School Committee accepts music and guidance reviews, authorizes potential French section

WESTON — May 20, 2024 — Berklee reviewer calls Weston a top music community but flags facilities and seventh-course pressures. Reagan Peros, an associate professor at Berklee College of Music who chaired the external music review, told the School Committee on May 20 that Weston's selection by the National Association of Music Merchants was "abundantly clear" but warned that low chorus-room ceilings are "deleterious" to musicians' hearing and that schedule flexibility allowing students to take both AP courses and music "should be preserved at all costs." Director of Finance Steve projected a $2.1 million year-end surplus and won unanimous approval for roughly $1.27 million in line-item transfers, mostly within salary accounts, plus a contingent 0.25 FTE French Intermediate 1 section at about $25,000. Scheduling administrator Marla reported 32 seniors — 19 percent — are requesting seven academic courses; the committee signaled support for a six-first priority rule to be written into the fall Program of Studies. The Cartwheel telehealth partnership is running at 78 to 85 percent utilization.