The Southbridge School Committee on Jan. 14 announced two recent resignations and detailed progress under the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) plan to build committee capacity.

Chair Martina Shay told the committee that John Shaw submitted a letter of resignation effective Jan. 2 and Cathy LaPriore submitted her resignation Jan. 13. Shay said both were thanked “for their service” and the committee will hold a special joint meeting with the town council on Feb. 3 to appoint two members to fill the vacant seats; letters of interest are due to the town manager’s office by Jan. 30.

The committee said it is forming an operating‑protocols ad hoc subcommittee to draft rules for committee governance. Shay announced that Carla Veil Cruz Davila will chair that ad hoc, with Brittany Davison and Frank Katzinski as members. Committee members described recent norm‑setting training led by Tracy Novick of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and said the goal is to present an operating‑protocols document for a future committee vote.

On routine business, the committee approved the Dec. 10, 2024 meeting minutes as adjusted. The chair announced, “So we have 4 yeas and 1 abstention. The approval passes.” The record shows one member stated on the record, “I abstain. It wasn't at the meeting.” The committee did not identify the mover and seconder on the record in the minutes discussion.

Members described other recent work tied to the DESE plan: multiple training sessions, school visits (middle school and others), regular biweekly meetings with district officials and meetings with town council leadership to demonstrate collaborative governance. Committee members said they have increased meeting frequency from roughly quarterly to biweekly as part of the capacity‑building effort.

The committee also discussed scheduling a regular meeting on Feb. 11 and proposed beginning that meeting at 5:30 p.m. so the body can conduct Chapter 70 (school finance) training during the regular meeting; the chair said the 5:30 start time is proposed and will be posted once confirmed.