Ad Hoc High School Committee finalizes format for Sept. 24 Community Conversation

The Ad Hoc High School Committee met Aug. 4 and finalized plans for a Community Conversation scheduled for Sept. 24, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The minutes list Lauren Barlow, Terry Cote, Nick Caruso and Superintendent Donna Leake as present and record the committee's aim to collect community input to guide the Board of Education on selecting a designated high school.

Committee members agreed the Sept. 24 event should be a single session and designed to be accessible and orderly. The minutes say: "The committee focused on setting up a meeting environment that is accessible and comfortable for all attendees. There was also a focus on conducting the meeting in an orderly manner which will allow time for all participants who wish to speak." The group decided, if possible, to arrange seating in a circular configuration and to use a speaker list and a sign-in sheet so attendees who wish to speak can be accommodated.

Nick Caruso will serve as the meeting facilitator, and the minutes state: "Nick Caruso will facilitate the meeting, and the members of the Ad Hoc Committee will respond to questions, with the option to gather more information as needed." The committee emphasized that the principal goal of the Community Conversation is information-gathering for the Board's forthcoming choice of a designated high school.

The committee adjourned at 11:10 a.m.; its next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 10, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. via Zoom.