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Webster School Committee approves 5-year superintendent contract, program changes and senior trip; sets budget hearing
Summary
At its March 10 meeting the Webster School Committee approved a five-year contract for Superintendent Parentelli, adopted Bartlett High Schoolprogram changes for 2026-27, authorized a senior-class trip to Puerto Rico and approved several routine motions including policy JFA and a $10,000 transfer to professional development; a FY27 public budget hearing is planned for April.
The Webster School Committee on March 10 approved a series of decisions that included a five-year contract for Superintendent Parentelli and curricular and travel approvals for Bartlett High School.
The committee voted to approve a five-year contract for Superintendent Parentelli following an executive-session negotiation. Returning to public session, the chair said the board "have arrived at an agreement," and members then moved, seconded and voted to approve the contract. Parentelli said she was "excited to be here for another 5 years" and thanked the community for its support.
On policy, the committee gave final approval to policy JFA (CTE school admissions). Staff said DESE requested insertion of specific application dates and small wording adjustments; the committee approved the wording and minor formatting edits were to be removed.
The committee approved Bartlett High Schoolprogram of studies for 2026-27 after a detailed presentation of proposed changes that included early-college course offerings with Worcester State, new electives and ELD curriculum adjustments. Principal Nieves and department leaders described changes intended to broaden access and better align pathways.
Members also approved a senior-class, five-day trip to Puerto Rico (June 26—6/30/2028). Advisers presented an all-inclusive price estimate (about $3,242 per student), a minimum-participation threshold (10 students to avoid surcharges) and built-in travel protection to manage academic or conduct-related ineligibility. Committee members encouraged parent fundraising to defray costs and broaden participation.
A transfer of $10,000 from the textbook line to professional development was approved to support paraprofessional and special-education training for the rest of the school year.
The committee also approved routine minutes and executive-session minutes from prior meetings.
Next steps: district leaders said they will bring final budget details to a public hearing, tentatively scheduled for the committeemeeting in April; staff will finalize contract paperwork and plan implementation of the approved program changes.
