At a glance: Wachusett school committee approves contract, Chapter 70 allocation and routine business
Summary
The Wachusett Regional School District Committee approved several motions Aug. 11, 2025, including a contract with Community Health Connections, authorization to use $501,375 in Chapter 70 funds to reduce FY26 town assessments, and routine approvals for conference expenses and minutes; some abstentions were recorded.
The Wachusett Regional School District Committee approved multiple administrative motions at its Aug. 11 meeting, including a contract with Community Health Connections, Inc. and Dr. Leonard A. Weiss, authorization to use $501,375 in additional Chapter 70 state aid to lower FY26 assessments to member towns, and routine approvals for conference expenses and meeting minutes.
Contract approval: The committee moved to approve a contract between the district, Community Health Connections, Inc., and Dr. Leonard A. Weiss. The item was discussed in executive session and brought to a public vote; the motion passed. Multiple abstentions were recorded in the public vote, including an abstention by the committee chair and an abstention by Laura Way, as the minutes show.
Chapter 70 allocation and assessments: The committee authorized use of $501,375 in additional Chapter 70 funds as a funding source for FY26 and updated member-town assessment figures. The administration read the post-allocation assessment amounts: Holden $39,854,565; Paxton $8,312,351; Princeton $6,463,366; Rutland $17,496,450; Sterling $14,129,818, for a total district assessment of $86,256,550. Members discussed local impacts; a Paxton representative noted the town has a $500,000 override question on the Sept. 8 ballot and that the allocation will help reduce pressure on local budgets. The motion passed by voice vote.
Conference expenses and consent agenda: The committee approved expenses for members to attend the 2025 MASC/MASS joint conference in Hyannis (November 2025). The chair noted an abstention on that vote. The consent agenda — including approval of executive session and regular session minutes from July 14, 2025 — was approved with at least one abstention recorded.
Procedural note: The contract discussion occurred in executive session per the agenda; the committee voted on the contract in public after the executive session. The minutes record specific abstentions where named, and committee members asked administration to continue communicating with member towns about CIP timing and next steps on facility projects.
