The high school principal described the current situation as akin to solving a “Tetris puzzle,” highlighting the difficulty in accommodating students, particularly those with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). A proposed plan to utilize the preschool parking lot for modular additions was deemed impractical because of the need to maintain access for preschool operations. The committee is exploring alternative locations for these modular classrooms, balancing the need to preserve field space and the preschool playground. One suggestion was to relocate the preschool to potentially alleviate financial burdens associated with the expansion.

Financial implications of the expansion were discussed, with a placeholder estimate of $100,000 allocated for studying various options. This marks the first formal acknowledgment of the space issue in the capital plan, underscoring its urgency. Committee members expressed concern about how the expansion ties into field needs, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the high school’s capacity limits and the necessity for collaborative funding approaches involving multiple stakeholders.

The meeting also covered transportation issues, with updates provided on challenges stemming from a shortage of drivers and service disruptions. The assistant deputy superintendent noted ongoing efforts to remedy these issues and maintain communication with families. The possibility of investing in technology for real-time bus updates was discussed, though variability in drivers and assignments poses challenges to such a system’s reliability. Contractual measures to incentivize better service performance were also considered, with discussions about possibly revisiting the terms to ensure effectiveness.

Another topic was the renovation of Memorial School, with the committee in a “hurry up and wait” phase, having submitted documentation to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) and awaiting further engagement. Current enrollment figures at Memorial School are around 431 students, with some in temporary “swing spaces.” The MSBA’s willingness to consider expanding the new school’s capacity is seen as a positive development, potentially relieving pressure on other schools. Discussions around the inclusion of preschool needs in the new design highlighted the MSBA’s funding limitations, with the district possibly needing additional resources for broader pre-K programs.

The committee also discussed capital requests, focusing on infrastructure upgrades nearing the end of their life cycle. Key items included replacing virtual server infrastructure and projectors across the district, starting with Wilson Middle School. The aging network switches connecting devices to the network were also identified for replacement due to vendor support phase-outs. These upgrades are deemed essential for maintaining educational program operations and security systems.

The meeting featured updates on educational goals, with a learning walk at Natick High School revealing that 90% of educators’ goals were met, surpassing expectations. The alignment with district priorities was noted, with a focus on social-emotional learning, multi-tiered systems of support, and multilingual learner growth. The committee discussed the importance of refining non-academic goals and ensuring continued progress through mid-year calibrations.