Good afternoon,
Welcome Back! I hope this Superintendent Update for September 2025 finds you and your loved ones well. As you are aware, throughout September 2025, several events will be taking place within the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District. This month, I wanted to take a moment to highlight a few key pieces of information for the public.
Attendance Matters 2025-2026! You play a key role in supporting your child and preparing them for a successful future. Engaging children in learning so they are equipped and feel empowered for the next steps in life after graduation starts with attending school regularly. Regular school attendance is critical to student success, not just academically, but for social/ emotional health, as well. Excessive school absences not only cause students to fall behind academically but can also cause anxiety issues when returning to school, due to missed lessons and make-up work. Additionally, peer relationships can be negatively affected. Find the 2025-26 School Year Calendar on our website anytime: https://5il.co/3n813 Plan, Show Up, and Achieve #GoPanthers #AttendanceMatters
Enrollment: Our enrollment as a regional school district continues to grow daily, at all levels of the district, from preschool to grade 12. As of this morning, we have 1,512 students enrolled within our district. David Prouty High School has 339 students enrolled; Knox Trail Middle School has 422 students; Wire Village School has 467 students; and East Brookfield Elementary School has 260 student,s including 105 students enrolled for the "Cubs Corner" Preschool!
Personnel: We continue to post for and need paraprofessionals to join our district. As mentioned last month, we are very fortunate to have new personnel joining our faculty and staff this year who are committed to “continuous improvement," remaining positive, and focused upon teaching and learning with purpose – in partnership with our parents/families.
Preschool Update: Currently, we have 105 preschoolers enrolled in our Cubs Corner Preschool program, with an additional ten on a waiting list. Please know as we get further into the new school year, we will do everything we can to accommodate and provide appropriate programming and services to our young people ages 3-5. Thank you.
Student Services Update: The Department of Student Services will be taking part in a Group A Integrated Monitoring Review this school year with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), focused upon special education and English Language Education programs and services.
Special Education Parent Advisory Council Update: The first meeting of the SEBRSD SEPAC will take place virtually on Monday, September 8th, 2025, at 6:00 pm. In Massachusetts, the purpose of a Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is to act as a legally mandated body for parents of students with disabilities to advise the school district on policies, programs, and services for students with disabilities. SEPACs provide a network for parents to share information, support one another, and collaborate with school officials to enhance the educational experience and outcomes for children with special needs. For the Zoom link, please go to the district website front page for additional information. We look forward to seeing everyone online at the meeting.
Cultural Awareness Partnership: The East Brookfield District Court has a newly hired Chief Probation Officer, who has also been a member of the Cultural Awareness committee for years. This year, she would like to host a celebration here at the courthouse and is eager to include artwork from our student body, as well as possibly some music from the Prouty Band. The goal of the event with the district is to promote, celebrate, and raise awareness of the diverse cultures that make up our nation. More information will be made available from school principals in the coming weeks.
MCAS Update: Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) results from the spring 2025 administration will be mailed home to each parent/family and student in October. Please be on the lookout for the assessment results for your son /daughter at that time. More MCAS information will be shared as it becomes available later in September/early October.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) Update: At this time, the communities of Spencer and East Brookfield, MA, are listed as low risk for Eastern Equine Encephalitis or what is commonly known as EEE. Should the local Boards of Health and/or the Massachusetts Department of Public Health determine the risk level to be moderate or critical, we would notify you, the public, of the need to limit outdoor activities after sundown. To learn more about Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in Massachusetts, click here. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/eee-eastern-equine-encephalitis
Student Handbooks at all schools and programs are now posted on the district website. Should you have a question, comment, query or concern regarding the student handbooks, please reach out to the building administrator or program director accordingly. The student handbooks are essential in ensuring effective and efficient policies and procedures for our schools and programs - so that everyone within our regional school district and its schools remains safe, healthy, and focused upon teaching and learning.
Early College Update: David Prouty High School continues to partner with Worcester State this school year in providing high-quality early college programming in English, mathematics, social studies, the sciences, and electives. Should your son or daughter wish to enroll in an Early College course offering through Worcester State and David Prouty High School, please have them make an appointment with their guidance counselor to review the options of courses available through the 2025-2026 school year. Additionally, David Prouty High has earned the “Early College Designation” with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, and the Commonwealth’s Board of Education through the Early College Joint Committee (ECJC) affirmative vote last June 2025.
Athletics Update: Schedules for all sports teams are now posted on the David Prouty High School and Knox Trail Middle School websites.
MSBA Update: Recently, the First Phase of the David Prouty High School Building Project was completed and students returned to classes for opening day with a new facility to attend. Phase Two is the renovation portion of the project, which will overhaul the entire look and feel of what has come to be known as the “A” building, housing our auditorium, cafeteria, offices, and additional classrooms and storage spaces.
The next meeting of the David Prouty High School Building Committee is tentatively planned to take place on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 6:00 pm in the David Prouty HS Criminal Justice Classroom.
DPHS Open House: An “Open House” to the public is planned and will take place for the David Prouty on Tuesday, September 23rd, 202,5, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm - to see firsthand the new construction portion of the project.
As always, I thank you for your continued partnership and support of the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District. Let’s make the 2025-2026 school year one filled with teaching and learning with purpose, growth, and belonging. It begins with each and every one of us working together.
Sincerely yours,
Paul S. Haughey, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District