School committee approves several principal contracts and an operations addendum; forms operating-principles subcommittee and advances policy revisions

Grafton — The Grafton School Committee on Sept. 9 approved several personnel contracts, formed a subcommittee to draft committee operating principles, advanced a comprehensive policy audit and voted to enter executive session on collective-bargaining strategy.

Contracts and compensation - The committee approved three-year principal contracts presented for district principals (motions and votes recorded for Julie [last name in packet: Flynn/Quinn], Melissa Wallace and Steve Wilshire). The committee previously approved a contract for Mandy Lay at an earlier meeting, the chair noted. - The committee accepted a one-year contract for Roseanne Kroposka (one-year term) as presented. - The committee approved a one-year addendum for Frank Rothwell, director of operations, adding $20,000 for the year; Rothwell’s base salary was cited as $130,000, making the total $150,000 for that year. The committee recorded one abstention on the Rothwell addendum; the motion carried.

Governance and advisory bodies - The committee unanimously approved a motion to form a subcommittee to draft School Committee operating principles. Several members volunteered or agreed to consider participation; the subcommittee will draft principles and return them to the full committee for a vote. - Committee members discussed reconstituting or coordinating with the district’s student advisory group and agreed to explore attending student-advisory meetings periodically and rotating committee representation.

Policy audit and revisions - The committee reviewed a district-wide policy audit conducted over the summer and took a series of motions to delete district-specific policies, replace them with Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) model policies where appropriate, remove or update cross-references and approve a slate of first readings. Many policies were approved as first reads; others were deleted or held for follow-up discussion (for example the policy governing annual budget notices and a homework/competency item were held for clarification).

Minutes, warrants, and other routine actions - The committee approved minutes from the June 10, 2025 meeting and approved several warrants as presented.

Executive session - The committee voted to enter executive session to discuss strategy on collective bargaining and litigation in accordance with the Open Meeting Law; the roll call recorded attendance for the vote.

The committee’s actions on contracts, the operating-principles subcommittee and the policy audit were recorded in motions and votes during the Sept. 9 meeting; committee members asked for additional detail on budget and HR reporting at upcoming meetings.