The Manchester Board of School Committee will meet on May 11, 2026. Here’s a look at some of the things they’re expected to discuss.
School start time survey results
The board will hear results from a recent survey on school start times, with 3,101 total responses. Community stakeholders and staff joined parents in the survey, which indicated that they do not oppose the concept of later start times for middle and high schools in the city, even if they are wary of the changes themselves.
Ultimately, the survey indicated that 62% of respondents support the data regarding recommended start times, but 52% supported the proposed changes in start times recommended by district administration. Only 32% of respondents believed that the proposed change would positively impact their household while 48% anticipated a negative impact on their household.
District leaders believe their proposed start time changes will save approximately $600,000.
New policy on videos in classrooms
At the April 22 Board of School Committee Teaching and Learning Committee, a recommendation was given for a proposed policy that would limit the use of videos, DVDs and other visual supplemental electronic resources during school and school-sponsored activities.
These resources would need to be selected for their educational value and have a direct link to instructional learning objectives or approved curriculum and are supposed to be used sparingly. Any of these resources used in high schools would also be listed in course syllabi.
Any movies that are not rated G by the Motion Picture Association of America would require parental permission at the elementary school or middle school levels, and any segments of movies rated R would require parental approval at the high school levels. The showing of any movie rated R is discouraged however and cannot be shown in their entirety.
Graduation requirement update
There was also further discussion at the April 22 Teaching and Learning Committee over updated high school graduation requirements, following discussion earlier this year.
Starting in 2030, the proposal would expand social studies requirements from 2.5 to 4 credits, including a new .5 credit economics requirement. A .5 credit in statistic competency would be added to overall mathematics requirements and an additional credit in overall science requirements in addition to some other modifications.