At the April 29, 2025 meeting, the School Committee received and heard the following presentations:

The Committee heard a presentation of the ongoing work of the Literacy Steering Committee. This end-of-year report was presented by Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, Dr. Sandy Trach, and a few members of the Steering Committee. They discussed current research, current WPS curriculum and practices, and the MA DESE endorsed CURATE curriculum (Curriculum Ratings by Teachers). Dr. Trach also discussed the MA legislation, Bill S.338 https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S338 which was referred to the Joint Committee on Education. Not fully satisfied with any one curricula studied, the work of the Literacy Steering Committee will continue to review literacy curricula that fully meets CURATE criteria. WPS will continue to use its Fundations, Heggerty and updated Units of Study curricula to strengthen comprehension, grammar, vocabulary and phonics skills, as well as increase time for writing in the elementary schedules. Updates to School Committee will continue in FY ‘25/26. Many thanks to all the time and efforts of the members of the Steering Committee and Working Groups which launched in Spring 2024 and have met throughout this school year.

The Committee then heard a presentation of the status and progress of the Hunnewell Track and Field team rooms. Committee Chair, Linda Chow, provided updates to the Team Rooms project permitting and building milestones. She also announced that the concessions and bathroom buildings were put in place at the track over April school break. Many thanks to all who have helped move these projects forward!

The Committee then heard several updates to items associated with the Committee’s recent approval of the District’s Competency Determination plan to meet the state graduation requirement. Dr. Sandy Trach, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Learning, presented an amendment to the District plan, which requires the completion of Algebra 1 in either middle or high school.

The Committee then continued discussion on the new Competency Determination for graduation in response to the new Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 69, § 1D (i) on Competency Determination (CD), which is required for students to graduate from public high schools in Massachusetts, effective December 5, 2024. The Committee approved a proposed amendment competency determination for graduation. The Committee then approved the Competency Determination edits to the Elementary, Middle and High School Student Handbooks for 2024-2025. The Committee also approved the Competency Determination edits and proposed math workshop addition to the Wellesley High School Program of Studies 2025-2026.

Finally, the Committee approved the proposed fee structure and program schedule for PAWS (Preschool at Wellesley Schools) for SY2025-26. PAWS Director, Kristen Stacy, discussed the rationale and benefits of the proposal at the April 17 School Committee meeting. Due to contractual staffing requirements and implications of satellite classrooms on resources and family needs, Ms. Stacy is proposing shifts to the daily and weekly schedule.

Coming up…….

School Committee Meetings:

5/13 School Committee Meeting 6:30 pm (Zoom)

School Committee Office Hours:

5/21 School Committee Office Hours 10:00 am (Zoom) Sign up here

Click to access documents from the April 29, 2025 meeting.

Click to watch the meeting on Wellesley Media.

Click to sign up for upcoming School Committee Office Hours.