[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6227180,"mediaKeyId","3494121-4ca8ba64857b00f613e491b7abef8eb3","parentId",3494121,"title","Triton school committee elects officers, plans subcommittee assignments and confirms meeting schedule","audioSeconds",182,"startMs",279000,"endMs",461000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3494121-4ca8ba64857b00f613e491b7abef8eb3&start=279&end=461","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3494121-4ca8ba64857b00f613e491b7abef8eb3/thumbnail_279000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6227180/Massachusetts/Triton-school-committee-elects-officers-plans-subcommittee-assignments-and-confirms-meeting-schedule","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227180-3e855aa7d29fb2f5b8ad46251b53b0f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770634919&Signature=OQ~~5wGzyu4aS2gi3RxaQGsKazuGXlpncpvogyUXt0uTUa6wZg3HomPDOtXOSBZNJUIv8Sl6JUiwqgwcVVCH-oC6gjkoPMtumvCdSnmeZ7WhJ0HqXbnaESUKpmoSNo~K~kdqYHhYq2kEke1p5nxhu93lrlTJEfvd9P-xLVDyQnHR8BpBhou5udCpvn4UkvkHaiFr6MzV4Qj33S9nmVlN7LLeN1S3PNCgGGhFnDG9p8QeQXSIyKSQweNVNbEL4WDv0Zy3aibonpd9jtcPjjRNa1T9~Npr-WFzzQ31UNYLx3XrLLmycmUkn7yFQM2cVOYn3rTb~tu~ZrkO924bma-ujQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Triton Regional School District, MA","date","2025-05-24T16:39:02.263Z","article","The Triton Regional School Committee on May 21 completed its annual organization business: officers were nominated and elected, subcommittee assignments were discussed and committee members approved the proposed meeting schedule for the 2025–26 school year.

Committee members nominated and approved a chair, vice chair and secretary for the coming year by voice vote and consensus; the meeting record shows motions and seconds for each officer position and committee acceptance of the slate. The chair also proposed retaining the current facilities subcommittee membership because that group will continue work on district building issues; members present agreed to reappoint the existing facilities group.

Members were asked to send first, second and third choices for the remaining subcommittees (policy & advocacy; personnel negotiations; finance) so the chair can present a formal membership proposal at the June meeting. The committee also approved the proposed meeting schedule and consent agenda items, which included two donations (school math supplies and a $500 donation for Salisbury Elementary STEM) and a planning approval for an out‑of‑state overnight ecology camp field trip for Newbury Elementary's sixth graders (October 6–10, 2025).

No controversial or substantive policy changes were made during the organizational votes; the committee moved to address substantive business items for the rest of the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SC Meeting 5-21-2025","oneSentenceSummary","During its May 21 meeting the committee elected its officers for 2025–26, confirmed facilities subcommittee membership will remain unchanged for the coming year, and approved next year's meeting schedule and consent agenda items including donations and a field trip planning request.","taxTitle","Triton Regional School District, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",69227,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6227184,"Triton approves three‑year custodial contract changes: $150 clothing allowance increase, 5% year‑1 correction, 3% COLA years 2–3",1882,3504000,5386000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3494121-4ca8ba64857b00f613e491b7abef8eb3&start=3504&end=5386","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3494121-4ca8ba64857b00f613e491b7abef8eb3/thumbnail_3504000.jpg","/articles/6227184/Massachusetts/Triton-approves-threeyear-custodial-contract-changes-150-clothing-allowance-increase-5-year1-correction-3-COLA-years-23","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227184-ffd53aee691e6ad0d5cb1e03711967d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770634919&Signature=fOwxxyQL9qNfagJGphxwL7qI2nrLpr-TORT0O8Y--ha~2tLDRXAiF5H4OYmsXpgWHGWIJuYFns3IEpPuIvlgyQKjEI06bw4z7jYFvIfgBm5hA0cVre6P3NguNEKpp-RdvxYM0CeHiIIyWy9VLeQTa1xx0WPMZe9QkUTAFxrX2pRVUqROMD2Vn0mnj3Oynt7xivES5Dly6W0qY47fb4hQwTi8gtOBkSEjjAKQdYFupbs4jiEMRwLeDfQXTQUIAhm8CsM5tWMh2y1gpB5MgcfQ5bHHe~Jr5gsv7LFednq~oMHrja~Ksn7SvIAQEyeO7GeFWbg~noSgDz57NrndH6Ucgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Triton Regional School Committee voted May 21 to approve a new memorandum of understanding with the custodial bargaining unit (AFSCME Unit 9 39) covering 2025 through 2028.

Committee members met in executive session earlier in the meeting to plan negotiations with custodial union personnel and returned to open session with a recommended MOU, the committee chair said. The agreement updated contract language \"to line with other union agreements,\" provided a $150 increase to the clothing allowance and included a 5 percent correction in year one and a 3 percent cost‑of‑living adjustment in each of years two and three, the chair reported.

A motion to approve the agreement was made, seconded and the committee voted in favor. No further amendments were reported at the time of the vote.

Staff said the MOU reflects routine bargaining adjustments; the vote followed the authorized executive‑session negotiations and the committee's return to open session.","After an executive session on negotiations, the committee approved a memorandum of understanding with the AFSCME custodial unit covering 2025–2028 that standardizes language and includes a $150 clothing allowance increase, a one‑time 5% correction in year one, and 3% cost‑of‑living adjustments in years two and three.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6227188,"Triton school building committee begins visioning; district aims for MSPA welcome in October",226,2564000,2790000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3494121-4ca8ba64857b00f613e491b7abef8eb3&start=2564&end=2790","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3494121-4ca8ba64857b00f613e491b7abef8eb3/thumbnail_2564000.jpg","/articles/6227188/Massachusetts/Triton-school-building-committee-begins-visioning-district-aims-for-MSPA-welcome-in-October","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227188-b8ae17b781451f855ca56b2f72926fd0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770634919&Signature=nLOICJr6UE-EF6rP~YmKkuhqFYWoFmqcEeWmvSV7nD-d4bvv8IowXpcH8Hm1j~e9DB84D0jjFIV04FSmqyeYCsEqtijIAP8FwOZNl1oMWN42Z4Z9qxidcmj1feIchVW6I6FtltPY~FqxST3SHXzSYFpyF-MVo0So03ykNFjFZtMDtc8GeiSidzoSPytqTe4Ycs8Zyyd3IJHrNynR5Gwi-9FtRZqgCZd3TXPHrKel~upGeQ4zoINI5n~ZRAXVCcZr6uSG0Nbm1gdu0q-1-irz~Dn74WhxofMkC9DlmGmzY4EiR6vY8YqOdAvokdbD~E3XnILwSq-2f61zPQJBDOE5aA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Triton Regional School Committee heard an update May 21 on the middle school/high school building effort: the project's visioning group held its kickoff and district staff submitted enrollment data to the MSPA as the first formal steps.

Matt Landers, chair of the school building committee, said the visioning group's role is to identify educational needs and features the district wants in a new facility before designers are engaged. \"This group is very pie in the sky vision... we then have to come back down to earth when we have a designer and we know the price tag,\" one committee member said, summarizing the distinction between visioning and the later building committee work.

Landers and other members reported that they will visit other schools to study layouts and programmatic components, and that consultants on the visioning team include former local educators who will frame educational priorities for designers. Enrollment figures were submitted to the MSPA two weeks before the meeting, and the district is aiming for an October MSPA meeting to be \"welcomed into the next step,\" which would allow Triton to move quickly toward selecting an owner's project manager (OPM) and a designer by November.

Staff noted a design enrollment target of up to 1,000 students while the current campus enrollment is roughly 845; the district acknowledged that projecting enrollment increases is part of making a compelling case for state participation. The full school building committee is expected to reconvene in July after the visioning visits conclude.

No formal votes were taken on the project at the meeting; the update was informational and committee members discussed next steps and scheduling.","The school building committee launched a visioning process for a proposed middle/high‑school project, submitted enrollment figures to the MSPA, and plans school visits and designer/OPM procurement pending a fall welcome to the state program.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6227193,"Triton committee votes to adopt open‑source \"Investigating History\" for Grade 5; district to pilot additional grades",137,713000,850000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3494121-4ca8ba64857b00f613e491b7abef8eb3&start=713&end=850","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3494121-4ca8ba64857b00f613e491b7abef8eb3/thumbnail_713000.jpg","/articles/6227193/Massachusetts/Triton-committee-votes-to-adopt-opensource-Investigating-History-for-Grade-5-district-to-pilot-additional-grades","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227193-2ef0ec91a725f7faf4c30eb6a4ff01bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770634919&Signature=Atxf0n1nh~nyIdnUX3bJA~6qU8l1pCbioRmJlEWchC3XfRUrjS6Ghyx1k7OCi1cE7zLZ2p7M1zxWyWHCLalw0N3hgnlD0xQk7JNdWPsqtadMjRZI-XbrKtJOtisHgnjwDpYID1OKhVGDT~85zoOV-LtivNl1Q07lYnfs0MLBl1Wwegsswb21Q074NunbO-WAhCRAkWjKPpztGTUwTznfzJjP-xap2m060iZS6YuNf-G2jLXPilSnXloEA36sCIFrqw2k6839EZV4GjEaTGOkXHpfIPHMETgHNQqHcGRS-KNOMEM5DfmucPMHjU4NKfkvwpebxNyLXt2z66E03UTcVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Triton Regional School Committee voted on May 21 to adopt the Investigating History curriculum for Grade 5 after district pilots and a multi‑year review process.

The curriculum, described by Director of Curriculum Dr. Anna Bates, is an open‑source, locally supported program developed with input from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and partners such as Primary Source in Massachusetts. \"There's no cost to this,\" Dr. Bates said during her presentation, noting that the district piloted the program in multiple fifth‑grade classrooms this year and that teachers recommended adoption.

Bates told the committee the K–5 curriculum review began in the 2022–23 school year and that the review committee piloted two materials before recommending Investigating History. A previous pilot of Social Studies Live (a TCI product) was set aside because it was not a good fit, she said. Investigating History was piloted in fifth grade across all three elementary schools this year; earlier pilots had been smaller. Staff said they plan to pilot additional grade levels (grades 4, 6 and 7) during the coming year, and if the pilots proceed as expected, the district could expand the open‑source resource to more grades over time.

A motion to approve the adoption was made and seconded; the committee then voted in favor of the recommendation.

Committee materials included notes on the curriculum selection process and the pilot results; staff emphasized that the adoption carries no direct purchase cost to the district at this time because the resource is open source and in phased rollout by its developers.","The school committee approved adoption of the Investigating History curriculum for Grade 5 after district pilots; staff said the curriculum is open source, carries no cost, and will be piloted in other grades next year.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6227198,"Triton committee receives clean audit, hears $710,000 year‑end shortfall that staff say can be mostly offset",438,1711000,2149000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3494121-4ca8ba64857b00f613e491b7abef8eb3&start=1711&end=2149","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3494121-4ca8ba64857b00f613e491b7abef8eb3/thumbnail_1711000.jpg","/articles/6227198/Massachusetts/Triton-committee-receives-clean-audit-hears-710000-yearend-shortfall-that-staff-say-can-be-mostly-offset","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227198-e15954d4a9f4b51b246244dcd951fbc3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770634919&Signature=MkJdenPhmke2AlNAalCbpdOqNhL7GsOomdtiZPUSyLT7lRBO-Qlez4zfEnlgnUqUUtOVbqyjilsAhU9nRMlL8ALy1KcxkRopYZ5oTusP7SPTxPl~x5fndQEIAJLdy0mX7X-xJvcc68XmCSWTXkAVUHaXHjXAzphZdoBUsdNh5JUOSqFPJvlDacUzMfI0gAXVNt9xBSfPfbr~uE50gCQKyX998ht6~PazbtlQtqELwQ7tU40XB5ftS72xXfsLEfqrFZBNd980aYlB2Ssk5ZdGlqciQkurxdd292qx9D9TFZm171nul59JMfvEU2TjRsGRrz7uejEMqNrWro44NnUirQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Triton Regional School Committee on May 21 received and filed the district's FY2024 independently audited financial statements and heard a detailed update on the district's budget standing for FY2025.

The independent auditors issued a clean opinion on the FY2024 financial statements, and no federal award findings were reported, Finance presenter Dave Bertolini said. Committee members then reviewed a year‑to‑date general fund report that showed a headline deficit of about $710,000 as of May 1, driven mainly by nearly $1.97 million in non‑salary overruns that were partly offset by $258,000 in salary underruns.

The audit and budget items matter because they frame the district's ability to carry reserves into the new fiscal year and inform any request to use stabilization funds. \"The financial statements present fairly in all material respects in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards,\" Bertolini said, describing the auditors'clean opinion. He also summarized the audit's three deliverables: the financial statements, the federal award expenditures report (with no findings), and the governance/management letter (no major issues noted).

In a longer explanation of the budget position, staff said several technical and timing issues exaggerated the year‑end shortfall. The district's accounting system change created an over‑encumbrance of roughly $267,000 when payroll deductions were posted twice; certain revolving and user‑fee balances (about $125,000) and preschool tuition charges could be adjusted at year end; and state reimbursements such as circuit breaker and transportation are expected to provide additional offsets in the months after June 30. When those reasonably expected offsets are included, staff said the net deficit is nearer $85,000. The district currently holds about $1,720,000 in its stabilization account that could be used if necessary.

Committee members discussed specific cost drivers behind the overages, including increased out‑of‑district special education placements and higher transportation and natural gas costs. Bertolini and other staff emphasized that some costs (for example, certain special education placements) are already budgeted into next year's FY2026 projections, and that knowing the May position earlier would have allowed different midyear steps. \"On paper we're showing a deficit of $710,000,\" Brian (staff member) said; \"if you net those [reimbursements and offsets], the budget deficit is really more like $85,000.\"

Separately, committee members and staff discussed longer‑term liabilities detailed in the audit and valuation reports. Bertolini reviewed two retirement‑related items: the district's participation in the Essex County Retirement System and the district's other post‑employment benefits (OPEB) liability for retiree health insurance. He said Triton's funded ratio in the Essex County retirement system is about 63 percent and that the county system projects full funding in the mid‑2030s, which would reduce annual retirement bill pressures. By contrast, the OPEB valuation (prepared by KMS and included with the audit materials) shows an actuarial liability of roughly $70,000,000 for retiree health benefits in today's dollars; that number represents the projected total cost of benefits earned to date and is subject to actuarial assumptions and contribution policy. Bertolini warned that the district has not historically funded OPEB on an actuarial basis and said the state may eventually require more systematic funding, similar to past retirement reforms.

Actions recorded: the committee moved, seconded and voted to receive and file the FY2024 audited financial statements and later moved, seconded and voted to receive and file the May 1 year‑to‑date general fund expenditure report. The motions and votes were recorded on the meeting record as passed.

Committee members said the finance subcommittee will review final year‑end numbers in early July and bring a recommendation if use of stabilization is needed. The committee scheduled an additional review before the June meeting so members can act if final offsets change the net position.

The district will also continue to monitor large long‑term liabilities (retirement and OPEB) identified in the audit and related valuation reports, and staff said they will return with further analysis and options in coming months.","The Triton Regional School Committee received the district's FY2024 audited financial statements showing a clean opinion and discussed year‑end general fund pressures: a $710,000 apparent deficit that officials said could shrink to roughly $85,000 after routine offsets and reimbursements, with stabilization funds available as a last resort.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Triton school committee elects officers, plans subcommittee assignments and confirms meeting schedule

Triton approves three‑year custodial contract changes: $150 clothing allowance increase, 5% year‑1 correction, 3% COLA years 2–3

Triton school building committee begins visioning; district aims for MSPA welcome in October

Triton committee votes to adopt open‑source "Investigating History" for Grade 5; district to pilot additional grades

Triton committee receives clean audit, hears $710,000 year‑end shortfall that staff say can be mostly offset