The School Committee on Thursday approved the competency determination (CD) for high school graduation proposal as presented by Principal Evan Bishop at the last meeting.

The board also adopted a fiscal year 2026 budget of $67,190,630, a plan reviewed at four previous meetings. It will be passed along to the town manager as the budget process continues.

For local graduation requirements, Bishop reviewed that students must earn a total of 113 credits, including 20 each in English, mathematics and “other”; 15 credits each in science, history/social sciences; 10 credits in world language; eight in wellness; and five in arts and technology.

In November, Massachusetts voters elected to remove MCAS test results as a requirement for graduation.

As a result, districts were tasked with designing criteria for students to earn a high school diploma.

Keeping in line with other area schools, Bishop’s proposal outlined that students must pass ninth and 10th grade English; complete ninth and 10th grade mathematics with a passing grade (must include geometry and Algebra 1 and/or 2); and pass one of three laboratory core science classes (either biology, chemistry or physics).

A passing grade is a ‘D’ or 60, which prompted some discussion.

Reviewing feedback from a member of the public, the question was posed if passing coursework with a ‘D’ would be sufficient.

A ‘D’ in the handbook is defined as “unsatisfactory performance/little or no mastery has been reached.”

Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh pointed out that students who were rated as “partially meeting expectations,” on MCAS would be deemed competent to graduate.

The principal said ‘D’ historically has been a passing grade, and School Committee members said they felt uncomfortable raising that to a 65 or 70 or some other number or letter grade.

Member Chris Masters said that would be entering a “slippery slope.”

Bishop said all current juniors have met the competency requirements, and among seniors, only international students arriving this year have not earned that distinction yet. However, those students are on track to pass the courses they need to graduate.

Committee members and the principal noted that students still will be taking MCAS exams.

Bishop said that there are remediation classes and other supports offered to students who struggle with MCAS or coursework, and there is excitement when students are given the tools to “generate higher levels of learning” and achieve success.

“The supports are not going away. Our resources will not change,” Bishop added.

He emphasized the “robust” coursework, saying it covers “far more standards” than MCAS.

The principal noted members of the class of 2027 would be taking English/language arts MCAS tests in March followed by math and science in May and June. Regardless of whether they count as a requirement to graduate, Bishop said he is confident students will continue to take the tests very seriously.

Update on adaptive playground provided

Susan Rothermich, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, provided an update on a proposed $1.2 million adaptive playground.

She noted the School Committee in early December supported the idea of adding the project to its capital plan for review by the Capital Improvement Committee (CIC) if it was not fully supported by Community Preservation Committee (CPC) approved funds.

Rothermich explained that in mid-December, the CPC allocated $300,000 toward the project. Previously, it had granted $100,000 for design and engineering studies, $69,625 of which was spent.

She said the CIC did not approve the project as part of its capital plan going to Town Meeting.

In addition, the CPC decided “with no path forward to further design” to suspend all future expenditures related to the adaptive playground.

At a Select Board meeting on Jan. 21, Rothermich said the town manager advised anyone could put an article on the warrant.

School Committee chair Nancy Cavanaugh scheduled a Zoom meeting on Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. to vote on sponsoring an adaptive playground article for Town Meeting’s consideration, though a funding source had yet to be identified.

The vote could not be taken at this meeting because it was not on the agenda, and 48 hours’ notice is required, Nancy Cavanaugh explained.

She said during the Select Board meeting, the possibility of using free cash for the “difference between $300,000 and the total” to bring the project “across the finish line” was raised. However, no decisions were made.

Student trips approved

The School Committee approved several student trips. These included teams from the robotics program traveling to VEX Worlds in Dallas from May 6-9 to compete against 10,000 students from around the world.

It also included sending participants from the high school Business Professionals Association (BPA) to the state leadership conference in Norwood on March 8-9 and the national event in Orlando, Florida, from May 7-11.

At the state event, local students will compete academically against 400 students from across Massachusetts. At the national event with 6,500 other BPA participants, they will compete as well as attend leadership workshops and take part in a day of service and Special Olympics walk.

Finally, approval was given for sixth graders to travel to Freedom, New Hampshire, for Outdoor Classroom (formerly called Nature’s Classroom). A total of 350 students are expected to go during two sessions, Nov. 17-19 and Nov. 19-21.