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Barnstable School Committee adopts strategic plan goal, revises graduation policy and approves staffing job descriptions
Summary
The committee approved a strategic-plan goal, revised graduation requirements for the class of 2025, certified competency-determination courses, adopted revised job descriptions and approved routine financial and consent items during the Jan. 8 meeting.
Barnstable, Mass. — The Barnstable School Committee on Jan. 8 approved a set of governance and personnel actions that included establishing a strategic-planning goal, revising graduation policy language for the class of 2025, certifying courses that meet competency-determination requirements, and approving revised job descriptions for district staff.
The committee voted unanimously to adopt a school-committee goal directing the administration to develop a strategic plan setting vision and strategy for the next 5, 10 and 15 years, with a target completion date of July 2025. The motion came from the committee’s goals subcommittee and was described as an effort to provide a roadmap for programmatic and capital priorities.
Because the state’s MCAS exam is no longer a graduation requirement for the class of 2025, the committee revised policy IKF to clarify alternative competency-determination pathways for the current senior cohort and then certified a list of district courses that meet those competency requirements for students who have not passed MCAS.
On personnel matters the committee approved a revised job description for the Youth Development and Dropout Prevention Coordinator, elevating the position’s reporting line to the superintendent because the role now spans multiple schools. The committee also approved revised custodial job descriptions (custodian, head custodian and foreman custodian) created by the facilities department and vetted with AFSCME leadership.
The committee approved a $70,638.77 accounts-payable warrant and accepted routine consent-agenda items that included a recurring field trip to the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, minutes from Dec. 4 and grants, gifts and donations. The committee also voted to award the mold-prevention contract discussed in a separate agenda item.
How the votes went: Most motions passed by unanimous voice vote. Where required by law, the committee recorded roll-call votes for executive sessions; other routine approvals were recorded as unanimously carried in the meeting minutes.
Why it matters: The strategic-plan directive sets a timeline for district priorities and community engagement on facilities and programming. Revisions to graduation policy and the certified-course list provide clarity to seniors in the class of 2025 about how they will demonstrate competency for diplomas after the MCAS change. Revised job descriptions aim to align staff duties and supervisory relationships with current district operations.
Looking ahead: The committee scheduled additional discussions and public forums on facilities planning, and staff will present capital requests and the facilities plan to the town’s financial advisory committee. The committee also went into executive session at the meeting’s end to discuss negotiations and litigation matters.
