At the November 5, 2025 meeting, the School Committee received and discussed the following: 

The Committee heard and approved a time-sensitive request to replace one of the three 2006 steam boilers at Wellesley Middle School (WMS). The Facilities Management Department’s FMD) contractor, Industrial Burner Systems (IBS), determined that the boiler failed due to cracked cast-iron sections and failed watertight joints and cannot be repaired. The committee authorized the administration to expend $205,557 from the WPS rental revolving account to fund the replacement, which is necessary, given the start of the heating system, to restore system redundancy. FMD Maintenance Manager, Mike Andersen has requested fabrication and installation timelines from the contractor. The work will not affect school operations.

The Committee heard presentations from Dr. Mark Ito, Wellesley Middle School (WMS) principal,  and Dr. Jamie Chisum, Wellesley High School (WHS) principal, on the WMS and WHS school improvement plans (SIPs), which followed the same template presented to the Committee at the 10/21 meeting for the PreK and Elementary SIPs. Each SIP aligns with the district’s Profile of a Graduate, Strategic Plan, and Student Opportunity Act (SOA) plan, and is anchored in the Strategic Plan’s Priority One: Ensuring High Expectations for Teaching and Learning.  They focus on improving academic outcomes in English, Math, and Science and on decreasing the achievement gap among student groups.

Next, the Committee heard from Dr. Ito and Dr. Chisum on proposed updates to the WMS and WHS Programs of Studies for SY 2026–2027. At WMS, changes include, but are not limited to, adding and editing the course descriptions for Computer Science I and II, emphasizing Python and algebraic thinking, formalizing full-year Multilingual Learner (MLL) courses across grades 6–8 at both entering/emerging and developing/expanding levels, and adding two visual arts electives: 2D Art Design for grade 7 and 3D Mixed Media and Scupture.  At WHS, proposals included, but were not limited to, introducing Math Workshop for grades 9–10 to support Algebra I and Geometry standards, adding new unified fitness elective courses to promote inclusion through fitness and sports, and expanding Spanish for Heritage Speakers into a three-year sequence with AP access, along with a new Academic English course for Former English Learners (FELS). Additional updates include adding Healthcare Science CP (which includes participation in Harvard Medical School’s MEDScience program) to grades 11 and 12, launching AP Business Principles, and formally listing previously existing offerings such as Journeys (Peer Advising), Student Assistant, Work Study, and Connections. 

The Committee heard from Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations, Cindy Mahr, who presented the district’s annual enrollment report, which included a detailed view of our current year enrollment, based on the October 1st snapshot, as well as the enrollment projections for SY2026-2027. These latter projections will inform the development of the FY2027 budget proposal. 

Next, the Committee heard Dr. Lussier, along with Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, Sandy Trach and Dr. Midge Connolly, Interim Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, present the annual district goals. The district goals were presented in two documents. The first reflects instructional goals in ELA, Math, and Science, following a similar template to the SIPs. The second document is an aggregation of the Strategic Plan Year 3 goals. Dr. Lussier then presented his Professional Practice Goals which included leading the effort on creating more targeted and measurable instructional goals (goal #1), increasing his impact with increased visibility and in-person engagement across the district (goal #2), and strengthening the clarity of communications and decision-making within his team and across the district. (goal #3). 

The Policy Subcommittee brought forward several policy updates. Linda Chow and Christina Horner, presented two draft policy updates to policies IC/ICA: School Year/School Calendar and IMDA: Accommodations for Religious and Cultural Observances. The updates include revisions to the school year calendar policy reflecting the academic calendar model approved in 2024 and a policy formalizing accommodations for religious and cultural observances. Sandy Trach discussed policy IKF: Graduation Requirements. While this is a new policy brought forward to the Committee, the graduation requirements have historically resided in the district handbooks. Hannah Tolla, Director of Curriculum, Assessment and Accountability, presented the updates made to IKFE: New Competency Determination Policy, which will be uploaded to DESE by the end of the calendar year.  

Director of Educational Technology, Dr. Adam Steiner, presented two new Technology Department job descriptions: Help Desk Coordinator and Senior Technician. These proposed changes reflect a calibration to the work to make the team more efficient and effective and result in a 1.0 FTE reduction. 

Coming Up………

School Committee Meeting:
November 18 6:30 PM (Webinar Format) 

Link to agenda with viewing instructions

School Committee Office Hours: November 20 7 PM (Zoom) Sign Up

Click to access documents from the November 5, 2025 meeting. 
Click to watch the meeting on Wellesley Media.
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