Jerilyn Ballard

This document presents the Cohasset Public Schools' Fiscal Year 2027 budget, outlining significant funding gaps and proposed reductions across various operational areas. It details cost-saving measures affecting technology, supplies, professional development, central office administration, athletic programs, and instructional staffing, leading to larger class sizes and reduced programming. The presentation also discusses the broader financial landscape, including local funding limitations, state aid, and the potential necessity of Proposition 2 1/2 and Debt Exclusion overrides to ensure financial sustainability and continued educational excellence.

The meeting covered a variety of organizational and academic updates, including reports from the Superintendent on the MSBA eligibility phase for the Middle/High School, the Director of Finance and Operations search, and the FY27 Budget Calendar. The Committee approved the final versions of the Graduation Requirements Policy and the Competency Determination Policy. A presentation on the Spring 2025 MCAS results highlighted student performance trends and ongoing strategies to address achievement gaps. Additionally, the Committee reviewed the monthly financial update, discussing transportation savings, utility cost management, and the implementation of a soft freeze on discretionary spending, alongside updates from the Wellness Committee.

The committee discussed a citizen's petition regarding the implementation of tuition-free full-day kindergarten, which was put to a vote. The meeting included a report from the Superintendent covering strategic planning, community engagement, and recent student assessment results. Members deliberated on the use of school facilities for upcoming state election polling, approved the disposal of surplus chorus materials, and reviewed warrant articles concerning electric bus lease payments and the roof replacement project at Joseph Osgood Elementary School. Additionally, the committee updated subcommittee and liaison assignments and tabled a decision regarding the lease of school property for solar power generation.

The committee discussed updates on district events, staff attendance data reported by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and policies concerning Middle School Pathway Exploration, Graduation Requirements, and Competency Determination. The Student Services update covered an audit of the Circuit Breaker reimbursement program, an upcoming Tiered Focused Monitoring Review, and SEPAC scheduling. The committee also debated and approved FY27 Capital Requests, including security enhancements, and discussed the implementation of formal office hours for committee members.

This strategic plan, under the Student Opportunity Act, aims to reduce the achievement gap for students with disabilities and promote deeper learning through engagement in grade-level, real-world, relevant, and interactive work. Key strategic objectives include implementing high-quality instructional materials with culturally and linguistically sustaining practices, utilizing the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) process for academic interventions, and developing high-leverage practices and collaborative teaching models. The plan focuses on evidenced-based interventions in math and literacy, refining data-driven systems, and expanding co-teaching, with a vision to enhance student outcomes in English Language Arts and Mathematics.