Marlborough School Committee opens year with classrooms staffed, 54 vacancies remain

MARLBOROUGH -- August 29, 2023, Marlborough opens school year fully staffed in classrooms, out of space in its elementaries. Superintendent Mary Murphy told the School Committee on Aug. 29 the district has 54 open positions, down from 65 a year ago, but every classroom teaching slot is filled; the gaps are three special education teachers, a high school reading teacher, a district-wide nurse, an OT, and 45 support roles including 19 paraeducators and 14 behavior technicians. Murphy said elementary class sizes are large at Jaworek, Goodnow and Richer and that "we are out of space in the Marlborough Public Schools for additional classrooms." The committee accepted a $24,080 DESE grant for Tier 1 cellphone storage pouches at Whitcomb, renamed Policy 8.001 to "Student Welfare/Mandated Reporting," and relabeled "public participation" as "public comment" in policies 2.442 and 2.450. Director of Finance and Operations Doug Bushman said Jaworek's HVAC project will bring AC to all seven pending classrooms by Friday.