North Brookfield School Committee approves seeking full-time Spanish teacher; reviews MAP testing, budget and strategic plan

The Town of North Brookfield School Committee on June 15 voted to seek a full-time Spanish teacher for North Brookfield High School and moved forward on multiple end-of-year items after a series of presentations from district leaders.

Superintendent Mr. McCormack told the committee the district applied for a competitive Attorney General office grant of “just north of $10,000” to support an anticipated statewide bell-to-bell cell-phone restriction. If awarded, the funds would pay for magnetically sealing device pouches (referred to in the presentation as “yonder pouches”), associated staff training and family messaging; McCormack said he expected the grant to cover the cost.

The committee also accepted four donations by voice vote: a memorial tree and plaque from the Class of 2026 to honor Mr. Damian, a $273 PTO contribution to the music program (raised at the spring festival), $120 donated by student Michael Kitridge from 3D-print sales (to be split between music and art), and two flags donated for school display.

On finance, the business manager reported an FY26 remaining general-fund balance of roughly $732,000 that must be spent by June 30 for payroll and final bills, and revolving funds (school choice and circuit breaker) totaling just over $500,000 that can carry into FY27 to offset future costs. The superintendent said those revolving accounts plus projected offsets could contribute more than $1.3 million toward FY27 obligations.

The committee heard a detailed MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing briefing. Presenters described the assessment and RIT scoring, highlighted strong achievement and growth in elementary grades — especially Grade 4 math and Grade 5 growth — and showed cohort charts illustrating multi‑year gains for individual students. District leaders emphasized a pilot of student goal-setting conferences in K–5 to increase engagement and test effort. The presentation noted technical issues prevented the committee from seeing high‑school MAP data; McCormack said the high‑school results will be shared with the committee in the fall.

Middle-school results drew particular attention. After the district’s first full year adopting the Into Literature curriculum at the middle level, committee members and administrators described “growing pains” and percentiles that warrant targeted supports. Recommended next steps included focused professional development, tiered interventions for struggling students and strengthened transition supports from Grade 5 to Grade 6.

As part of a broader “Reimagining North Brookfield” report, the superintendent summarized feedback from students, staff and families and four strategic priorities: expand student opportunities (more electives, advisory time, arts and world language), strengthen college- and career-readiness (CTE/ICP pathways, certifications, internships and dual enrollment), increase culture/belonging and wellness (wellness days, SEL consistency), and refine systems and communications (scheduling consistency and transition programs). The superintendent said the single most repeated request from stakeholders was “more choices” for students.

On staffing, the committee discussed funding one new position to start — the Spanish teacher — and agreed to revisit additional hires (such as a second arts/music teacher) if resources permit. A motion to advertise and pursue hiring a full-time Spanish teacher was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; the motion’s mover and seconder were not recorded in the minutes.

Other business included updates on Extended School Year special-education programming (25 students enrolled with intensive staffing), a behavioral-health provider partnership that brings clinic-style services into schools at no net cost to the district (families consent and the provider bills insurance), and a read-aloud of an inquiry from the Quaog Regional School District about possible future collaboration after that district closed an elementary school; the committee asked the superintendent to request more detail before any formal discussions.

The meeting concluded with a motion to enter executive session under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 30A §21(a)(2) to conduct strategy sessions regarding the superintendent’s contract extension; the committee announced it would not return to open session and proceeded with a roll-call vote.

The committee scheduled follow-ups: presentation of high-school MAP data in the fall, a second policy subcommittee review of the draft cell-phone policy with the goal of a full committee vote by August if the grant is awarded, and further discussion of potential shared services with neighboring districts.