The Stoughton School Committee moved to bolster student safety this week, approving a five-figure expenditure for fencing at two local schools following reports of students running into wooded areas. Director of Facilities Dennis Flynn presented the $51,500 request, explaining that the Daw School’s upper playground is currently the only unfenced play area in the district. The upper playground needs fencing. It is a safety concern, Flynn told the committee. There are students who are running into the woods, and they're fast, and they're having a hard time keeping up with them.

The funding will also cover protective fencing for new HVAC units at both the Daw and Gibbons schools. While Member Karen Powers questioned the timing and the cost of the project, asking, Is there something that precipitated us now saying, 'Geez, we need to do this?' This is a lot of money, Flynn clarified that the safety risks had become a pressing issue for staff. Motion Made by A. Barbosa to approve the capital item for safety fencing as requested. Motion Passed 5-0.

In a major shift for town operations, Superintendent Dr. Joseph Baeda informed the committee that the town is seeking to consolidate all polling locations to the O'Donnell Middle School gymnasium starting with the April 7th election. This move would eliminate voting at elementary schools, addressing long-standing safety and traffic concerns during election days. Dr. Baeda assured the board that student parking would be preserved, stating, We have no intentions of not having parking spots for students who already have assigned parking spots.

The committee also focused on its internal operations during a professional development session led by consultant Paul Zinni of John Guilfoyle Public Relations. The board reviewed 12 draft "norms," including "putting kids first" and "speaking with one voice." Chair Chris Shannon noted the importance of the exercise, saying, It's a little hard to create goals if we don't even have a sense of shared purpose. Member Jillian Distefano requested that the committee add be prepared to the official list, while Member Jenn Sears emphasized the ongoing nature of their work, noting, Education is a lifelong process... right now, I feel like we're learning.

The discussion on "speaking with one voice" prompted Vice Chair Armando Barbosa to voice frustrations regarding Open Meeting Law restrictions. I can communicate with one person, but then if one other person joins, I can't have that same communication... that to me is frustrating because sometimes we feel we're doing our work with our hands tied behind us, Barbosa said. Despite these challenges, the board moved toward finalizing a "mini-mission" to define their oversight of policy and the budget.

Superintendent-Elect Julie Miller presented her "Leading Forward" transition plan as she prepares to take the helm in July 2026. A primary goal of the plan is the search for a new high school principal, which will begin this fall. Miller also addressed the district’s reliance on external funding after Vice Chair Barbosa noted that grants account for nearly half of the budget. Miller responded, I plan to have many more meetings... to make sure that we are assessing capacity so that I understand the totality of the amount of grants that we are already receiving.

On the personnel front, Assistant Superintendent Matt Gillis reported a milestone in post-pandemic recovery, noting that teaching positions reached a nearly 100% fill rate for the start of the year. This is the best that we've ever done with the fill rate, Gillis said. The committee also moved to hire Sarah Gordon as a one-to-one registered nurse for a medically complex student, replacing a contracted service. Director of Health Services Danielle Gallan noted that the hire is better for care, it's better for attendance for our very medically complex kiddos. Motion Made by A. Barbosa to appoint Sarah Gordon to the role of one-to-one registered nurse. Motion Passed 5-0.

The meeting also touched on sensitive community issues, as Dr. Baeda reported that the district is providing support to a student whose parent was recently taken by ICE in an off-campus incident. It's heartbreaking in many ways that children have to undergo this type of situation, Baeda said. On a lighter note, the student representative highlighted high spirits at the high school, noting the theater department is currently preparing for a production of Little Shop of Horrors. The community at school is a very good atmosphere, she said, adding that staff and students are sharing a positive energy this fall.