The Duxbury School Committee opened its September meeting facing an emotional plea from residents of Tinkertown Landing regarding changes to neighborhood bus routes. Parents argued that moving bus stops from interior "islands" to busy main roads like Elm Street has created significant safety hazards. Jessica Marone told the committee, What we're asking is maybe the concession of one to two minutes for 25 kids increased safety. Supporting this sentiment, Allison Kennedy highlighted the logistical strain on families, noting, I just want all of us to have a fair chance to get our kids safely on the bus; it is just really not fair, especially the little kids. Resident Katie McNamera added that the distance is prohibitive for younger students, stating, I have to ask my child to walk over a half mile to the end of our neighborhood to get on the bus; I should be able to trust my school bus.

Superintendent Dr. Danielle Klingaman provided a comprehensive opening of school report, noting that while the start was smooth, the district is beginning to feel the strain of prior budget cuts. Dr. Klingaman remarked, We have certainly felt the loss of the positions that were eliminated last year as a result of the budget override not passing. Business Manager Lisa Freley reported that the district ended FY25 with a surplus of $38,046, which represents less than one-tenth of one percent of the total budget. Regarding the upcoming FY27 budget cycle and a planned meeting with the Selectboard, Matt Gambino urged a firm stance on the committee’s legal authority, stating, We have our own sort of chapter 71 set of laws to follow and that doesn't include being given an arbitrary cap number by the town manager.

The committee engaged in a lengthy debate over proposed goals for the 2025-2026 school year, with some members questioning the volume of the drafted objectives. Jen Weedon expressed a desire for accountability, noting, I'm concerned that if we don't have owners, it's not going to get done based on what I've seen so far. However, Matt Gambino countered that the committee should focus on quality over quantity, saying, I just don't want to take a lot of time to sort of figure out how it fits into like a strategic plan. Chair Kellie Bresnehan acknowledged the difficulty of the current environment but praised the staff's efforts, stating, I didn't think the opening of school report—I didn't want it to be negative and seeming like we were complaining because it has been a really nice opening.

Progress on the Alden School building project remains a high priority as the district enters the MSBA eligibility period. Laurel Deacon emphasized the importance of community support for the upcoming feasibility study, stating, To walk away would be really a huge miss for lots of reasons. To streamline the evaluation of leadership during this critical year, the committee moved to form a specific subcommittee. Kathryn Marshall, expressing her willingness to serve, noted, I have some interest in this. Motion Made by Kathryn Marshall to establish a superintendent evaluation subcommittee. Vote Passed 5-0. The committee also finalized their internal representation for the district's new strategic planning process.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:48 PM