The School Committee met on Dec. 3 to discuss DESE monitoring, updates on the high school building project, and priorities for the FY26 operating budget.
DESE visit to North Schools
Assistant Superintendent Michelle McKeon provided an update on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s [DESE] integrated monitoring process. With visit week approaching, specialists are reviewing documents submitted by administrators, teachers and parents.
DESE representatives will visit classrooms to assess how equitable space is being utilized and identify areas for improvement. The monitoring process will conclude with an exit interview, and the district will receive a ‘report card’ about a month later.
MSBA update
Superintendent Jon Antonucci shared progress on the Massachusetts School Building Authority [MSBA] high school project. He highlighted the recent improvements to the High School Building Project section of the district’s website, which now includes the educational plan that the new school is designed around.
Antonucci described the Nov. 6 community forum as a success and emphasized the importance of maintaining clear communication with the community in the coming months. The district is in the process of hiring a general contractor or construction manager, with eight firms expressing interest. The chosen approach, “construction manager at risk,” involves contractors agreeing to a fixed maximum price, providing financial predictability and allowing their input during the design phase.
Fiscal year 2026 budget
The committee also discussed priorities for the FY26 operating budget. Antonucci noted the district’s continuous focus on teacher contracts, which are up for negotiation this year, and the bus contract, now in its final year. Other priorities include keeping class sizes manageable, updating facilities and technology, addressing special education needs, supporting student mental health and staffing.
McKeon reported that class sizes are tracked monthly, while Committee Chair Tasha Buzzell pointed out that some classrooms are “reaching a tipping point,” necessitating the hiring of more teachers in the near future.
School parking fees
School Committee member Gideon Gaudette proposed eliminating paid parking for high school students. He noted that “the only people who have to be there by law are the students,” and “nowhere else in North Attleborough do people have to pay to park.” Gaudette also urged town officials and committee members to visit school facilities, staff and students to gain firsthand insight into the district’s needs.
“How many of our Town Council members have been in our schools?” asked Gaudette.
