Maynard School Committee Approves Orlando Band Trip and Quebec French Excursion

MAYNARD -- October 23, 2025, Maynard School Committee approves two student trips and hears warnings about fiscal year 2027 budget pressure. The committee unanimously approved the Maynard High School band and chorus trip to Orlando, Florida, April 15-19, 2027, at an estimated cost of $2,000 per student, with scholarship funds available through a pay-it-forward program; a French cultural trip to Quebec City, February 6-9, 2026, costing approximately $1,100 per student in partnership with Ashland High School's French program, passed four to one. Finance Director Wayne White, presenting the fifth consecutive on-budget year-end report, warned that school choice revenue has fallen from roughly $60,000 per month to about $5,000 to $6,000, and said FY27 could bring "tough conversations" given an unresolved structural deficit and an upcoming teacher contract. Technology Director John Helie introduced the district's new Arctic Wolf cybersecurity monitoring contract and flagged an unmet need for a formal device refresh budget and staff cybersecurity training program still pending full implementation.