ATHOL – Athol-Royalston Regional School District Superintendent Matthew Ehrenworth has presented his goals for the next three years, outlining how progress will be evaluated through 2029.
The School Committee voted to accept the goals at its meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 16, which Ehrenworth said are tied to several of the district’s existing priorities, including its recently adopted three-year strategic plan and Vision of a Graduate.
“The purpose is to establish a clear public plan for measurable progress from 2026 through 2029,” Ehrenworth said.
Ehrenworth’s goals include accelerating student learning through high-quality instruction; strengthening school culture, belonging, and restorative practices; moving the MSBA project forward while expanding future-ready learning opportunities for students; and strengthening communication and community voice.
While these goals will remain the same throughout the next three years, Ehrenworth said the expectations will build over time.
“Year one focuses on launching the structures and establishing honest baselines,” he said. “Year two focuses on consistency and measurable improvement. Year three focuses on sustainability and results.”
Ehrenworth said that after sharing the district’s strategic plan with families, he received questions about how the district would know whether it was making progress. He said the strategic plan and his goal and evaluation framework were designed together.
“This evaluation tool is not necessarily just about me,” Ehrenworth said. “It’s about the progress and the work that the district is doing to accomplish what we say in the strategic plan and make sure that we’re enacting that Vision of a Graduate.”
He explained that progress will be evaluated through changes to district systems, feedback from students, staff and families, and results including student achievement, growth, attendance, behavior, access and project milestones. He said the goals will be formally reviewed at mid-year and annually, while student performance and accountability results will also be presented publicly each October through 2029.
Ehrenworth also provided an update on the district’s MSBA building project for Athol High School. He said the district has narrowed its search for an owner’s project manager to three companies and is hopeful to begin negotiations before submitting recommendation to the MSBA by Oct. 7.
“Things are moving along splendidly,” Ehrenworth said.
Other business
In other business, committee member Mitch Groksy proposed opening Athol Community Elementary School to the public this fall to celebrate the school’s 10th anniversary.
Groksy said he does not think most Athol residents have had an opportunity to fully see the school. He suggested having students lead tours, displaying their work, and cutting an anniversary cake.
“And there’s a bigger reason to do this now, too. We’re heading into a conversation about a new high school,” Groksy said. “And that’s a much easier case to make when people have walked through a beautiful school like ACES and felt what it does for kids.”
Groksy initially suggested holding the celebration within a month, but said six weeks to two months may be more realistic. Committee members discussed a possible late October or early November time frame and voted to refer the proposal to the Public Relations Subcommittee for further planning.
The committee also reorganized its membership, appointing Bill Chiasson to fill an open Athol seat and electing Bobbi Newman as vice chair.
Chiasson, who also serves as chair of the Athol Select Board, joined the committee following the vote. Newman later thanked members for their support and said she was looking forward to working with Chiasson.