School Committee Approves Two Student Trips

In this report: Key decisions · Next dates · Full report · Sources

What happened

The committee unanimously approved travel for the high school DECA team to a district competition in Quincy on January 6-7, 2027, at $215 per student, and for the History Bowl team to nationals in Washington, D.C., April 23-25, 2027, at roughly $500 per team plus hotel costs. Vice Chair Maria Fenwick recused herself from a vote on education-foundation donations due to her affiliation with the group. Superintendent Thomas Raab proposed expanding STAR benchmark tracking from grades 2-5 to grades 2-10, with a final vote set for November 2.

Key decisions

• 📜 Extend STAR benchmark tracking to grade 10. Superintendent Raab proposed expanding STAR benchmark assessment from grades 2-5 to grades 2-10, with Dr. Borkoski pressing for clearer measures of social-emotional learning fidelity before trusting related data. First reading held; vote scheduled for November 2. (Next: Nov. 2). Read case details
• 📜 Delay athletics-climate survey deployment. The Equity and Belonging Committee postponed the planned athletics-climate survey past its original November 2 target due to a scheduling conflict with another survey on that date, with organizers expecting to deploy it at another November date. Read case details
• 📋 Approve History Bowl team trip to Washington, D.C. The committee unanimously approved the History Bowl team's trip to the National Championship in Washington, D.C., April 23-25, 2027, with eight or fewer students and one chaperone, at roughly $500 tournament fee per team plus hotel costs of $150 to $175 per room. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• 📋 Approve DECA team trip to Quincy district competition. The committee unanimously approved the DECA team's trip to the district competition at the Marriott in Quincy on January 6-7, 2027, with roughly 80 students and eight staff chaperones at $215 per student, unchanged from the prior year despite hotel rate increases. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• 👤 Hire Margaret Conaty for athletics equity work. Superintendent Raab announced the hiring of Margaret Conaty, who has attended Athletics Council and equity subcommittee meetings and observed athletic events while working alongside a staff member. Read case details
• 📜 First reading of Policy JICK. The committee unanimously approved first reading of Policy JICK with little discussion. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• 📜 First reading of Policy KGB advisory councils. The committee unanimously approved first reading of Policy KGB, which addresses advisory councils such as the special education parent advisory council (CPAC), with little discussion. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• ● Accept donations from Scituate Education Foundation. The committee voted to accept donations from the Scituate Education Foundation (SEF/SCF), with Vice Chair Maria Fenwick abstaining due to her affiliation with the organization. (Vote For: 4, Abstain: 1). Read case details

Next dates

• Nov. 2: Committee votes on superintendent's final FY27 goals

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Full meeting report

The complete, section-by-section account of the meeting, 2,613 words, for members.

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