Committee redirects MASC funds to send Tyznik

School Committee · Meeting of October 21, 2026

SOUTHBRIDGE — The School Committee heard a continued state receiver's turnaround report and a districtwide data-security briefing. The receiver said Southbridge Middle School stayed out of the state's "requiring assistance" category for a second straight year, climbing from the first percentile in 2019 to the 21st, while 10th grade MCAS participation fell below the state's 95 percent requirement. Executive Director of Human Resources, Finance and Operations Joel LaBarbera detailed vendor security contracts covering Google, Aspen, Munis, Amplify and ParentSquare, saying "all of our data is constantly scrambled." A business office staffer reported October 1 enrollment at 1,830 students and a $5,392 available balance in the committee's own budget line.

Members voted 6-0 by roll call to approve a backlog of prior minutes and voted unanimously to redirect unused MASC conference funds to send member Norma Tyznik to a conference in Georgia.

In the full story:

• Roll Call and Minutes Backlog
• Student Data Privacy and Security Briefing
• MASC Delegation Funds Reallocated for Member Travel
• Receiver's District Accountability and Turnaround Presentation
• Finance and Facilities: Budget Report and Capital Needs
• Subcommittee and Member Updates
• Tabling of Committee Goals and Discussion, and Adjournment
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,734 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of October 21, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.