The board’s approval of the updated school handbooks marked a development in the meeting. The revised handbooks feature substantial amendments, including new protocols on attendance, an honor code, updated concussion policy, and comprehensive threat assessment guidelines. These changes aim to enhance the educational environment and ensure student safety. The discussion on the handbook was comprehensive, with board members requesting a detailed overview of the elementary handbook’s amendments, specifically the addition of a clause concerning recording on school premises. While some members abstained from the vote due to absence during previous discussions, the handbooks were ultimately approved.

In a related educational matter, the board engaged with the presentation of initial data from the Stepping Stones math curriculum. The board focused on the need for a considerable survey response rate and the importance of tracking long-term data to assess the curriculum’s impact more effectively.

The meeting also addressed the fiscal year 2024 budget, with a particular emphasis on summer transfers and a request for the board to approve a 1% increment of $35,535. The budget discussions are critical as they set the financial blueprint for the town’s planning and development in the next fiscal year.

An unexpected yet issue was the update on a recent network outage affecting the school’s systems. The administration informed the board that they were investigating the matter and working with specialists to restore the compromised systems.

Another topic that engendered debate was the scheduling of the Planning Board’s meetings. The board deliberated on potential shifts to Wednesday evenings to prevent clashes with the select board’s Thursday meetings. Members underscored the necessity to avoid scheduling conflicts, especially when joint meetings are convened, and agreed on the importance of maintaining a light agenda for these occasions.

The board also discussed the potential use of the new town hall meeting space. Additionally, members voiced the need for enhanced communication between the Planning Board and local schools. They expressed a willingness to be more informed about school activities and to assist with school-related fundraising efforts. The importance of timely updates from student representatives about school events was also underscored.

Furthermore, there was a call for an overview of interactions between the PTO, booster clubs, and the school committee.

The board touched upon the need to revisit school committee dates for the 2024-25 academic year.