Select Board approves Monomoy regional working group membership and names Chair Picarski as Harwitch representative

The Harwitch Select Board voted to approve a proposed membership for a Monomoy regional school agreement working group intended to reopen and coordinate discussions about the district’s assessment and governance formula. The working group membership the board endorsed includes town administrators, one select board representative from each community, school committee representation, finance‑committee representatives, and advisory student and citizen representatives.

Board members discussed the ideal size and composition at length, with some members arguing for a smaller, more agile group and others urging broader representation from school and finance committees. The board agreed that student participants should serve in an advisory, non‑voting role similar to the student advisers used on school boards, and that citizen representatives would be advisory as well. The Select Board passed the membership motion and chose to invite citizens to submit interest prior to the next meeting.

Chair Picarski was nominated and accepted the board’s appointment to represent Harwitch on the working group. Officials agreed to notify Chatham of Harwitch’s selections and to reconvene if the two towns propose differing membership arrangements. The board emphasized that administration staff and school department professionals will handle detailed analyses and that the working group will rely on staff data and recommendations.

No final decisions on assessments or governance were made at the meeting; the vote sets the structure for a joint working group that will meet in the coming weeks and months as both towns explore possible changes to the regional agreement.