SCITUATE - December 8, 2025 - In a decisive move following the statewide passage of Question 2, the Scituate School Committee voted to formally replace the MCAS graduation requirement with a new local competency policy. Under the new rules, students must now pass relevant high school coursework with a grade of 60 or higher to receive a diploma. The meeting also marked the announcement of the impending retirement of Dr. Michele Boebert, the district’s Director of Special Education.
The Full Story
The landscape of high school graduation in Massachusetts is shifting, and Scituate is adapting its policies to match. Following the voter-approved removal of the MCAS exam as a statewide graduation requirement (Question 2), the School Committee approved a new “Competency Determination” policy (Policy IKG) on Monday night.
Interim Superintendent Dr. Thomas Raab explained that while the MCAS exams will still be administered for diagnostic purposes, they no longer stand between a student and their diploma. Instead, the state now requires districts to certify “competency” through local coursework.
“To graduate from high school in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, students have to achieve the competency determination,” Raab said. “With the passage of Question 2, it removed the MCAS as the competency determination requirement... so then all districts were basically compelled to come up with the competency determination criteria.”
The new policy mandates that students successfully complete courses in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. During the discussion, Chair Nicole Brandolini advocated for explicit clarity in the policy language, ensuring parents and students understand exactly what “passing” means.
“I actually wasn’t 100% sure what a passing grade meant... and I think for us to define that in this document would be helpful,” Brandolini said. “I think it should just say passing grade 60 or above.” [10:06]
The Committee unanimously agreed to insert the “60 or above” standard directly into the policy text before approving it.
Brandolini also shared insights from a recent meeting with the statewide graduation council and Governor Maura Healey, noting that the state is currently “Reimagining High School.” Future requirements could potentially include portfolios, financial literacy courses, or civic action projects, though those changes are likely years away.
Special Education Leadership Change The district will soon be searching for a new leader for its most complex department. Director of Special Education Dr. Michele Boebert has announced she will retire at the end of May 2025 after six years in the role.
The Committee reviewed and approved an updated job description for her successor. The new description, refined with Boebert’s input, explicitly highlights the director’s oversight of the Early Childhood program and grants management.
Vice Chair Maria Fenwick praised Boebert’s tenure, specifically highlighting her skill in making complex data accessible to families.
“Dr. Boebert does such a good job of communicating and translating data... It’s one thing to come to a meeting, but it’s another thing to be able to converse with folks who don’t know the special ed world.” — Maria Fenwick [37:18]
Interim Director of Business and Finance Irene Houle stated the district aims to post the position immediately and begin the interview process in February.
Model UN Expands The popular Model UN program at Scituate High School is facing a “good problem”: it is too popular. Advisors reported that they had to turn away nearly half of the interested students for recent travel trips due to capacity limits.
To address this, the Committee approved a new overnight field trip to a “beginner-friendly” conference at the Boston Marriott Copley Place from February 6-8, 2026. The trip is designed to build a “feeder program,” allowing 40-45 newer delegates to gain experience without the pressure of a varsity-level competition. The cost will be approximately $350 per student.
Golf Simulators and Summer Slide During the acceptance of donations, the Committee discussed a $14,000 gift from the SHORE organization for a golf simulator. While some members questioned the logistics, it was clarified that the equipment would be owned by the district and used for physical education classes, not just the golf team.
In the Teaching and Learning report, Assistant Superintendent Ryan Lynch presented fall benchmark data. The results showed strong growth in middle school math using the new STAR assessment. However, members expressed concern about the “summer slide”—the loss of academic skills over the break—and the lack of a formal writing benchmark.
“I just know that when we looked at our MCAS data across the district, writing was an area of concern and it’s not assessed on STAR... I just don’t want it to get forgotten.” — Maria Fenwick [01:09:56]
Why It Matters
For high school families, the policy change on graduation requirements removes a significant source of anxiety (MCAS high-stakes testing) but places renewed emphasis on classroom performance. A grade of D- (60) is now the literal floor for earning a diploma.
For the wider community, the retirement of the Special Education Director signals a critical transition. This role manages millions in budget and serves the district’s most vulnerable population; the choice of a successor will be a key decision for 2026.
Official Minutes & Data
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To approve Policy IKG (Competency Determination) as amended (defining passing as 60+).
Moved By: [Speaker Unidentified]
Outcome: Passed Unanimously
Vote: [17:03]
Motion: To accept the in-state field trip for Model UN to Boston Marriott Copley (Feb 6-8, 2026).
Moved By: [Speaker Unidentified]
Outcome: Passed Unanimously
Vote: [32:30]
Motion: To approve the Director of Special Education Job Description.
Moved By: [Speaker Unidentified]
Outcome: Passed Unanimously
Vote: [39:23]
Motion: To approve the SHORE consent agenda (Donations), including the golf simulator.
Moved By: [Speaker Unidentified]
Outcome: Passed Unanimously
Vote: [01:38:41]
Public Comment
Summary: Chair Brandolini opened the floor for public comment at 6:02 PM. No members of the public appeared in person or remotely to speak.
What’s Next
Redistricting Forum: A virtual community forum on school redistricting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9, at 6:00 PM via Zoom. A new feedback website will launch concurrently.
Hiring: The search for a new Special Education Director will begin in February.
Budget: The next quarterly financial report will be presented in January.
*editor’s note: thanks for reading “AI-Generated local news reports” members of the Scituate School Committee
Shore is SHORE, a non profit that raises funds to fulfill educational grant requests from staff and students.
Corrected Shore to SHORE