The district superintendent reported that the new school year opened with near-full staffing and highlighted several grants, programs and upcoming compliance dates during the North Brookfield School Committee meeting.

The superintendent said the district received $40,000 from the state under a targeted assistance (T.A.G.) grant; the funds are intended to support professional development for building leaders and teachers focused on data cycles. The district also submitted the grant application last week, according to the superintendent.

The district will pilot an AI-assisted software platform called Edia for two purposes: to provide parents with real-time attendance communications and to support student intervention planning for students with absenteeism issues. The superintendent said Edia integrates with Illustrative Math and will provide in-class supports for math students; staff will be able to calibrate the software to classroom needs.

In STEM programming, the district won 31 elementary-level robotics kits through a partnership with True Robotics and the Blackstone Valley EdHub; those kits are earmarked for K–5 students, the superintendent said. Middle and high school robotics kits already in the district will remain separate from the new elementary kits.

Curriculum and student-support innovations were highlighted by Miss Malone, a 12-year teacher, SUCO advisor and coach, who described the district’s new “crew” advisory model. Malone said crew replaces the former 25-minute advisory block with longer, structured “workshops” focused on employability and social skills (collaboration, initiative, time management), student portfolios, MyCAP career planning, and activities drawn from the Second Step social-emotional curriculum. “It’s not social time. It’s not free time. It’s not our typical advisory,” Malone said, describing the program’s intentional, skill-focused format. The program mixes grade levels (for example, sixth through eighth grades in crews together) and includes mentoring and “crew siblings” across grades.

Noah, the student representative, briefed the committee on student activities and schedules: sixth-grade orientation on Aug. 22, an activities fair on Aug. 27, and homecoming scheduled for Friday, Sept. 26, with a dance 7–9 p.m. (grades 9–12). He also described homecoming spirit week and the school’s social media handles.

Administrators announced the district’s fall MAP testing window runs Sept. 22–Oct. 2. The superintendent and staff also praised a well-attended scholastic book fair and thanked parent volunteer Kelly (last name not specified in transcript) for organizing the event.

The student services director reported regional collaboration efforts on transportation and noted two state compliance activities: an English learner (EL) program audit scheduled for Dec. 17, 2025, and a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) special education monitoring process that requires uploads by Dec. 22, 2025, and will include an on-site DESE visit in January 2026.

Other items the superintendent and staff reported: ongoing universal design for learning (UDL) professional development with Novak Education, the Massachusetts superintendent support network participation, a SWEC (Southern Worcester County Educational Collaborative) partnership update to be provided during the year, and a call for instrument donations to expand the band inventory. The district also reported one remaining open position at the time of the meeting and that principals and directors had worked to complete hiring before the start of school.

The superintendent discussed a draft policy to comply with recently enacted state rules for vocational (CTE) program admissions and lottery practices; the district’s counselor and staff will continue to coordinate with sending and receiving vocational schools and may return a recommended policy for committee review next month. The district plans to file required policy information with DESE by Nov. 1 but said the department has indicated extensions will be available.

No formal committee votes were recorded on these programmatic items during the meeting; they were presented as reports and updates.