School Committee Reviews Memorial Building Plan

In this report: Key decisions · Next dates · Full report · Sources

What happened

The School Committee reviewed the first draft of the 570-student Memorial Elementary program, which includes 26 kindergarten-through-grade-four classrooms, four preschool classrooms, neighborhood clusters for small-group instruction, and expanded special education and English-learner space; a vote is scheduled November 2. The committee also reviewed 2026 MCAS results showing Natick scored 16 to 31 points above state average in every subject, with chronic absenteeism rising to 10.2 percent. During public comment, a METCO family member described a substitute bus driver repeatedly missing stops over recent weeks.

Key decisions

• 🏢 Review Memorial Elementary draft education program. The committee reviewed the first draft of the education program for a proposed 570-student school with four preschool and 26 kindergarten-through-grade-four classrooms, organized into neighborhood clusters for small-group instruction, with expanded special education and English-learner space and a cafeteria supporting two lunch periods. No vote was taken; public comment is scheduled for October 26 and the committee will vote on the plan November 2. (Next: Nov. 2). Read case details
• 📜 Review 2026 MCAS results and accountability. The committee reviewed the 2026 MCAS report, which showed Natick scored 16 to 31 points above the state average in every subject, grade 3-8 math rose three points and now exceeds 2019 pre-pandemic levels, 78 percent of English learners met state-set growth targets, chronic absenteeism rose from 8.7 percent to 10.2 percent, and low-income high school MCAS participation was 94 percent, below the state's 95 percent requirement. No vote was taken; the report was informational and will inform schools' improvement plans. Read case details
• 👤 Appoint Tricia Cormier recording secretary. The committee voted 6-0 to appoint Tricia Cormier as School Committee recording secretary for the school year. (Vote 6-0). Read case details
• 📜 Enter executive session on bargaining. The committee voted 5-0 to enter executive session to discuss strategy for upcoming contract negotiations regarding class size and staffing. (Vote 5-0). Read case details

Next dates

• Oct. 26: Public comment on Memorial Elementary draft
• Nov. 2: Vote on Memorial Elementary program

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Full meeting report

The complete, section-by-section account of the meeting, 2,688 words, for members.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.