ORANGE — It was decided this month that the subcommittee tasked with considering potential changes to the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District’s regional agreement will have between eight and 15 members.
The Regional Agreement Subcommittee will include a Mahar School Committee representative from each of the four member towns. An invitation is being sent to those towns’ Selectboards to solicit an additional member from each.
Mahar School Committee Vice Chair Patricia Smith suggested the subcommittee have up to 15 members so students, guardians and teachers could have seats at the table, too. No decision was made in that regard, though, as committee Chair Peter Cross must first talk with the board’s attorney, Adam Dupere, about admitting students, guardians and teachers.
“I think that’s really important,” Smith said.
Smith agreed with Cross’ point about keeping membership to a manageable number.
Cross mentioned that the committee voted at the previous month’s meeting to form the Regional Agreement Subcommittee, but did not appoint members to it. He explained that the subcommittee will review the current regional agreement and propose revisions or updates. He also said that Elizabeth Zielinski, superintendent of the Ralph C. Mahar Regional and Union 73 school districts, and Michele Tontodonato, the districts’ director of finance and operations, will also participate in the discussions.
“It’s probably going to take more than a year. It may take at least two years to fully revise the agreement and submit it to DESE and then bring it forward to the member towns,” Cross said. “It’s a big job, but we’ll go forward with it.”
Mahar School Committee members Barbara Doyle, of New Salem, and Kate Woodward, of Wendell, will represent their respective towns on the subcommittee, as will one of Orange’s six representatives and either Jill Wessel or Steve Hammond, of Petersham.