SCITUATE - January 5, 2026 - Scituate High School students will soon have access to a wider array of dual-enrollment courses, allowing them to earn college credits at a fraction of the university cost, following updates presented to the School Committee Monday night.
The Full Story
The Committee reviewed the 2026-2027 Program of Studies, which features a significant expansion of the dual-enrollment partnership with Quincy College. Department Chair of School Counseling Tammy Rundle outlined the new offerings, which now include honors-level Anatomy and Physiology, Physics, Chemistry, “Shark Tank” Marketing, Advanced Journalism, Pre-Calculus, and Investing & Personal Finance.
Students taking these courses at Scituate High School can opt to pay a fee—estimated around $200 to $350—to receive transferable college credits upon completion. Interim Superintendent Dr. Thomas Raab highlighted the financial impact for families, noting the cost is “absolutely a differentiator” compared to standard tuition.
“It’s a phenomenal value,” Dr. Raab said. “It’s a win for the district... [and] absolute differentiator on a college application.”
In other major news, Dr. Raab provided a promising update on the Cushing / Hatherly Elementary School building project. Despite winter conditions, the foundation work is nearing completion, with steel erection scheduled to begin in two weeks.
“Everything’s moving on time, under budget, and probably faster,” Dr. Raab told the Committee. He announced that a “topping off” ceremony, where community members can sign the final steel beam, is targeted for early March.
“Everything’s moving on time, under budget, and probably faster.” — Dr. Thomas Raab, Interim Superintendent of Schools [31:22]
The Committee also heard from Michael Losche, Executive Director of the South Shore Educational Collaborative (SSEC). Loch requested—and the Committee approved—the creation of a Capital Reserve Fund for the collaborative. This fund allows SSEC to save surplus tuition revenue (capped at $4 million) for future large-scale projects or facility acquisitions, ensuring stability for the special education services it provides to the district.
Why It Matters
For parents of high schoolers, the expanded dual-enrollment program offers a direct way to lower the future cost of higher education, potentially saving families thousands of dollars in tuition fees. Meanwhile, the assurance that the massive Cushing / Hatherly building project remains “on time and under budget” provides relief to taxpayers concerned about cost overruns or construction delays often associated with municipal capital projects.
Official Minutes & Data
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To approve the School Committee minutes from December 22, 2025.
Vote: All in favor [03:56]
Motion: To approve the Quebec City Field Trip for French students, scheduled for May 14–16, 2026.
Vote: All in favor [06:04]
Motion: To approve the creation of a Capital Reserve Account at the South Shore Educational Collaborative (SSEC).
Vote: All in favor [14:10]
Financial Warrants
The Committee read the following warrants into the record:
$594,076.88 (dated Aug 21, 2025)
$139,218.30 (dated Dec 4, 2025)
$5,014,306.95 (dated Dec 18, 2025) – Note: Over $4.5 million of this total was dedicated to the new school building project. [44:27]
Public Comment
No members of the public appeared in person or remotely to offer comment. [00:20]
What’s Next
Cushing School Project: Steel construction begins in approx. 2 weeks; Topping Off ceremony planned for early March.
Program of Studies: The Committee completed the first reading; a final vote on the Program of Studies will occur at a future meeting.