Welcome back!
I hope each of you had a restful and rejuvenating holiday break. As we begin the new year, I am grateful for your continued dedication to our students, schools, and community. The start of a new year brings fresh opportunities to build on our successes and tackle new challenges with the same passion and commitment that have defined this district.
As we step into 2026, let’s remember the importance of collaboration, innovation, and support for one another. This year, we will continue to prioritize the well-being of our students and staff, ensure an engaging and enriching educational experience for all, and strengthen the partnerships that make our district such a special place.
Enrollment: Our enrollment as a regional school district has increased by more than 9 students since our last update, and the number keeps climbing! As of this morning, we have 1479 students enrolled within our district. David Prouty High School has 322 students enrolled; Knox Trail Middle School has 406 students; Wire Village School has 462 students; and East Brookfield Elementary School has 267 students, including 114 students enrolled for the "Cubs Corner" Preschool!
Personnel: At this time, all positions with the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District are filled. Please check for any opportunities that arise in the months ahead by going to: https://www.schoolspring.com.
"Cubs Corner" Preschool Registration coming up in February 2026! As we enter the ne w year, we understand that our "Cubs Corner" Preschool is a high-quality program serving the needs of 3-5-year-olds, and people want to register as soon as possible. Please note that we open registration in February each year.
Graduation Requirements within the Commonwealth: Before the winter recess, in early December, Governor Healey’s Statewide K-12 Graduation Council presented a report and recommendations about a proposed set of new requirements for students in Massachusetts public high schools to earn a diploma. Mary Bourque, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, issued the following statement:
“We are grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for their leadership and to the Graduation Council for the time, expertise, and care they invested to develop these recommendations. M.A.S.S. continues to believe it is critical for Massachusetts to have a statewide standard for students to earn a high school diploma. We also believe that the number and scope of new requirements must be manageable for students, families, educators, and administrators, and that full consideration be given to the resources necessary to implement these new measures.
“In the weeks ahead, we look forward to engaging with Superintendents across the Commonwealth to gather their perspectives and suggestions about the Council’s preliminary recommendations, in pursuit of final recommendations that uphold our commitment to excellence and equity for every student.”
- Mary M. Bourque, Ed.D.
Executive Director, M.A.S.S.
Read more about the report and recommendations.
As the Superintendent of Schools for the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District, I want to assure our parents, families, and students that we are engaged in this process and providing input and feedback along the way so that our David Prouty High School students are well represented in this work on graduation requirements across the Commonwealth.
Public Release of 2025-2026 Student Enrollment Data: Over the next two weeks, the Department plans to release student enrollment data for the 2025-2026 school year. Data will be published in the first couple of weeks of this month for public review.
Green School Works Funding: The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) is accepting proposals for projects that improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and/or mitigate the impacts of climate change at public K-12 schools. While all proposals will be considered, this year's focus is on ground-source heat pumps. Awards can range from $50,000 to $5 million. The deadline to complete the FY26 Green School Works program application is Friday, February 13.
MSBA Update: Module 7 Construction continues to progress forward with the building “A” renovations, and is taking shape well. Given the recent events prior to the Winter Recess, the high school was cleared to reopen its doors and occupy the new portion of the facility for safe operation on Friday, January 2nd, 2026. We reopened our schoolhouse doors on Monday, January 5th, 2026, successfully and without much fanfare - and even hosted our first Girls Varsity Basketball home game versus West Boylston HS in the evening.
Special thanks to everyone involved during this difficult and challenging time before the holidays, as we worked to reopen our high school safely. It is appreciated.
IMPORTANT: David Prouty High School will need to make up the school days missed prior to the winter recess. As soon as we have the makeup days identified, I will share that information with you, so everyone may plan accordingly.
The next scheduled School Building Committee meeting is Thursday, January 15, 202,6, at 6:00 p.m.
Upcoming Events in January!
Finally, we have many exciting activities taking place throughout our learning community to begin the new year in the month of January 2026!
• Event: School Committee Meeting (Tue, January 13, 6:00 PM)
• Event: School Building Committee Meeting (Thurs, January 15, 6:00 PM)
• Event: School Closed – Holiday: Martin Luther King Jr Day (Mon, January 19)
• Event: School Closed - Professional Development Day for Grades PreK-12 (Fri, January 29)
We invite you to visit our website for the district calendar, school websites for all school and district event information, and athletics for all sports-related information. Our students work hard; we hope you join us on the sidelines or in the audience to cheer them on as they showcase their talents.
As a reminder, we have information on our website regarding Winter Weather Cancellations. Living in New England can sometimes lead to unexpected and challenging weather changes. Please prepare as much as possible for these events.
Finally, school attendance is one of the most important factors in student success. Every day in the classroom is an opportunity to learn, grow, and build new skills that last a lifetime. When students miss school, they miss valuable lessons, friendships, and experiences that help shape their future. Parents, caregivers, and students: let’s prioritize attendance and ensure we’re setting every student up for success!
I am excited about the new year’s opportunities, and I look forward to working with each of you to make the second half of the school year a success. Together, we will continue to foster a positive, inclusive, and inspiring learning environment for all students.
Wishing you all a smooth and successful start to the new year. Let’s make it a great one! And as always, thank you for your partnership and support of the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District! #Innovate #Inspire #Achieve
Sincerely yours,
Paul S. Haughey, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools