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Minuteman students propose invasive-plant plan, earn SkillsUSA national slots; committee approves travel
Summary
Students presented a five-zone invasive-plant management plan to protect campus habitats and infrastructure and described volunteer-led treatments and GPS mapping; the committee approved travel to SkillsUSA nationals for qualifying students and recognized donor support for student needs.
Three Minuteman students—Conrad Anderson (12th grade, environmental), Eric Ross (12th grade, horticulture) and Nichols Brewer (11th grade, environmental)—presented a student-written invasive-plant management plan to the school committee on May 12.
"We have invasive plants everywhere on our campus," Conrad Anderson told the committee, describing a plan that divides roughly 70 campus acres into management zones (trades-hall upland pine, a Massachusetts-Wetlands-Protection-Act wetland corridor, a vernal pool and adjacent zones). The students said they based the plan on National Park Service management templates and proposed inventorying invasive populations, mapping locations with GPS, and running volunteer-led treatment events. They emphasized the long-term nature of eradication work and the option to use herbicides only where appropriate.
The presentation prompted questions from committee members about time frames and treatment methods; students explained that, absent large-scale herbicide resources, manual removal and annual follow-up would be necessary and that success could take multiple years for species such as Asiatic bittersweet.
The committee also heard student-government updates: prom ticket sales and a National Honor Society overnight event, and it approved travel for SkillsUSA national competition on a motion that the committee recorded as unanimous. The district reported 13 student gold-medal qualifiers and two adult participants qualified to attend nationals after graduation.
Outside the student presentations, the committee recognized community support for students: donors Kristen Clark and Eric Levy pledged $10,000 to launch a Minuteman Cares Fund to cover small expenses such as uniforms, cleats or emergency needs. "It is just a fund for the small things that kids might need," Kristen Clark said, explaining the donors' gratitude and intent to help other families.
Committee members praised the students' work and recommended continued partnership with staff for implementation; the presenters said they would share the written plan with the administration and seek opportunities for student-led treatment events.
