At the December 9 School Committee Meeting there was a discussion of the Intensive Learning Center (ILC) as well the Superintendent’s FY27 budget request. Finally, there was a discussion of two School Committee policies – a Draft Graduation and Competency Determination Policy and Draft Middle School Pathway Exploration Policy.
School Committee Comments
- Alisa Skatrud updated the School Committee on the School Building Committee/Permanent Public Building Committee’s decision at their recent meeting to put forward the Pollard Project to the PSR phase – the more expensive two phase project with the goal of bringing the cost down and speeding the project up. This iteration gives them the maximum amount of flexibility to make the project of the best value. The committee will vote on the PSR submission at their next meeting on Monday, 12/15/25.
Superintendent Comments
- A small NHS choral ensemble performed at a national conference in Boston yesterday. The group had to try out for this nationally and were honored to be chosen to perform to open the Learning Forward conference.
- For the first time, 11 NHS students have been inducted into the National Chinese Honors Society.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Intensive Learning Center (ILC) Program Review
Executive Director of Special Education Stephanie Wyman gave an update on the ILC Program. The detailed presentation, slides, and empowerED report can be found in the packet.
- In April 2025, Needham Public Schools engaged empowerED School Solutions to conduct a comprehensive review of its Intensive Learning Center (ILC) program and broader special education and intervention service delivery model across PreK–8 settings.
- The purpose of the review was to gather data, observe practices, assess program implementation, and provide key findings and recommendations for the district.
- Key findings – strengths and areas of improvement
- Recommendations range from refining the ILC program definition and curriculum to providing more professional development on Universal Design for Learning and collaborative teaching models.
- Looking ahead, there are plans to develop a multi-year ILC program improvement plan and to establish an ILC program committee.
Discussion followed with questions and comments by various School Committee members.
Superintendent’s FY27 Budget Request
Superintendent Dan Gutekanst presented the Needham Public Schools Fiscal Year 2027 Budget request. Also available for questions were Assistant Superintendents Anne Gulati (Finance and Operations), Mary Lammi (Student Support Services), and Alexandra Montes McNeill (Human Resources). The budget was designed according to the FY27 Budget Guidelines approved by the School Committee in September. All FY27 budget documents are available on the district’s budget webpage.
- The proposed plan totals $108,954,956 and represents a $4.37 million, 4.17% increase over the current year budget of $104,589,430. The FY27 budget includes $106,128,595 for the School Department and $2,826,361 for the Town’s technology operations.
- The proposed budget includes increases that will address both School Department and Town IT needs in the coming fiscal year. The Town’s technology budget represents $315,587 of the overall increase and addresses important cybersecurity and infrastructure needs. The School Department’s budget increases $4.05 million (3.97%) from the current year to address staff contractual obligations, special education, and the District’s Portrait of a Needham Graduate Five-Year Strategic Plan. The projected student enrollment for FY27 is 5,378.
- Key drivers include:
- Staffing and Contracts
- Compliance and Investments
- Special Education
- Summary FY27 School Operating Budget
- FY27 Town IT Budget
- Additional meetings and deadlines include:
- December 10th: School Committee and Finance Committee liaisons budget workshop
- December 16th and subsequent meetings in January: School Committee reviews the Superintendent’s budget request
- December and January: Finance Committee liaisons meet with School Committee liaisons and Central Office staff to review and discuss requests.
- January 6th : Town Manager consults with School Committee about the budget plan and releases the FY27-31 Capital Improvement Plan
- January 13th : School Committee holds a public hearing on the budget plan.
- January 20th : The School Committee votes the budget plan and sends the budget to the Town Manager and Finance Committee.
School Committee Policies
Superintendent Dan Gutekanst and School Committee policy subcommittee members Matt Spengler and Sri Baqri presented and led a discussion on two draft policies. State regulations require updates to these two policies be submitted to DESE by December 31, 2025 and January 31, 2026 respectively.
- Draft Graduation and Competency Determination Policy
- The governor and secretary of education recently proposed new state requirements for graduation and competency determination (CD). Before the 2024 ballot measure, passing the MCAS was the CD for graduation. Last spring, the Needham School Committee decided to make passing the MCAS our local graduation requirement. Now, the state wants to know specifically what we will use as a CD.
- This policy spells out a CD that we will use until the state makes their final decision. This is a bridge policy until the state updates their own graduation guidance.
- The policy must be approved by the governing body of the district and submitted to DESE by December 31st.
- Draft Middle School Pathway Exploration Policy
- This policy, required by DESE, makes sure that middle school students are aware of career and technical education (CTE) schools and programs across the Commonwealth.
- Jessica Downey and Tamatha Bibbo have drafted a thoughtful policy that not only meets, but exceeds, state requirements.
- Needham’s Middle School Pathway Exploration Policy must be approved by the School Committee and submitted to the state by January 31, 2026.
INFORMATION ITEM
FY25 End of Year Pupil and Financial Report (can be found at the end of the packet)
School Committee Comments
- Matt Spengler and Jack Arvedon – wishing good luck to DECA students tomorrow at their competition
- Winterfest is on Friday, December 12 at the high school
The next School Committee Meeting will be December 16, 2025 at 6:30 pm.