The superintendent reported on the work of five CITs, each tasked with addressing specific educational and operational concerns. The first CIT concentrated on reviewing the student handbook with an emphasis on student discipline and restorative practices. The second CIT evaluated the entrance and exit criteria of therapeutic learning programs. The third CIT’s efforts centered on reevaluating and potentially expanding the Taunton Alternative High School, including discussions about a potential name change and the hiring of additional staff. The fourth CIT tackled social-emotional learning and mental health supports, while the fifth CIT implemented trauma-informed approaches and restorative practice programs at selected schools.

A significant portion of the discussion was dedicated to the Taunton Alternative High School and its future direction. This included the need for further engagement with the high school advisory subcommittee, the introduction of new curricula, and the improvement of security measures. Additionally, the superintendent underscored the importance of the school committee’s involvement in revising student handbooks and the budgeting for necessary resources.

The committee also acknowledged the current student-teacher ratio of 19 to 1 across the district’s ten schools, expressing a desire to maintain a ratio between 20 to 24 students per teacher. To achieve this, hiring additional K2 teachers was proposed to alleviate the pressure of large class sizes. Furthermore, there was a call to merge the district’s anti-bullying efforts with the broader discipline and restorative practices initiative.

The superintendent highlighted the need for ongoing professional development for staff and the establishment of additional programs to cater to the students’ behavioral needs. The integration of updated policies in the student handbooks was also noted as a necessity.

A needs assessment for elementary school safety and belonging was proposed, focusing on structured and unstructured times, such as during lunch and recess. The committee discussed leveraging outside agencies and community resources more effectively to address social-emotional disabilities among students.

The superintendent mentioned that the initiatives had representation from the teachers’ union and that a report would be shared with all union leadership. The importance of regularly updating the committee on these initiatives was also stressed.

Additionally, the committee considered the issuing of letters and certificates to members of the CITs as an acknowledgment of their volunteer efforts. The range of participants was debated, with estimates between 50 and 100 individuals.

The superintendent provided updates on various educational achievements, including the graduation of 700 students, the impact of dropout rates, and the consistency of discipline across schools. Updates on the summer school program, new student enrollments, and a student winning the Massachusetts School Building Authority art competition were also shared.

The Finance and Law subcommittee reported on several operational matters, including facility usage, pest control, special education expenses, and warrants. They approved the award of a pest control contract and discussed the potential introduction of a per diem rate for business trips, referring the matter to the administration for further consideration.

The committee touched upon the Curriculum Revision Cycle for the 2024-2025 academic year, specifically mentioning Visual Arts and Wellness. An update on the inclusion of Performing Arts in the curricular revision cycle was requested. Plans were made for a meeting between the superintendent, the secretary, and a committee member to discuss a possible facilities review.

The meeting concluded with discussions on the legal Request for Proposals (RFP) update. The superintendent informed the committee that the RFP had been published and shared with several legal firms, with the process for reviewing proposals and conducting interviews for finalists underway. Opinions varied on whether finalist interviews should be public.

The committee also discussed action item updates, including facility usage by organizations and the awarding of a pest control service contract. The finance and law subcommittee delved into various expenses for fiscal years 24 and 25, with questions raised about the charges and their purposes.