North Brookfield committee approves curriculum grants, school calendar that observes Good Friday and sixth-grade Outdoor Classroom trip

The North Brookfield School Committee approved several agenda items during its meeting, including grant-supported curriculum rollout, the 2026 27 school calendar and a sixth-grade overnight Outdoor Classroom trip.

Superintendent McCormick described a grant to phase in an Investigative History curriculum for grades 3 5 and 6 7, saying the award in the packet totaled just over $16,000 for the next three years and will train several elementary and junior-high teachers. Committee member (mover) put the motion to accept the proposed grants so teachers could begin training next month; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Committee members then debated two calendar options for 2026 27: Option A would observe Good Friday as a non-school day with the last day of school (assuming no snow days) on June 17; Option B would include school on Good Friday with the last day on June 16. After discussion about staff preferences and family observance, a motion to adopt a calendar that observes Good Friday as a non-school day was amended, seconded and approved.

The committee also approved an overnight Outdoor Classroom trip for sixth graders (formerly referred to in earlier materials as Nature's Classroom). McCormick said all contracts and background information were included in the meeting packet; a motion to approve the trip was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Other procedural items acted on during the meeting included approval of two sets of minutes (including a revised Jan. 29 set with corrected subcommittee assignments) and a motion to adjourn. No executive session was held.

All approvals at the meeting were passed by voice vote; the transcript records motions, seconds and favorable voice votes but does not provide a roll-call tally.