School Committee Adopts New Reading Curriculum
Middleborough's School Committee voted unanimously to adopt HMH Into Reading as its K-5 literacy curriculum despite pushback over cost.
School Committee · Meeting of May 14, 2026
Middleborough's School Committee voted unanimously to adopt HMH Into Reading as its K-5 literacy curriculum despite pushback over cost. The subcommittee, which included members Christopher Benson and Susan Pennini, recommended the $160,000 program after two April review sessions; a state PRISM grant could return about $132,000 for grades K-3 if awarded, though the outcome won't be known before the money is committed. First grade teacher Alexis Burrows warned that mandated pacing would cut into small-group instruction and said roughly $200,000 could instead save several teaching jobs.
Parent Jeanette Barrett said she didn't want "my teacher focusing on... a program she learned three days ago." Members Leah Machado and Sean Mokeler moved and seconded the motion. Full implementation is planned for 2027-28. The committee also approved a roughly $2,000, 300-item book donation from the Elks Lodge.
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Source: the School Committee meeting of May 14, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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