Marlborough School Committee hears enrollment jump, 47 open positions and heat-relief gaps

MARLBOROUGH -- September 12, 2023, Marlborough enrollment surges as district reports 47 vacancies and heat-relief gaps. Superintendent Mary Murphy told the School Committee on Tuesday that district enrollment grew by nearly 30 students since Friday, with kindergarten potentially reaching 417 once 12 pre-registered students are processed, and that every elementary grade now exceeds 400 students. Open positions dropped from 54 to 47, including six teacher vacancies, four in special education, plus a district-wide nurse, reading teacher, Spanish translator and AAC specialist. Murphy said Richer Elementary "has no relief at all" from extreme heat, and Whitcomb's non-opening energy-efficient windows rule out bulk window AC units. Mayor J. Christian Dumais reported 6,200 families now in state shelter statewide, projected above 7,500 by month's end. The committee accepted a $252,000 FC-510 grant and a $1,655.52 Aquana Studios donation to Jarvis Elementary.