Some highlights of last nights meeting of the School Committee


The Bio Mass (wood chip) boiler to fire up on Monday. A tech from Germany to be present to oversee the process.


Through a grant, the district may be able to receive 25 fruit trees to be planted on school grounds. The one stipulation is none of the fruit can be sold. No mention of what kind but it was said some of the options were to use fruit in the cafeteria, donate to food pantry and or senior center, pretty cool stuff, if it goes well. Some very good lessons for the kids; work, growing / agriculture, giving back, helping others out and so on and so on. I hope this works out well.


Two articles for the annual town meeting for the Town's assessment and for long term debt.


A 7 month extension from MSBA for the elementary school project with the superintendent of schools stating of a time line feasibility study completion by September and budget & scope by November of this year.


Based on revenues, there was a deficit of $550,000.00 and it will be dealt with by;


eliminate one administrator
hire interim principle for the high school - to give more time for a thoughtful process to hire the next leader.


To not replace video production / history teacher who is retiring


combine video production program with business program


four teachers with nonprofessional status will be let go and not replaced (how else would that benefit the budget)
        Three positions at the middle school and one at high school


                currently five teachers in grade 6, 7, 8. class size will increase but still remain about 21-23
                ( mmmmm increase but remain, yeah that must be the new math!)


                high school, all departments have four teachers except English, the fifth one will not
                be replaced.


There will be reductions in support staff


all budget items have been fine tuned


with staff reductions, the district has realized medical insurance savings (the basic principle of the more employees, the more it costs, remember that when it comes to ALS)


we had one out of district special education student age out or move out of district and one move to a less expensive program.


This information came from handouts that were available to all who came, two selectmen were present, Diane Brooks and Julie Farrell.


Jeff Bennett