School Committee reviews CTE enrollment and Northeast playground plans, approves personnel items

Shannon Conley, Waltham Public Schools assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, presented an enrollment update from the district’s career and technical education department in response to concerns raised by the School Committee regarding low program enrollment, retention and certification rates.

According to district data, Waltham High School has seen a program loss of approximately 10% of CTE students over the past two years, Conley said.

Of the 412 students, Conley noted 49 students in the 2026 and 2027 graduating classes exited their programs, 37 of whom left for unknown reasons.

Conley told the committee that she is in the process of working to create an exit interview process to gain insight into students’ reasons for leaving the program and hopes to curb losses going forward.

Additionally the School Committee:

• Saw the first concept plan for Northeast Elementary School’s proposed inclusive playground from Ray Dunetz of Ray Dunetz Landscape Architecture and principal Mary Ellen Tenaglia. The $1,653,241 cost may adjust as the project advances, according to Dunetz. The playground is designed for inclusive play and includes accessible play structures, a communication board and storage for augmentative and alternative communication devices.

• Unanimously approved a proposed early childhood educator position to oversee future pre-K classrooms the district hopes to open at WHS early next year. Under guidance from Conley, the coordinator position would oversee two future classrooms set to open at WHS in January or February to serve as both co-op and observation space for students in the CTE early education program.

• Approved a five-year contract of employment for the district’s current superintendent, Marisa Mendonsa. The contract is set to expire in 2031.

• Heard an update from Mendonsa on the Massachusetts Statewide Graduation Council’s proposed state graduation requirements. Recommendations from the council’s Dec. 1 interim report included state curriculum-aligned programs of study requirements, including a financial literacy requirement as well as a capstone project or portfolio, use of the MyCAP individual career and academic plan, and completion of FAFSA or MAFSA student financial aid applications. Additionally, students can earn a variety of seals of distinction in recognition of biliteracy or excellence in academics, CTE programs, digital literacy and civic engagement. The council is set to vote on the proposal by the end of this school year, according to Mendonsa.