Massachusetts / School Boards / Wareham Public Schools
Multiple paraprofessionals, teachers and parents told the Wareham School Committee on Dec. 18 that understaffing and an unratified paraprofessionals contract have led to repeated classroom incidents and staff injuries; speakers asked the committee to approve the negotiated agreement to retain staff and improve student safety.
Massachusetts / School Boards / Wareham Public Schools
At its Dec. 18 meeting the committee approved an EF student trip to Spain, adopted multiple policy updates including a competency determination policy (70% threshold for mastery), accepted two gifts, approved a before‑school childcare pilot, advanced the FY27 budget, and ratified the superintendent’s contract.
Massachusetts / School Boards / Wareham Public Schools
The committee approved a fee-based before-school childcare pilot at Wareham Elementary after a staff-led survey found majority family interest; the program is planned as drop-off only, cost‑neutral with a proposed $13 two‑hour fee and launch targeted for Jan. 26, with a March/April update requested.
Massachusetts / School Boards / Wareham Public Schools
Superintendent Matt D'Andrea presented a proposed FY27 Wareham Public Schools budget of $38.244 million after offsets, citing salary increases and rising out‑of‑district special‑education tuition as primary drivers; a public commenter warned that Upper Cape Technical School enrollment changes could ''cripple'' the high school if many eighth‑graders transfer.
Massachusetts / School Boards / Wareham Public Schools
Principals from Wareham’s three schools asked the finance committee for targeted hires — kindergarten paras, middle-school interventionists and a full-time athletic director — citing class-size, rising behavior incident workload and the need to maintain programs that attract and retain students.
Massachusetts / School Boards / Wareham Public Schools
Administrators said FY27 special-education tuition and transportation — including private placements and cooperative placements — drive volatile costs, with 35 high-cost placements estimated at about $4.2 million and circuit-breaker reimbursements offsetting part of that burden.
Massachusetts / School Boards / Wareham Public Schools
The superintendent presented a FY27 level‑service plus budget asking roughly $2.1 million (5.97%) more than FY26 before offsets; primary drivers are salary increases (~$1.6M), rising out‑of‑district tuition/transportation (about $4.2M tuition line for ~35 students) and technology replacement ($260K). The committee discussed phasing technology purchases and potential additions in a 'gold' package.
Massachusetts / School Boards / Wareham Public Schools
Administrators from Wareham Middle, High and elementary schools presented 2024–25 results and proposed 2025–26 school improvement plans, highlighting writing and math gains, expanded interventions, attendance strategies and plans to re‑establish an alternative 'coop' program at the McDuffie Annex.
Massachusetts / School Boards / Wareham Public Schools
Superintendent Matt Deandre presented a 'level service plus' FY27 budget that totals $41.8 million before offsets and $38,244,686 after anticipated grants and revolving funds; administrators said rising contract salaries and costly out-of-district special-education placements are the largest pressures.
Massachusetts / School Boards / Wareham Public Schools
Jared Chadwick, a town select board member and committee liaison, asked the school committee to require that eighth‑grade tours of Upper Cape Technical School occur before Dec. 1 so students have time to apply ahead of UCET’s Jan. 5 deadline; the committee agreed to add the timing language and to vote on the policy at a future meeting.