Nipmuc Regional School Committee elects new leaders and discusses student internships

The Mendon-Upton Regional School District held its annual reorganization meeting on June 2, 2025, where key leadership positions were filled and various committee appointments were made. The meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the election of the new chairperson.

Superintendent Jim Orkey was nominated and unanimously elected as chairperson, taking over the meeting's proceedings. Following this, Eric Mountain was nominated and confirmed as vice chairperson through a roll call vote. The agenda for the meeting was approved, along with the minutes from the previous meeting held on May 12.

The committee proceeded to nominate and elect Dickie Wooderson as secretary and Sean Nicholson as assistant treasurer. Additional appointments included Matt Hagen as the representative for the Restitution Fund and Joe Lake Hu as treasurer. Alyssa McCas was nominated as the school committee clerk.

Subcommittee assignments were also established, with Sean Nicholson, Eric Brown, and Jim Orkey serving on the budget subcommittee, while Carrie, Vicky, and Matt were appointed to the policy subcommittee. Other committees included negotiations and superintendent evaluation, with various members assigned accordingly.

In his comments, Chairperson Orkey congratulated the graduating seniors of Nipmuc Regional Class of 2025, acknowledging their upcoming graduation ceremony.

The meeting also featured updates from students, including the launch of a junior year internship program that began on June 1, where 40 juniors are participating in internships across various local organizations. A showcase for these internships is scheduled for June 13. Additionally, the upcoming Inspire of Learning Day was highlighted, featuring a range of activities aimed at engaging students.

The meeting concluded without any community comments, and the committee moved forward with discussions on new business. Overall, the reorganization meeting successfully established leadership roles and set the stage for the upcoming school year.