School Committee Update - October 6, 2025

Meeting Highlights:

• The Student Advisory Council provided updates on the transition to high school, plans for various student activities, and feedback on school improvements. Leyna Watkins shared that freshman year is going well, and the student council discussed wanting to potentially bring back "Refresh Day" to help students relax. Jane Besse mentioned that sophomores are planning fundraisers and a door decorating competition for Homecoming. Tegan Allen provided updates on juniors and seniors, including Homecoming preparations and a dodgeball event. The students also expressed a desire for after-school snacks, and Dr. Dwight noted that vending machines will be forthcoming. 
  
  

• Abby Besse and Liz Joyce reported on the Superintendent Search Subcommittee’s progress, noting they had selected the search committee candidates representing teachers, parents, and students. They added two additional positions based on survey feedback. In addition, the SC members reviewed survey results from the community, focusing on the identified priorities and qualifications. The survey data showed that the top priorities were academic standards, financial management, educational leadership, curriculum development, and parent/community communication, with budget concerns being a dominant theme in the open responses. The search committee will hold their first meeting on October 22 meeting to plan next steps in the process. 
  
  

• TBHS Principal Kim Murphy presented the school improvement plan for year two of a five-year initiative, focusing on a tiered instructional support system. She outlined three strategic initiatives: developing common curriculum planning and mapping, implementing data-driven academic and SEL interventions, and enhancing classroom support through relationship building. Ms. Murphy explained that Flex 2.0 would increase student and teacher movement between different configurations. 
  
  

• HES Principal Katsh-Singer shared the elementary school's school improvement plan, highlighting goals of implementing a new literacy curriculum, developing curriculum maps, and evaluating student support programs like SOAR. She emphasized the importance of teacher collaboration and community partnerships, including after-school workshops and community chats.
  
  

• Lastly, the meeting focused on enrollment data and budget considerations. Dr. Dwight presented current enrollment numbers, noting a slight decrease of 21 students from last year, with 44 students total having left the district. She explained that changes in transitional housing policies and international moves contributed to the decline. The Superintendent also suggested that some anticipated move-in could lead to an enrollment uptick in the coming months. Katy Covino noted that this trend may not be cause for immediate concern.