MANCHESTER – Here’s your recap of the Monday, March 25, Board of School Committee meeting. The agenda for the meeting is here: https://5il.co/2gz40. Video from the meeting will be posted online by Manchester Public Television. As a reminder, we provide live updates from full board meetings at https://twitter.com/mansd_nh.
Smyth Road Students Lead the Pledge of Allegiance
Thank you to Smyth Road Roadrunners Josiah, Aeden and Zakai for leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance at Monday’s meeting. As is customary, the students had a chance to meet Mayor Ruais and check out his office before the meeting, even sneaking in a practice run of the pledge.
Great work by the students, and thank you to Assistant Principal Kurtz for helping to coordinate.
Scholastic Art Awards Winners Recognized
Each year, students from across New Hampshire submit artwork for consideration in the Scholastic Art Awards of New Hampshire. This year, 35 students received awards for their work, and among that group, 10 have their work on display at the Currier Museum of Art.
During the recognitions portion of Monday’s meeting, the District recognized these students, who represent Central, Memorial and Southside. You can find the full list of student awards on our website at https://www.mansd.org/article/1474295, and you can find photos from Monday’s recognitions by clicking here.
Community Schools Project Update
During the presentations portion of the meeting, Assistant Superintendent Nicole Doherty and Aimee Kereage, Manchester Proud’s Director of Community Partnerships, gave an update on the grant-funded Community Schools project that is coming to Gossler Park and Beech Street Elementary Schools.
Community Schools incorporate several pillars: integrated supports, expanded and enriched learning time, active family and community engagement, and collaborative leadership to support high-quality teaching. Manchester School District and Manchester Proud collaborated on the application for the grant, and the work going forward will include a number of community partners.
You can see the full presentation starting on Page 1 of the agenda packet here: https://5il.co/2gz40.
Wilson Redistricting Update
Also during the presentations portion of the meeting, Assistant Superintendent Ransdell provided an update on the closure of Henry Wilson Elementary School. Specifically, answering the question of where students will attend school in the fall.
Any students who would be in fifth grade next year will attend Hillside Middle School, as the district completes the transition to the 5-8 middle school model. All other students who live in Wilson’s geographical area will attend either McDonough or Beech Street Elementary School next year.
Wilson families will receive an individual letter with their student’s school assignment for next year, and the district will follow up with additional communications as the end of the school year approaches.
You can see the full presentation starting on Page 19 of the agenda packet here: https://5il.co/2gz40.
Transportation Planning
The most newsworthy item on Monday’s agenda came on the action agenda, as Assistant Superintendent Ransdell presented the District’s plan to bring home-school transportation in house for the first time.
Manchester School District has long used external vendors to provide busing for students, with Manchester Transit Authority handling most of the routes until this school year. As the MTA began to phase out school transportation operations, the District was forced to bring in a second vendor, Student Transportation of America, to handle roughly half of regular bus routes.
Under the plan, Manchester School District will create a new transportation department that oversees all regular bus routes in time for the start of the 2024-2025 school year. You can find more information on this starting on Page 30 of the agenda packet: https://5il.co/2gz40.
You can find media coverage of the District’s transportation plans by clicking these links:
Manchester Ink Link: School Board approves new MSD Transportation Department
Union Leader: Manchester's answer for busing 'disaster'? Bring the fleet in-house
WMUR: Manchester School District plans to use in-house transportation this fall
Consent Agenda Items Approved
The consent agenda for Monday’s meeting was approved with no items pulled for separate consideration. The consent agenda included items approved by the Policy Committee -- most notably job descriptions related to the just-approved Transportation Department – and the Finance Committee. You can see all items in the agenda packet: https://5il.co/2gz40.
Adjournment and Reminders
After brief updates from the superintendent, the meeting moved into non-public session. Since there were no items to vote on following non-public session, the meeting was adjourned without further action.
As a reminder, you can find more information on the Board of School Committee at https://www.mansd.org/page/bosc. We'll be back with live updates for the April 8 meeting and a recap the following day.