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Holliston School Committee opens 41 school‑choice seats as district projects modest enrollment dip
Summary
The committee voted to open 41 school‑choice seats for 2025‑26 while district staff reported enrollment projections showing a modest overall decline; administrators and committee members discussed capacity, French immersion and Montessori seat counts and next steps for summer enrollment.
The Holliston School Committee voted unanimously on May 15 to open 41 school‑choice seats for the 2025‑26 school year after staff presented enrollment projections and requested authority to post the seats.
Committee members heard enrollment updates from central office staff who said Kindergarten enrollment stood at 59 confirmed kindergarten registrations at the time of the meeting, with a handful of additional forms expected; staff said summer movement typically fills additional places and reminded the committee that posted school‑choice openings often shift as families accept or decline offers.
The School Committee discussed targeted openings for specialty programs: staff reported French immersion enrollment at 18/18 (total 36) and recommended offering five kindergarten French immersion seats and one traditional kindergarten seat as part of the school‑choice plan. The committee asked staff to consult with curriculum leaders on whether to open additional French‑immersion capacity up to the policy cap and to confirm operational staffing before finalizing any further openings.
A motion to authorize opening 41 total school‑choice seats (across grades shown in staff materials) was moved by a committee member and seconded; the roll call vote was recorded as unanimous in favor. The committee asked staff to continue outreach and to update the committee if adjustments are needed later in the summer.
Administrators said district projections show a multi‑year enrollment decline trend but that immediate changes are modest: staff noted recent kindergarten classes that were smaller in prior years and said the district aims to stabilize cohort sizes by targeted school‑choice openings and outreach. Committee members asked staff to monitor incoming registrations and report back if seat counts should be adjusted before the school year begins.
