Athol-Royalston Schools Reopen Athol Seat Search Over Posting Flaw

School Committee · Meeting of August 19, 2026

Athol-Royalston School Committee reopens the vacant Athol seat search after a posting error. The panel re-elected Tammy Duquette as chair and unanimously adopted a three-year strategic plan built on the district's "vision of a graduate," with Superintendent Matt promising a companion accountability framework in September. Sole Athol-seat applicant Bill Chasen, a 33-year district veteran, will need to reapply because the original posting lacked a required reply-by date; a new September 1 deadline was set.

Business Manager Nancy projected a $525,000 fiscal 2026 surplus and reported a clean fiscal 2025 audit "with no findings." Members also approved a $5,250-monthly retainer with Dupree Law Offices, accepted a $2,000 Valuing Our Children donation for the food pantry, and confirmed 53 district staff are safety-care trained after a Department of Labor Standards inspection found the district "in good standing." The Royalston seat remains technically filled: Kylie Hall has not submitted a resignation despite weeks of outreach.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,909 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of August 19, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.