Welcome to our Masconomet School Committee Blog

  • This blog is a vehicle through which we foster awareness of MSC topics, information, progress and resources for deeper learning. After each school committee meeting, we post meeting highlights and summary notes. We also post district highlights, updates, and community events.

    We intend to continuously connect our actions with the district vision. The school committee's focus is on vision, mission, policy, budget, superintendent oversight, and advocacy. We balance the needs of our many stakeholders, and monitor progress toward goals.

    To stay updated, follow us on the Masco App or follow us on Facebook.  Many thanks for your support!

    If you have questions please contact our Committee Chair.

School Committee Blog

  • Nomination Form for the Third Annual Small Town Hero Awards

    Posted by Zillie Bhuju on 5/10/2023
    To the entire Tri-Town Community,
     
    Small Town Hero Awards are back! The High School Student Council is working in collaboration with the School Committee's Community Relations Subcommittee to honor and celebrate heroes of the Tri-Town.
     
    Please use  this link  to nominate individuals or groups who have supported the Tri-Town community with extraordinary leadership and kindness in the community. Several nominees will be selected and honored, each presented with the Small Town Hero Award by various Masconomet student groups in a commemoration ceremony June 12th 2023.
     
    Each resident of the Tri-Town may submit as many nominations as they wish for different people and/or groups. This form should take between 5 and 15 minutes to complete, depending on the length of responses.
     
    With deepest gratitude,
    Masconomet Regional High School's Student Council
     
    Comments (-1)

  • THANK YOU TO OUR MEMBER TOWNS FOR VOTING TO APPROVE MASCONOMET'S FY24 TOTAL EXPENDITURES BUDGET!

    Posted by MSC on 5/10/2023
    FY24 Budget Update:
    Middleton:
    • The warrant articles for Masco's FY24 operating budget and the Turf Field Design, Engineering and Permitting both passed at Middleton Town Meeting on May 9th.
    Boxford:
    • The warrant articles for Masco's base FY24 operating budget, FY24 operating budget override, and Turf Field Design, Engineering and Permitting all passed at Boxford Town Meeting on May 9th.
    • Boxford will now vote on a ballot question for their override at the Town Election, May 16th.
    Topsfield:
    • The warrant article for Turf Field Design, Engineering and Permitting and base FY24 operating budget both passed at Topsfield Town Meeting on May 2nd.
    • The FY24 operating budget override passed at both Town Meeting by voice vote at Topsfield Town Elections on the ballot, Question 2, on May 4th.
    Two of our three member communities must approve the full amounts included in both the Operating and Capital Budgets in order for Masconomet’s FY24 Total Expenditures Budget to “pass.” This has now been achieved, so the Budget passes! If Boxford supports their override at the ballot, then all member towns will be prepared to fully support Masco's FY24 Budget. THANK YOU!
    Comments (-1)

  • Topsfield Approves FY24 Budget

    Posted by MSC on 5/6/2023
    THANK YOU TOPSFIELD for voting to approve Masconomet's FY24 Total Expenditures Budget!
    • The warrant article for Turf Field Design, Engineering and Permitting and base FY24 operating budget both passed at Topsfield Town Meeting on May 2nd.
    • The FY24 operating budget override passed at both Town Meeting by voice vote at Topsfield Town Elections on the ballot, Question 2, on May 4th.
    Two of our three member communities must approve the full amounts included in both the Operating and Capital Budgets in order for Masconomet’s FY24 Total Expenditures Budget to “pass.”
    Boxford and Middleton Town Meetings are on Tuesday, May 9th.
    Boxford has an override question at Town Election, May 16th.
    Comments (-1)

  • WHAT TO KNOW - Part 6 - Masconomet Budget info for 2023 Town Meetings and Elections

    Posted by MSC on 5/6/2023
    BOXFORD OVERRIDE
    Note that this requires votes at Town Meeting and on the Ballot.
    Comments (-1)

  • Community Relations Dialogue 5/3/23

    Posted by MSC on 5/2/2023

    School Committee Community Relations Subcommittee Meeting, 5/3/23,  HS Library

    Topics include Small Town Hero awards and review of communication protocols.

    Comments (-1)

  • WHAT TO KNOW - Part 5 - Masconomet Budget info for 2023 Town Meetings and Elections

    Posted by MSC on 5/2/2023

    Turf Project Info. Spring 2023

    TURF FIELD DESIGN, ENGINEERING AND PERMITTING
    • The FY24 budget includes a capital assessment of $449,050 for Design, Engineering & Permitting of turf fields
    • This is assessed as follows: Boxford: $167,451, Middleton: $150,162, Topsfield: $131,437
    • All three towns have this item on their warrant as an appropriation of Free Cash, if approved at Town Meeting
     
    The Masconomet School Committee & Turf Up Masco (a private group that has committed to privately fundraise to support turf field projects) joined in partnership for this project, known as “phase 1” (or option 1), which includes two multipurpose turf fields and related amenities such as a stadium, seating, concession stand, bathrooms, and outdoor lighting.
    We are not seeking Tri-Town approval or funding for the construction of turf fields at Masco at this time. This funding request is to move the project through permitting. We will make decisions relative to construction once permitting is achieved and fundraising is underway. At that point, we will have information about what materials will be used and also what the Boxford Conservation Commission requires from the plan.
     
    For more info on the Turf Project:
    PRIVATE FUNDRAISING
    Why ask the towns if privately fundraising?
    1. It allows the community be part of the process
    2. So far, donor commitments are contingent upon permitting, and this warrant article allows that prerequisite step to be achieved.
    SAFETY and ENVIRONMENT
    • The safety of turf at Masco is of highest importance for our students and for the watershed
    • This design and permitting process will allow us to explore the safest options on the market
    • The sustainability policy that was adopted by the School Committee in April 2023 will inform those choices
    Please contact your Masconomet Representative if you have any questions about this.
     
    Comments (-1)

  • WHAT TO KNOW - Part 4 - Masconomet Budget info for 2023 Town Meetings and Elections

    Posted by MSC on 5/1/2023

    topsfield override

    TOPSFIELD BUDGET OVERRIDE
    Topsfield will see an increase of 3.9% ($346,337) in the town’s FY24 Operating Assessment for Masconomet (over FY23)
    • Of this, $246,921 is on a budget override; this requires votes at Town Meeting and on the Ballot.
    • The impact on the average single family tax bill will be about $107 per year ($27 per quarter, or $0.30 cents per day)
    • The impact of a failed override on the district is close to $800,000 to cut from overall operating budget
    It is notable that this year's budget was significantly impacted by unprecedented external cost increases for mandated services.
    Comments (-1)

  • WHAT TO KNOW - Part 3 - Masconomet Budget info for 2023 Town Meetings and Elections

    Posted by MSC on 5/1/2023

    Budget Story:

    • No new programs or initiatives, and no staffing cuts

    • Ensure that academics and learning is not further impacted as we recover from the pandemic

    • The mental health of our students and staff is a critical priority 

    • Capital item toward athletic field needs: Design, Engineering, Permitting for Turf Field Project

    Masconomet’s FY24 Operating Budget Assessment to member towns saw an increase of 5.1% over FY23.  Both the Operating Budget Assessment and the Capital Budget Assessments are apportioned to each member town based on minimum local contribution formulas (state), and regional agreement formulas (district). Both formulas are impacted by each town’s enrollment percentage (Boxford: 37.62%, Middleton: 31.10%, Topsfield 29.28%)

    Comments (-1)

  • WHAT TO KNOW - Part 2 - Masconomet Budget info for 2023 Town Meetings and Elections

    Posted by MSC on 4/30/2023

     

    For FY24, Masconomet’s Operating Expense Budget (after Offsets) is $39,757,686, which is an increase of $2,183,304 (5.8%) over FY23.  There are several components of the Operating Budget that are driving this increase, many of which are outside of the District’s direct control. 

    This pie chart features the budget drivers for the increases from FY23-FY24. Here are all the categories included in this chart:
    • Salaries - $577,445 (+2.5%) - DARK BLUE
    • Insurance & Benefits - $231,738 (+4.8%) - ORANGE
    • Specialized Program Placement Tuition - $712,062 (+24.4%) - GRAY
    • Transportation, Reg. Ed. - $177,294 (+15.3%) - YELLOW
    • Transportation, Special Ed. - $219,921 (+76.3%) - BLUE
    • All Other - $264,843 (+4.9%) (incl. Student services, Maintenance & Security, etc) - GREEN


    All FY24 Budget Documents can be viewed here 

    Comments (-1)

  • WHAT TO KNOW - Part 1 - Masconomet Budget info for 2023 Town Meetings and Elections

    Posted by MSC on 4/29/2023

     

    TMs

    The District’s Total Expenditures Budget is composed of two components, the Operating Budget and the Capital Budget. These appear as separate warrant articles at Town Meeting.

     

    In order for Masconomet’s FY24 Total Expenditures Budget to “pass,” the full amounts included in the Operating and Capital Budgets must both be approved in two of our three member communities.
     
    In Topsfield and Boxford, the operating budget also includes an override.
    In all three towns, the capital budget (for turf project design and permitting) is proposed to be funded through free cash (meaning no impact on tax rate).
    Comments (-1)

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