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Bourne School Committee approves BHS program updates, 2025–26 calendar and $10,000 PLTW grant; requests $300,000 for special education
Summary
At its Jan. 8 meeting the Bourne School Committee adopted updates to the Bourne High School Program of Studies, approved the 2025–26 school calendar, signed off on two overnight student trips and a $10,000 PLTW grant, and voted to request $300,000 from the Special Education Reserve Fund to cover FY25 tuition needs; the request will go to the Selectboard for final approval.
Bourne — The Bourne School Committee on Jan. 8 approved a series of academic and budget items, including updates to the Bourne High School Program of Studies, adoption of the 2025–26 school calendar and acceptance of a $10,000 Project Lead The Way grant to support Computer & Information Systems teacher training.
Chair Emily Berry opened the regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Bourne Intermediate School. The committee voted unanimously, 6–0–0, to add and then accept the BHS Program of Studies after a presentation from Dr. Maguire and Jessee Clements. Dr. Maguire said the district is developing new competency-determination measures for graduation after the state stepped away from using MCAS as the sole competency determination and plans to bring proposed measures to the curriculum subcommittee and full committee next month.
The committee also voted 6–0–0 to adopt the proposed 2025–26 school calendar. During the announcements portion of the meeting, Dr. Maguire requested final approval for two overnight student trips: a DECA trip Jan. 9–10 and a Woods Hole trip Feb. 5–7; both were approved by voice vote, 6–0–0.
On finance matters, Director of Business Services Jordan Geist told the committee that FY26 budget work continues and FY25 is on track. The committee discussed special-education costs and the superintendent’s request to cover unanticipated tuition expenses. Superintendent Dr. Kerri Anne Quinlan‑Zhou said the district expects approximately $325,000 in special-education tuition needs and moved to request $300,000 from the Special Education Reserve Fund for FY25; the motion passed 6–0–0 and the request will be forwarded to the Selectboard for final approval.
The committee approved regular-session minutes from Oct. 2, Nov. 6 and Dec. 4 (6–0–0) and approved warrants and payroll on a roll-call vote, 5–0–0 (Student Representative Addison Dion was not eligible to vote). The committee accepted a $10,000 Project Lead The Way (PLTW) grant, which Dr. Zhou said will cover teacher trainings and curricular modules for Computer & Information Systems; Donel Beals moved the grant acceptance and the motion passed 6–0–0.
In other business, the Policy Subcommittee’s recommended revision to Policy EFD (school nutrition program charge policy) was approved 6–0–0. Chair Berry said the policy committee also is drafting guidance on artificial intelligence for academic integrity and plagiarism policies and will circulate draft language for review.
The committee listed future agenda items including the superintendent’s evaluation in February and a budget hearing in March. Kendellynn Gagne moved to adjourn the regular session at 8:15 p.m.; the roll-call vote passed 6–0–0.
Why it matters: The Program of Studies sets course options and graduation-planning guidance for students; changes to competency determinations could affect the class of 2025 if new measures are approved. The $300,000 request signals a sizable unanticipated cost in special education for FY25 that requires Selectboard approval before funds are released.
