Rochester School Committee — June 3, 2026

The Rochester School Committee met on June 3, 2026, commencing with recognitions for retiring paraprofessional Kathy Harding, special education administrative assistant Kim Amato, and assistant principal Charles West, who accepted the principal role at Center School in Mattapoisett. During the public comment period, several residents, including parent Luis Rivera, addressed a May 1 incident in an elementary school bathroom involving a transgender student and a female student, which had resulted in a formal Title IX complaint. Commenters voiced conflicting viewpoints concerning gender identity policies, student safety, privacy rights, and the administration's response. Chairperson Kate Duggan later emphasized in her report that student privacy laws prevent the committee from discussing individual student disciplinary matters publicly.

The committee addressed multiple operational agenda items, including an update on the closeout of the two-year School Improvement Plan aligned with the district's Vision 2028 strategic plan. Following a discussion on wording regarding subjective terminology such as "offensive" clothing, the committee approved the 2026–2027 RMS Student Handbook with revisions proposed by Josh Trombley. The committee also approved the annual list of discarded library materials, scheduled meeting dates for the 2026–2027 school year, and accepted book donations from the RMS PTO and the Plumb Library.

Additional business included tabling the formal committee reorganization until September 2026 while voting unanimously to reappoint Superintendent Michael Nelson to the READS Collaborative board. Committee members and administration presented reports covering facilities, a pending $200,000 legislative earmark, school events, and various subcommittees. The committee then voted by roll call to adjourn into executive session to discuss strategy regarding collective bargaining, litigation, and compliance with statutory laws.

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