Halifax Appoints Attorney Jody Goyette to Fill Vacant Seat
Vote at a joint meeting of the Halifax School Committee and the Board of Selectmen
HALIFAX - August 25 - The Halifax School Committee voted unanimously to appoint attorney Jody Goyette to fill a vacant committee position during a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen on Monday night, selecting her over special education professional Lauren Marie Brouwer after an extensive interview process.
The Full Story
Following detailed interviews with both candidates, the six-member joint board consisting of three school committee members and three selectmen chose Goyette, a state attorney, to serve until the May 2026 election.
During her opening statement, Goyette emphasized her legal background and analytical skills. "The skills that I would bring to the table is really listening to the different issues that there are, and the information that needs to be decided, you know, and viewed, and look at that information impartially, look to find the information, and seek the information that's needed to make best decisions," she told the board.
The other candidate, Lauren Marie Brouwer, brought 20 years of experience as a special educator and board-certified behavior analyst, along with three years as president of the high school PTO. Brouwer argued for keeping special education services in-district to reduce costs, noting that outsourcing can cost approximately $5,000 per month per student compared to providing services locally.
The decision came down to different perspectives on what skills the committee most needed. School committee member Jessica Page noted that "the role of a school committee member is so far removed from the world of making decisions about education" and emphasized that "understanding law and policy which is really our role is a greater strength."
Both candidates demonstrated strong qualifications and commitment to the district's four strategic goals: building community, using data-driven instruction, creating aligned curriculum, and providing support structures for all students. When asked about balancing public pressure with decision-making responsibilities, both emphasized the importance of making decisions based on data and information rather than social media comments or community pressure.
The appointment process included questions about budget experience, time availability, and ability to handle disagreement and public scrutiny. Selectman Tom Pratt warned candidates about the challenging nature of budget season, noting it would be "a particularly stressful time" with significant financial pressures facing both the elementary school and regional committees.
Following the appointment, the school committee continued with regular business, approving a three-year Halifax Teachers Association contract and discussing plans for a memorial to honor Mr. Bayramshian, a beloved teacher that passed away over the summer. The committee voted to support an appropriate memorial pending town approval, with ideas including a memorial garden.
New Principal Brian Prehna provided his first official report to the committee, announcing current enrollment of 535 students, including 81 kindergarteners. He outlined ongoing staff hiring efforts, noting vacancies for a school psychologist, behaviorist, library media teacher, and two cafeteria aides. Prehna praised the custodial and technology teams for their summer work preparing the building and emphasized his focus on building community and ensuring all students feel they belong.
Curriculum Coordinator Dr. Heather Tucker reported on extensive summer professional development programs, including courses on skillful teaching, high expectations teaching, and data analysis. The district submitted Title I, II, and IV grant applications totaling significant federal funding to support educational programs.
Superintendent Jill Proulx presented the district's strategic improvement plan for 2025-26, highlighting initiatives including anti-bullying programming through Changemakers for Good, expanding community participation in curriculum showcases, and implementing new mathematics curriculum in year two of the review cycle. The district will also begin literacy curriculum review and continue three-times-yearly assessments using STAR and DIBELS.
The committee discussed an accelerated budget timeline for fiscal year 2027, with the goal of presenting a votable budget by December rather than the traditional January timeline. This earlier schedule aims to provide more time for discussion and refinement before the March deadline for town submission.
Sarah Hickey, the Business Manager, presented revised financial reporting formats that align with state standards and provide clearer categorization of expenses. The committee approved a revised FY25 closeout that added approximately $2,988 in final expenses from invoices and adjustments.
The meeting also addressed ongoing discussions about full regionalization, with representatives continuing to work with the Collins Center on a comprehensive study examining costs and benefits. This year-long process could provide definitive answers about regionalization's impact by next summer.
Why It Matters
Goyette's appointment ensures the school committee maintains full representation during critical budget planning and contract negotiations. Her legal background will be particularly valuable as the district navigates policy decisions, potential budget challenges, and ongoing regionalization discussions that could significantly impact Halifax Elementary School's future structure and funding.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Appoint Jody Goyette as Halifax School Committee member. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (6-0). (Timestamp: 37:50)
Motion: Approve Halifax Teachers Association contract for three years. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (3-0). (Timestamp: 44:48)
Motion: Support appropriate memorial for Mr. Bayramshian pending town approval. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (3-0). (Timestamp: 47:18)
Motion: Accept revised FY25 closeout. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (3-0). (Timestamp: 55:11)
What's Next
The committee will begin budget planning discussions in September with early goal-setting meetings. Open House is scheduled for September 9th. The first day of school is August 27th, with Labor Day September 1st and a teacher in-service day September 2nd. The next school committee meeting is scheduled for October 6, 2025. Staff will continue recruitment efforts for remaining vacant positions including school psychologist, behaviorist, and library media teacher.
editor's note: automated article experiment
corrected the date of the next Annual Town Election