The superintendent’s report highlighted a dramatic drop in high school enrollment, now down to 649 students from 850 eight years earlier. This decline not only affects sports but also various extracurricular activities. The superintendent emphasized the need for enhanced tracking of student participation in these programs, acknowledging a lack of historical data. The report also included the district’s fiscal status, revealing a surplus of approximately $2.9 million for the fiscal year 2025. This surplus, resulting from budget cutbacks, will be added to the Excess and Deficiency fund, which also benefits from unexpected revenues like tuition from the Valley Collaborative and contributions from the Mishoba Minute Man health group.

In another development, the committee discussed the need for a survey targeting families with students in grades six through nine to align future educational offerings with student interests, particularly in vocational programs. The survey, endorsed by career and technical education advisors, aims to address the demand for advanced manufacturing programs despite low enrollment. The committee acknowledged the challenge of balancing program development with financial constraints, highlighted by last year’s school closure. Moreover, the district is contemplating collaboration with Monty Tech and Nishoba vocational schools to bolster its offerings.

A substantial portion of the meeting was dedicated to proposed changes in administrative roles. The superintendent recommended modifying the title of an existing administrative position from assistant principal/athletic director to director of athletics, extracurriculars, testing administration, and afterschool supervisor. This change reflects the expanded responsibilities of the role, which now includes oversight of test administration and safety during afterschool hours. Similarly, a proposal was made to rename the assistant director of special education to special education coordinator, aligning the title with the broader leadership duties now required.

The committee also reviewed updates to the school handbook, including policies on student attendance and senior privileges. Discussions addressed the policy allowing seniors to leave campus during lunch, with some members questioning whether the current 30-minute allowance is sufficient. Concerns were also raised about the prohibition of backpacks at the high school, with adjustments made to passing times between classes to accommodate locker use.

In a notable procedural matter, the committee approved a 10% stipend increase for the district treasurer, who has been earning the same amount for several years. The treasurer’s salary will rise to $13,936 for fiscal year 2026. Additionally, the committee considered team-building training for its members, recognizing the need for improved collaboration, especially given the committee’s relatively inexperienced composition.

The meeting concluded with discussions on the regional agreement, focusing on updating the document for the first time since the early 1990s. Proposed changes include adjustments to representation and voting structures, with debates on transitioning to an all at-large election model. This proposal raised concerns about the potential impact on smaller towns’ representation, with members expressing the need for further exploration of different models used by other regional school districts.