Gill-Montague School Committee Authorizes Early-Release Wednesdays Amid Remote Learning Crisis

GILL -- January 12, 2021, Gill-Montague School Committee approves early-release Wednesdays and confronts a stark portrait of pandemic learning loss. The committee voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize early-release Wednesdays for middle and high school students, mirroring an existing elementary schedule, after Superintendent Brian presented data showing 10th-grade course failures jumping from seven to 32 and eighth-grade failures rising from 15 to 82 compared with fall 2019. Special Education Director Diane Ellis reported a 25 percent increase in requests for special education evaluations since September. Business Manager Joanne outlined a preliminary fiscal year 2022 budget carrying a roughly $400,000 deficit, driven by a projected $224,000 health insurance increase and the addition of 6.83 full-time equivalent positions at $231,000, against revenue growth of less than $200,000. A separate unanimous vote raised the salary ceiling for the district's technology director position from $95,000 to $105,000. The committee also approved accounts payable warrant No. 3117 for $112,112.36.