Marlborough School Committee ratifies behavior tech contract, approves handbooks 6-1

MARLBOROUGH -- June 25, 2024, Marlborough School Committee closes the year with a behavior tech contract, new handbooks and a "proficient" rating for the superintendent. Members unanimously ratified a 2024-2027 MOU with the Behavior Tech Union and approved the pre-K-8 handbook, 9-12 student handbook and family guides 6-1, with Mayor J. Christian Dumais opposed because policy links and translations were unfinished. Vice Chair Jaime Hennessey, who agreed to serve as point person, called the BT bargaining "a fair negotiation." Superintendent Mary Murphy reported Talking Points sent 805,345 messages in its first year and announced Jaworek EL teacher Erin Butler as 2024 Teacher of the Year. The committee accepted four O'Connor Studios donations totaling $6,237.61, declared the 10-year-old grade 6-12 humanities textbooks surplus, and approved donating decommissioned robotics equipment to Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School. The district's finance director, retiring early, will be succeeded by Mr. Wells.