Gill-Montague School Committee votes to pursue free meals for all district students

GILL — April 12, 2022 — Gill-Montague School Committee votes unanimously to apply for district-wide free breakfast and lunch starting in September. Business and Finance Director Joanne Jager told the committee the district's direct certification rate has climbed to 53 percent — up from roughly 40 percent in 2018 — qualifying the district for an 85 percent Community Eligibility Provision reimbursement rate, up from the current 66 percent, with the application already submitted to the state. The committee also approved two portions of a custodial union settlement covering fiscal years 2022 through 2025, appointed Matt Lord of Montague as the municipal collective bargaining representative, and approved three financial warrants totaling $315,783.57. Assistant Superintendent Gene Powers presented staff DEI survey results showing 86 percent of staff individually grew across 20 equity indicators from fall to spring, just short of her 95 percent professional practice goal.