ROCKLAND - March 23, 2026 - The Rockland School Committee received an enthusiastic presentation on the Phelps Elementary School “House System,” a major cultural initiative designed to build cross-grade mentorship and student-adult trust. During the meeting, the Committee also finalized the 2026-2027 district calendar and approved a 50-cent hourly rate increase for the town’s summer program to meet rising operational costs.
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The Full Story
Principal Michelle Scheufele, accompanied by physical education teachers Marcia Beatty and Mike Leavitt, presented the ongoing success of the Phelps Elementary House System [22:28]. Now in its second year, the program divides the school’s 650 students and 100 staff members into five distinct “houses”—Harmony, Honor, Radiance, Unity, and Valor [23:28]. The goal of the system is to create a smaller, more tight-knit community within the large elementary school, ensuring every student has multiple trusted adults they can turn to across different grade levels [23:14].
The program utilizes healthy competition and community service to engage students. Scheufele highlighted a recent coat drive that collected over 300 items for charity, earning the school $1,500 in prize money for new recess equipment [24:43]. Students shared their personal highlights, noting that “house lunches” allow them to sit with and learn from peers in other grades they wouldn’t normally interact with [33:04].
“We wanted to promote cross-grade level gatherings and also competition—healthy competition—among our students and staff. In addition, we wanted every child to have more than one trusted adult, because in a big school, that’s one of the challenges.” [23:05] — Michelle Scheufele, Principal of Phelps Elementary School
In administrative business, the Committee held the second reading and approval of the 2026-2027 District Calendar [38:12]. A key adjustment was made to November 2026; the Committee voted to remove a scheduled half-day on November 5th and instead designate November 3rd (Election Day) as a full Professional Development day for staff [38:29]. This move is intended to assist parents by streamlining child care needs during the election week [38:42]. Notably, the school year is slated for a September start, which members described as a rare shift providing a longer August break for families [39:11].
The Committee also approved the 2026 Summer Program Handbook, which includes a rate increase to $9.50 per hour—up from $9.00 [41:48]. Members noted that despite the 50-cent increase, the program remains highly competitive and “reachable” for local parents compared to private camp alternatives [42:06].
Finally, the meeting celebrated recent financial wins from student-led fundraisers [37:10]. The Rockland High School (RHS) Boys Basketball team successfully raised over $3,300 through an online campaign, while the Class of 2026 and the Key Club also reported net profits from recent bake sales and tournaments [37:38].
Why It Matters
The expansion of the House System at Phelps represents a significant investment in social-emotional learning and school safety by fostering stronger bonds between older and younger students. For parents, the calendar adjustments and the summer program rate hike have direct financial and scheduling impacts; the Committee’s effort to consolidate “no-school” days during election week demonstrates a responsive approach to the childcare challenges faced by working families.
Official Minutes & Data
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To approve the minutes for the meeting of March 9th [20:52].
Vote: Unanimous ([21:00])
Motion: To approve 15 Department Head monthly reports [21:33].
Vote: Unanimous ([22:08])
Motion: To approve the 2026-2027 District Calendar with the removal of the November 5th PD day [39:35].
Vote: Unanimous ([40:06])
Motion: To approve the 2026 Summer Program Handbook and rate increase [40:17].
Vote: Unanimous ([42:20])
Motion: To approve new fundraisers for RHS Softball and Rockland Daycare [42:46].
Vote: Unanimous ([43:18])
Public Comment
No residents came forward during the “Audience” portion of the meeting [21:00].
What’s Next
RHS Drama Performance: The high school will perform Guys and Dolls this coming Friday and Saturday [44:18].
Scholarships: Senior scholarship packets are due to the guidance office no later than April 9th at 3:00 p.m. [43:58].
Special Education Meeting: The Rockland SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) will hold a virtual meeting on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. [44:35].
Source Video: WRPS Rockland