Ellen Bearse

The meeting commenced with roll call attendance and included a detailed student representative report highlighting recent achievements at the high school, such as curriculum night success, fundraising efforts by the Culture Club, a National Merit Scholarship commendation, and the organization of a 'Flags for Vets' initiative. The report also covered Homecoming Week activities, including spirit events, the powder puff game, and the outdoor dance. Senior nights for the girls soccer, boys soccer, and field hockey teams were mentioned, along with the conclusion of the boys golf season and the annual booster club golf tournament fundraiser. The Superintendent then presented the 2021-2022 Superintendent Goals, covering professional practice goals (expanding community meetings regarding COVID-19 and strategic planning, and professional development in equity), student learning goals (supporting the implementation of the new American Reading Company curriculum in elementary schools and the MAP assessments at the high school), and district improvement goals related to closing out the current strategic plan and developing the new 2022 strategic plan. Discussion followed regarding the process for developing the new strategic plan, emphasizing the need for public review of the previous process and the formation of working groups. Committee members expressed positive feedback on the comprehensive nature of the Superintendent's goals.

The meeting included discussions on the final draft of the Portrait of a Graduate, which received aesthetic revisions for better color presentation and usability on digital platforms. A policy discussion was held regarding an amendment to school choice policy (JFBB) to grant the Superintendent discretion to admit children of district and municipal employees working for Chatham or Harwich outside of the standard school choice process, noting that no tuition reimbursement would be received in these special cases. The committee also addressed the annual closing of the financial year by approving the rolling over of fiscal year 2023 encumbrances totaling $84,626.49 into fiscal year 2024. Finally, the committee reviewed and discussed a motion to approve the donation of student activity funds raised by students for the 'Dream Day on Cape Cod' charity, noting the funds were managed through a non-profit entity created by students called 'Red White Return'.

The announcements segment covered several school activities. These included a request for volunteers for the Harwitch Elementary School Holiday Bazaar on December 6th, planning for an Outdoors Club camping trip in Virginia during April vacation, and a Toys for Tots collection drive running from December 1st to December 5th. Additionally, the student council organized a fundraiser for the class of 2028 at Dairy Queen in Harport, with 10% of proceeds benefiting the class every Wednesday until December 17th. The segment concluded with a weather report indicating current partly cloudy conditions, a high of 45 degrees, and 100% chance of precipitation.

The meeting served as a public hearing for the proposed annual budget for Fiscal Year 2027. The discussion included a retrospective look at regionalization, focusing on fiscal benefits, enrollment splits between Harwich and Chatham, and the impact of school choice on funding, noting a significant financial shift of approximately $1.1 million annually from Harwich to Chatham due to prior enrollment dynamics. The presentation also covered cost comparisons, showing that regionalization has helped contain cost increases compared to non-regionalized districts and other towns. The proposed FY27 budget totals $52,218,395, representing an increase of over 6% from the previous year, primarily driven by an 8% health insurance increase, although this was partially offset by an increase in retiree health insurance participation. The budget maintains a level service but includes a net reduction of 4.5 Unit A (teacher contract) positions, largely due to projected declining enrollment, which has accelerated since FY23.

The announcement segment included a pledge of allegiance and information regarding ongoing fundraising efforts by StuCo Cares for the Samson Fund of Cape Cod to support pet care for local individuals. Additionally, the Class of 2023 was reminded about pre-order forms for class t-shirts, including pricing details and deadlines. The broadcast also featured a weather forecast and sports updates, noting that the football team's first game is scheduled for March 20th. The session concluded with a mindful minute segment focusing on a breathing technique known as square breathing.