The Duxbury School Committee opened their September 17 session by welcoming BJ McNamera as the district's new Special Education Director. McNamera expressed his enthusiasm for the role, stating, It's my pleasure. Thanks for having me. However, the welcoming tone quickly shifted to fiscal concerns as Vice Chair Matt Gambino provided a recap of a recent joint meeting with the Select Board. Gambino criticized a proposed 3% budget cap for the schools, noting, I’m pretty disappointed in the select board’s priorities though as it relates to the school funding because it just to me it just feels like an arbitrary cap. Chair Kellie Bresnehan kept the meeting moving through a heavy agenda, reminding members that for administrative efficiency, Everything has to be in by Monday morning 8:00 a.m. regarding meeting packets.

Motion Made by Jen Weedon to approve the consent agenda. Motion Passed 5-0

The committee engaged in a lengthy discussion regarding the district's administrative capacity following eighteen recent staff cuts. As the board reviewed the acceptance of over $1.1 million in entitlement and competitive grants, including a new Hate Crimes Prevention grant, members questioned if the remaining staff could keep up with the rigorous application and management requirements. Assistant Superintendent Elizabeth Wilcox noted the difficulty of the work, explaining, The goal is for student learning to be affected in multiple ways, and that high-quality materials are essential. Superintendent Danielle Klingaman highlighted the specific loss of an instructional technology director, stating, We have noticed a huge gap in our ability with AI and with all of the curriculum programs that we use with our students. Member Laurel Deacon added that the community needs to understand the "real needs" of the schools, observing, The community clearly spoke very loudly with their votes and a citizens petition that public safety should be prioritized.

Motion Made by Kathryn Marshall to approve the grants. Motion Passed 5-0

The board also finalized its own goals for the 2025-2026 school year, focusing on budget transparency and a more structured policy review schedule. Kathryn Marshall emphasized the importance of policy work despite its tedious nature, saying, I struggled not to include policy oversight because it is such a critical part of what school committee is charged with. Jen Weedon contributed to the streamlining of these goals, suggesting, I would actually strike some of this stuff based on the conversation we I had last time, to ensure the targets remained measurable and realistic. The meeting concluded with an update on student achievement data, showing that while I-Ready scores remain consistent, Duxbury High School continues to see a rise in AP exam participation and passing rates.

Motion Made by Kathryn Marshall to adopt the school committee goals as discussed with amendments. Motion Passed 5-0

The meeting was adjourned at 8:33 PM.