Superintendent outlines strategic‑plan progress; MSBA surveys buildings and Cape Cod Collaborative expansion on agenda

Superintendent Dr. Smith presented an update on the district’s three strategic objectives — eliminate disparities in access and achievement, build consistent district systems, and address short‑ and long‑term capital and facilities needs — and described work accomplished during his first six months in the role.

Dr. Smith said the district prioritized improving tier‑1 instruction and developing a multi‑year professional learning plan in year one. The district finalized a District Accommodation Plan (DCAP) and has established debrief protocols, regular meetings of principals and instructional coaches, and a schedule of learning walks to inform professional‑development planning. He said work on consistent use of PLCs and a district data repository is under way but not complete.

On communications and public image, the district has hired a communications and community relations coordinator who has begun centralizing district messaging and surveying the school community about current communication channels. Dr. Smith said a community‑led process to refresh the district’s core values remains to be launched; he described the core‑values work as important grounding for future decisions but acknowledged it is behind schedule.

Dr. Smith reported that the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) conducted on‑site surveys at multiple district buildings last week as part of the MSBA’s statewide building survey cycle. He publicly credited staff member Steve Fulshear for preparing detailed building data that expedited the MSBA team’s on‑site visits.

The superintendent also briefed the committee on the Cape Cod Collaborative’s request to admit the town of Plymouth as a member. The collaborative’s board approved a proposal to admit Plymouth, but each member district must vote on the required changes to the collaborative’s articles of agreement. Dr. Smith said the collaborative’s amended articles and a legal memo are in the committee packet and that Hope Hanscomb, the collaborative’s new director, will present to the committee in the next meeting; the collaborative’s timeline requires member‑district action before April 1 for submission to the state.

On capital planning, Dr. Smith said the district purchased a capital‑project management tool (the same tool used by the town of Yarmouth) and began loading reports, but progress on a multi‑year capital plan has slowed after staffing changes, including the departure of a key finance/business staff member. He said the finance subcommittee will continue work on capital stabilization and that a later transfer of E&D into capital stabilization was under consideration.

Committee members asked about timelines, staffing and community engagement; several offered to help with the core‑values process when it begins. Dr. Smith said much of the work described was accomplished in six months but acknowledged scheduling and staffing shifts slowed some initiatives.