Wachusett committee ratifies paraprofessional contract, reappoints finance director and approves consent items

The Wachusett Regional School District Committee took a series of formal actions at its regular meeting, approving a collective-bargaining agreement, a senior staffing reappointment, and routine consent items.

The committee ratified a contract between the district and the Wachusett Regional Paraprofessionals Association after discussing it in executive session; a public roll-call vote recorded affirmative votes and the motion passed.

The committee also approved the reappointment of Michelle A. Grise as Director of Business and Finance. Several members publicly praised Grise's work improving district financial systems and processes before the roll-call vote.

On the consent agenda the committee approved minutes for previous meetings, accepted a $1,000 donation from the Sterling Lions Club to the Wachusett Leo Club, and authorized expenses for Superintendent Riley and two members to attend Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) events. One item (Item 5) was removed from the consent agenda earlier in the meeting because the date referenced pertained to a special town election in Paxton rather than a special town meeting. The chair abstained on the consent-agenda vote; the motion passed.

Committee members also voted to refer two policies (Policy 7,142 on energy-efficient support operations equipment and Policy 7,143 on energy management/conservation) to the Facilities & Security Subcommittee for detailed review with Facilities Director Mark Wilde.

All recorded motions in the meeting passed; no motions failed or were tabled.

The committee closed with subcommittee reports and adjourned the meeting.