy curriculum and food service contract, the committee addressed the principal’s findings from an entry plan at Mary Rowlandson Elementary School, which highlighted communication systems and the impact on social and emotional learning. The principal reported an increase in grit and emotional regulation scores, and initiatives to embed calm, compassionate teaching strategies were discussed. The committee also considered the idea of hosting student learning data nights to involve parents in student progress discussions.

School safety was another focus, with the committee discussing improvements in communication in noisy areas and the embedding of school safety chat into daily practices. Plans for staff discussions on safety scenarios were also mentioned, underlining the importance of safety in the school environment.

The committee moved forward with the approval of several grants, including a $74,900 FC 30tc skills Capital Grant and a $166,000 Project Lead the Way Grant, both aimed at enhancing programming at the high school level. The superintendent’s summative evaluation was rated as exemplary, and adjustments to the parent communication policy were approved after discussions on the 48-hour response clause and confidentiality issues.

The meeting also touched on the interpretation of a policy provision concerning the acknowledgment of safety concerns, with the committee voting to amend the wording to ensure immediate acknowledgment. The authorization for the superintendent to sign the district physician contract for the 2024-2025 school year was granted after clarification on the contract’s stipend.

Approval of the NRHS school year 2024-2025 handbook was achieved following a presentation and discussion. The committee took care to update various subcommittees, including budget and warrant, building, personnel, communication, and policy, and recognized outgoing members for their service to the committee.