By Audrey Champness
EAGLE TIMES CORRESPONDENT
CORNISH — In response to a family’s request to allow a student to attend Mascoma High School, the Cornish School Board took action to expand the number of high schools available to its students. Currently, high school students from Cornish attend Stevens High in Claremont and the town-named high schools in Lebanon, Hanover, Windsor and Hartland.
In discussing the request at its meeting on June 19, the board deliberated whether to allow students to attend any public high school of their choice or limit the options to the five current “familiar” public schools. The board also discussed clarifying the current policy on paying tuition for schools that aren’t among the familiar five.
The discussion leaned in favor of allowing students to choose which public high school they went to without obligating the town to pay tuition beyond the established rate.
On a motion made by board member Melissa Drey and seconded by Jason Tetu, the board voted unanimously to allow the student to attend Mascoma High and to pay the tuition.
In other business, the board granted Interim Superintendent Sydney Leggett authority to hire positions over the summer and approved the nomination of Avery Whitney as the new music teacher. The school still needs a physical education teacher. Leggett also announced the hiring of Christine Downing as Curriculum Instruction and Assessment Director and Corey Canfield as the new Technology Director.
Another decision was made concerning the selection of the food service provider for the upcoming academic year. After assessing proposals, the board chose the Abbey Group as the primary food service provider. Even though the group charges $7,000 more than the budget previously discussed for food services, the quality of its food is high. The school has previously been in partnership with this group and has received good feedback from students. The group also has a robust farm-to-table program and was called friendly to picky eaters at the meeting.
The board also decided to raise the cap on pre-K student enrollment from 16 to 20. This adjustment allows for increased access to early childhood education programs.
The previously scheduled July meeting was rescheduled for Aug. 28.
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