At their October 21 and November 4, 2025 meetings, the School Committee discussed the following and welcomes public input.
More details and official meeting minutes can be found here:
MERSD Special Education
At the October 21, 2025 meeting, Director of Student Services Allison Collins presented to the School Committee. She provided a comprehensive analysis of student needs and rights, eligibility data and trends, financing, and future prospects of MERSD’s Special Education Programs. Highlights from Mrs. Collins’ presentation slides can be found here in their entirety.
Open Collaboration Group and Advocacy to DESE: Chapter 70 State Aid
Members of the School Committee Finance Subcommittee met with representatives from the Towns of Manchester and Essex to go over end of year numbers, budgetary constraints, and expected timeframes. The School Committee is drafting a statement and has alerted the towns to the opportunity to communicate about budgetary constraints and Chapter 70 State Aid. Discussion will continue at the School Committee’s meeting on November 18.
Essex Elementary School Building Project
The School Committee was updated on the work of the Essex Elementary School Building Project School Building Committee (SBC). The project is currently in the feasibility stage of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) process. At this time, the SBC has three key decisions to make: site selection, grade configuration, and building design approach (i.e., renovate, renovate with addition, or replace/new build). This process helps determine what is most cost effective while also meeting the needs of the educational program.
There are community meetings at Essex Elementary School on November 20 and Manchester Memorial School on December 9. Childcare will be provided for both. The next School Building Committee meeting is November 25. For more information and to follow the EES building project, please visit the Essex Elementary School Building Project website.
Class Size Report
Superintendent Beaudoin shared a class size/ section report and explained how the District strives to balance a breadth of schedule and minimum class size as enrollment and student needs continue to evolve.
Annual District Data Review Report
At the November 4 meeting, Curriculum Director Heather Leonard and all 4 building principals shared student achievement data in the Annual District Data Review Report and how that data will inform the District’s work moving forward as it relates to the Strategic Plan and the 2025-2028 District Improvement Plan.
Middle School Principal
The School Committee discussed its commitment to hiring a Middle School Principal given the hiring timeline and complications that could come from changing course later in the school year. They considered public comment and voter support last spring, as well as the importance of the Middle School principal position to teacher development and evaluation as emphasized in the 2025-2028 District Improvement Plan.
Finance & Operations
Finance Director Michelle Cresta shared the FY25 Fiscal Year-End Report and the FY26 First Quarterly Report.
Votes to Approve:
Upcoming Agenda Items Include:
- High School Program of Studies (including graduation requirements)
- FY27 Tentative Budget (12/2) and Budget Hearing (12/10)
- Continued Discussion of Grade Level Configuration Option for Essex Elementary Building Project
The public is encouraged to reach out to the MERSD School Committee with questions, comments, or concerns at MERSDSC@mersd.org. Members of the public are invited to make a comment at the beginning of every meeting according to policy BEDH and BEDH-E. The next School Committee meeting is December 2 at 6pm. Meetings are hybrid and recorded.
