High school leaders briefed the board on a recent New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) collaborative conference visit and a follow-up growth plan that will guide improvement work ahead of the next decennial accreditation visit.

Heather, the high school principal, introduced co-chairs Liz Moore (English department leader) and Liz Concannon (world-language department leader), who summarized a 47‑page collaborative visit report. The visit is a shorter, collaborative check-in that NEASC now conducts ahead of the full 10-year accreditation visit. The visiting team commended the school’s attention to students’ social-emotional needs (including Hope Squad), intervention blocks, community involvement and career-and-technical-education (CTE) programming.

NEASC recommended priority areas the school should address in its growth plan, which the school must submit by Nov. 1: a clarified “vision of the graduate” (resilient learners, effective communicators, collaborative team members and informed civic contributors), more formal teacher-collaboration time and attention to facilities (ADA and CTE space needs). The principal said the district’s previously proposed renovation plan would have addressed many of the facilities concerns but that work is on hold, so the school will pursue interim solutions and further planning.

The school also flagged specific CTE needs — additional space for graphic design and photography, expansion of dual-enrollment opportunities and better alignment of program rubrics and concentrator/completer data — and said some budget items tied to the NEASC recommendations will appear in the 2026–27 budget cycle when the full accreditation team visits.

Board members were told the self-study was a collaborative staff effort and that the visit produced both commendations and recommended next steps. The school will present a draft growth plan to staff on an upcoming professional-development day and return to the board with budget implications and a timeline.