Stoughton Public Schools face a projected $2.9 million funding gap for the upcoming fiscal year to maintain level services, adding new pressure to the district’s long-term financial planning. Superintendent Joseph Baeta alerted the School Committee on Tuesday that while the municipal growth cap is currently set at 3.98%, the rising costs of operations significantly outpace available revenue. This warning follows previous discussions regarding a $1.5 million budget cliff, suggesting the fiscal outlook for the schools has sharpened as the district begins its FY27 budget development. Member Jillian Distefano requested a more visual approach to the upcoming deliberations, noting One thing that I really wanted to do was look at our cost centers, visualize it so that we can see these are our cost centers and revenue... and kind of compare those two pie charts and see where those shortfalls are.

Against this fiscal backdrop, the district is officially launching the search for a new Stoughton High School principal to replace long-time leadership. Superintendent-Elect Julie Miller announced that job postings will go live this week, with applications due by January 5. The district intends to name a final candidate by February 13, 2025. Miller expressed optimism about the candidate pool, pointing to the school's historical stability as a major draw. You've had steady leadership in that building for 14 years now, which is very enticing to candidates, Miller said. Member Jenn Sears voiced her intent to participate directly in the process, stating, I just wanted to say that I'm interested in being on the interview committee.

While the district faces administrative transitions, classroom innovations at the Hanson School are yielding significant academic dividends. Math coach Bridget Fabrizio and fifth-grade teacher Lauren Plasko presented a four-square graphic organizer strategy designed to help students deconstruct complex word problems. Plasko explained that students often struggle with reading comprehension in math, leading to frustration. We created a four-square... In the first box, they figure out the situation—is it adding, taking from, or equal groups? she said, adding that students are taught to TTQA or Turn The Question Around when answering. The results have been stark; Fabrizio reported that fifth-grade students achieved a 69% student growth percentage on the most recent MCAS, with open response scores 10 points above the state average. Vice Chair Armando Barbosa asked about the catalyst for the change, inquiring, What was the spark? I mean, what was that one thing that said, 'We got to do this'? Plasko noted the strategy grew from a desire to move away from frustrating, ineffective methods used in previous years.

Superintendent Baeta emphasized that the success at Hanson is rooted in the district’s broader coaching model, which relies on high levels of professional cooperation. It really starts with a very key fundamental concept: trust between the two adults working on behalf of the benefit of kids. Egos are left at the door, Baeta said. Member Karen Powers linked the math success to the district’s literacy goals, noting, I was excited when the Superintendent talked about trying to get students to reading proficiency by third grade, because if you can't read, you can't do a word math problem. Chair Chris Shannon praised the initiative for teaching students to articulate the thought process that goes into solving a problem, rather than just finding a numerical answer.

The committee also reviewed broader district-wide MCAS data, which showed that Stoughton met 48% of its progress targets. While chronic absenteeism dropped from 16.4% to 14.5%, Grade 10 performance saw a decline that mirrors state-wide trends. Director of Data Diane McDonough suggested that the state’s shift toward AI grading for writing components might be a factor in the dip. Last year they implemented AI grading, which could be a reason why we saw a decline, McDonough said. Superintendent Baeta shared his apprehension regarding the technology, stating, We have some concerns about all of that... We're trying to spend some time on what is the right AI to use, and when do we use it, how do we use it. Curriculum administrator Jonathan Ford noted that a new writing component piloted at the Wilkins School has already shown spectacular results, which the district hopes to replicate district-wide.

During public comment, a local resident raised concerns regarding the location of the new South School on Park Street, arguing that the site lacks the necessary seclusion for modern school safety. I don't like where the South School is proposed to be built... Putting it in a public area such as that where everyone can see where that school is, in this day and time, schools need to be secluded, she said. She also criticized the district's communication regarding meeting times, claiming she had to call the office multiple times to find out when the committee was convening. Chair Shannon noted that while public comment is typically held at the start of meetings, the resident was welcome to return on December 2 to place her concerns officially on the record. Meanwhile, Distefano provided an update on the building project, noting that 3D models of the new school are now available and the committee is currently finalizing land deeds for MSBA contracts.

In other district news, Shannon reported that the Pilgrim Area Collaborative would be returning funds to the district, which will be applied as a credit toward next year’s tuition bills. Distefano also reported on her attendance at the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) conference, where she voted against a proposal to allow pediatricians to request school-based BMI testing. I just didn't think that was something that we should be getting involved in, Distefano said. Finally, Superintendent Baeta addressed the impact of state-wide shelter transitions, noting that host communities like Stoughton might see a decline in enrollment that could negatively impact Chapter 70 state funding formulas. He told the committee that the district is advocating at the state level to ensure Stoughton is not penalized by the formula during these transitions.