Sachem's demographer is preparing a set of scenarios and tradeoffs for the board to consider as it assesses falling enrollment, class‑size targets and building utilization, district officials said Wednesday.

Michelle told trustees that consultant Ross Haber will present multiple options rather than a single recommendation. "He will have scenarios for us to go through," Michelle said, describing choices such as whether three middle‑school grade bands could be served by two buildings or whether sixth grade should be moved back to elementary schools.

Board members asked Haber to provide both an "optimized" best‑case scenario that minimizes class size while balancing capital and operating costs, and also scenarios aligned with the district’s current target class‑size policy so trustees can compare outcomes. Trustees raised specific concerns about the financial limits the district faces — including a recurring $15 million debt figure discussed during the meeting — and asked staff to make sure the demographer includes the cost to run buildings and the capital‑condition disparities among schools in his analysis.

Several trustees stressed independence in the study. "I hired him because he's the professional," said board member Meredith, urging the board not to micromanage the consultant’s work and to let him present unbiased findings. Other trustees asked that the demographer consider practicable options if the board sets constraints up front — for example, specifying that certain school types not be closed.

Michelle said Haber has already toured elementary schools, is collecting housing‑project data, and is preparing a principals' utilization survey for elementary buildings; she will confirm whether middle‑school tours and surveys are scheduled. Trustees asked for monthly updates and for the consultant to return with scenarios the board can cost out and discuss publicly.

The district will share its approved target class sizes with the consultant and requested that he also show optimizations at lower class sizes for comparison. Trustees flagged opening‑day adjustments this year — staff counted seven sections the district avoided adding by allowing launch‑day class sizes to exceed targets by one student — and noted the estimated cost to add a section is roughly $100,000. The board did not make decisions Wednesday but asked staff to schedule periodic updates and to ensure the consultant delivers multiple, costed scenarios.