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The School Committee voted to appoint Adrienne Rogers as Chairperson and Nancy Gallivan as Vice-Chairperson for the 2026–2027 school year. The Committee also welcomed its newest member, Kiran Guntupalli, who was elected to the School Committee on May 19, 2026.

Walpole High School Student Representative for School Committee: Seniors Victoria Biesty and James Patey were recognized for their contributions to the School Committee over the past three years. Dr. Gough highlighted how these seniors have served as a vital bridge between the high school student body and the committee, consistently delivering insightful, organized updates on student life, achievements, and athletics—all while balancing their own demanding academic and extracurricular loads. The district wishes them the very best as they head to college this fall, with James attending Bryant University and Victoria attending Elon University.

Old Post Road MSLA Recognition: The Massachusetts School Library Association's Bookmark contest is an annual statewide competition. Principal Barner and STEM/Media Teacher, Lindsey Morris were present to recognize Teagan M. for being the State winner for the K/1 division. The School Committee congratulated Teagan for her award winning bookmark.

Boyden and Old Post Road ST Math Students: Math Specialist, Sheila Rinaldi was present along with Principal Barner and Principal Dearborn to recognize the students she brought to the Student Industry Connects Showcase. She shared a presentation with the School Committee. The full recognition and slide presentation can be seen here at minute marker 12:35.

Dr. Gough shared the following updates on behalf of Senior Student Representative James Patey, who was unable to attend the meeting as he was competing at the track and field State Championship meet at Merrimack College.

• Seniors finished classes on May 27. Final exams run from May 28 through June 2, followed by the Senior Dinner on June 3, and mandatory graduation rehearsals on June 4 and 5.

• Yearbooks will be distributed at the Senior Dinner on June 3 (outstanding senior dues must be paid prior to pickup). A Spring Supplement covering graduation and spring sports will be available for pickup at WMS over the summer. Parents and seniors are asked to upload any remaining spring photos to Jostens or the Class of 2026 Google Classroom dropboxes.

• Counseling & Future Planning: Scholarship applications remain available in the school counseling office. Registration is open for rising seniors for summer enrichment courses in College Applications and Essay Writing. Senior parking applications are also now available. On May 21, the Counseling Department took over 100 juniors to a College Fair at Bridgewater State University.

• Student Achievements: Congratulations to Brady Goldman, Sawyer Regan, Owen Ahlfont, and Asher Kingman for winning first place in the New England Scholastic Press Association's Sports Highlight Show category.

• Clubs & Culture: An informational meeting was held last night for the April 2027 student trip to Italy. National Art Honor Society applications are due by May 29, and the Bible Club is hosting a community worship night at WHS on June 11.

• Athletics Update: The spring post-season is underway for Girls and Boys Lacrosse, Softball, Baseball, and Boys Tennis. Girls Tennis has concluded, and the Track and Field State Championship is taking place this weekend at Merrimack College. Tonight, the 8th Grade Athletic Information Night is being held in the WHS Field House for all rising freshmen. Fall Sports Registration is now open on FamilyID. It will close on June 30, reopen briefly from August 10 to August 21, and close permanently ahead of tryouts on August 24.

• Community Event: Registration is open for the 53rd Annual Walpole Labor Day Road Race on September 7. Register at walpoleroadrace.org by August 1 to secure a free t-shirt.

1. Bullying Data Reporting Update - Dr. Hahn provided an update regarding the Bullying Report Data. His full presentation can be seen on the Walpole Media You Tube Page at minute marker 26:00.

2. Fitness Center Equipment Replacement - Mr. Friscia discussed the needs for the High School Fitness equipment upgrade. Athletic Director, David St. Martin along with Dave Wall and Lee Tobey presented a slide show showing the need for the new equipment and the benefits it will have for all students and athletes. The School Committee voted yes unanimously to fund the purchase of new equipment. The full presentation can be seen here at minute marker 44:15.

3. Capital Budget Request (First Read) - Mr. Friscia provided information to the School Committee regarding Capital Requests for the School Department. The School Committee will review the information and vote on the request at a later date.

Dr. Gough reported the following:

• National Honor Society Ceremony: Dr. Gough and Dr. Hahn recently attended the Walpole High School National Honor Society ceremony to recognize outstanding senior members and welcome the new junior inductees.
• Annual Senior Walk: On May 27, the annual Senior Walk took place. This wonderful tradition allowed pending graduates to revisit their former elementary schools, where they were celebrated and cheered on by elementary students and staff.
• WHS Graduation Reminder: The Walpole High School Graduation ceremony will take place on Sunday, June 7 at 1:00pm on the WHS field.
• End-of-Year Events: The next two weeks will be incredibly busy across the district with several end-of-year concerts, celebrations, and activities.
• First Annual Educator Signing Day: Last week, the district held its first Future Educator Signing Day, celebrating twelve Walpole High School seniors who committed to entering the teaching profession. Each student honored an educator who influenced their journey, and those educators stood in support as letters of intent were signed. Special thanks to School Committee member Adrienne Rogers for speaking, and to Jennifer Breen for her outstanding leadership in organizing this meaningful event. These students signed a pledge stating that they proudly commit to pursuing a career in education and to a future dedicated to learning, leadership, and service to others.
• New Innovation Career Pathway Designation: The state approved 41 new Innovation Career Pathways to connect students to high-demand careers, and Walpole High School has officially received a new designation in Business and Finance. This joins our existing pathways in Media Arts, Engineering, and Education.
• Student Cabinet Tailgate: Members of the Superintendent’s Student Cabinet hosted a highly successful student tailgate prior to last Friday's lacrosse game, featuring great food, games, and school spirit. They are already planning for the fall!
• Bus Registration Reminder: Bus Registration for the 2026–2027 school year is currently open and will officially close on July 15. Families must register by this deadline so the district can finalize fall routes. All public school students in grades K-6 who live over 2 miles to their attending school shall be eligible for free bus transportation.
• World Cup Traffic Impact & End-of-Year Dismissal Schedule: Due to significant and unusual traffic congestion experienced across town during a recent World Cup event, which impacted school dismissal and transportation, June 16 has been designated as an early release day for all students. There will be no afternoon Extended Day, and all schools will dismiss at their regular early dismissal times in coordination with the Police Department. This unique adjustment reflects the scale of this international event and is not representative of typical stadium activities. The Police Department will increase patrols and monitor areas where students may gather, and principals will communicate with families to help discourage congregating in congested areas. As a final scheduling reminder, the last day of school for grades K–11 is June 18, which will also be an early release day.

1. Walpole High School Building Project - Updates and Information about the project can be found at WHS Renovation Project webpage