Essex School Committee Hears Improvement Plans, Flags Gaps in Competency Draft Policy

ESSEX — September 16, 2025 — Manchester Essex Regional School Committee reviewed elementary improvement plans, a draft competency determination policy, and a jump in audit costs at its September 16 meeting. Principal Willis reported the two elementary schools are approximately 52 percent through their two-year improvement plan goals, with an instructional coaching residency model entering its second phase and social-emotional learning work expanding across both buildings. Committee members pressed Superintendent Pamela Beaudoin on whether the district's improvement plans read as genuinely moving forward or still laying foundations, with Beaudoin responding, "We would not put ourselves up as a model of authentic learning for anyone to see right now — give us a grace to learn and grow." On the competency determination policy, required following the state's elimination of MCAS as a graduation requirement, members flagged a reference to a nonexistent district grading policy and asked staff to define "end-of-course assessment" explicitly before a public hearing scheduled for October. Finance and Operations Director Michelle reported that audit firm CBIZ raised its annual fee by $15,000 to $47,500, and recommended staying with CBIZ at a reduced $41,500 by handling end-of-year financial document preparation in-house, while pursuing a multi-year contract with Roselli Clark and Associates, which quoted $33,000, beginning next fiscal year.