School Committee Unanimously Restores Student Choice in Graduation Cap-and-Gown Colors

GILL — November 9, 2021 — Gill-Montague School Committee reverses graduation gown vote after senior class secret ballot. The seven-member committee voted unanimously Tuesday to restore a policy allowing each member of the Class of 2022 to choose individually between blue and white caps and gowns, undoing a unified-color vote from October after Superintendent Brian reported the senior class had voted "overwhelmingly" to return to the prior practice. The board also approved Irving Street School tuition rates for fiscal year 2022 — regular-education tuition rising from $11,948 to $15,413 per pupil due to enrollment decline, while special-education tuition fell from $40,594 to $37,859 — and passed a $110,465.20 accounts-payable warrant. Technology Director Tina Mahany reported district support tickets had dropped from roughly 1,800 at the start of the year to 184 last month, with every student kindergarten through grade 12 now assigned a Chromebook. Community forums on a potential six-town regional school district were scheduled for November 22 at Turner's Falls High School, with a public comment survey open through December 3.