Chariho committee approves annual report, recognizes SkillsUSA winners and accepts several grants totaling roughly $130,943

Superintendent Gina presented the district's 2024–25 annual report and the committee unanimously approved it on Aug. 19. The report highlights academic and career‑technical achievements, facilities work and progress toward the district’s Vision 2026 goals.

At the start of the meeting staff recognized student success at the national SkillsUSA competition, naming individual placers and a crime‑scene investigation team that won national gold. "Congratulations to all our national winners," the superintendent said.

The committee then considered grants as a block and separated one application from the Henry P. Kendall Foundation (New England Food Vision Prize, $53,150) for discussion about sustainability and ongoing costs. A Chartwells representative said the two‑year grant would fund tastings and menu experimentation to help identify locally sourced foods that students will accept and that the district would not be expected to fund the full amount year after year. Committee members noted four grants totaled $130,943.50, and the motion(s) to approve the grants carried unanimously.

Why it matters: Grant funding can expand curricular and meal‑service opportunities without immediate reliance on local tax dollars; the Henry P. Kendall application raised routine questions about sustaining program elements after grant expiration.

What happened next: The annual report and the listed grants were approved unanimously. The superintendent said the district will implement the grant activities with Chartwells and provide follow‑up reporting as required by grant terms.