Marlborough School Committee grants final approval to New England Innovation Academy amid enrollment surge

MARLBOROUGH -- October 10, 2023, Marlborough's homeless student count has nearly quadrupled in a year as hotel shelters reshape the district. Assistant Superintendent Mary Murphy O'Brien told the School Committee Tuesday that 62 students are enrolled from three designated hotel shelters, and that homelessness among already-enrolled families has doubled to 80 students from 38 a year ago. Wraparound staff are supporting 115 homeless families, and O'Brien said she will propose using the state's $104-per-day-per-student reimbursement to hire a dedicated case manager. Superintendent Michelle Bodin-Hettinger reported overall enrollment is up 106 students in a month, with Goodnow Elementary carrying the largest average class sizes near 21.9. The mayor, citing 142 families and 453 individuals across the hotels, said funding is not the issue: "Someone's got to shut off the faucet." The committee also voted final approval for the New England Innovation Academy.