School Committee Hears Mental Health Survey Results

School Committee · Meeting of October 14, 2026

Marshfield School Committee heard a Boston University survey naming mental health as the district's top concern. Director of Nursing Colleen Gatles presented results from 353 respondents, the largest response Boston University's program had recorded, showing 86.6 percent cited mental health and emotional well-being, with nearly half unsure how to quickly find help. The district plans a new resource newsletter and expanded partnership with JPH.

Separately, the committee reappointed Richard Greer as its MASC convention delegate and Lauren Dargan as alternate, with Chair Sean Costello abstaining from every MASC vote because he works as one of the group's three statehouse lobbyists: "I'm going to abstain from any votes that are made here tonight." Assistant Superintendent Dr. Martin reported MCAS scores dipped in ELA and that roughly 30 middle schoolers whose families refused the test count as "zeros in the book" for state accountability.

In the full story:

• Spotlight on Excellence: Early Childhood Outreach
• Community Health Needs Assessment
• South Shore Educational Collaborative Update
• MASC Delegate Assembly and Resolutions
• Minutes
• Superintendent's Update
• MCAS Results and District Assessment Strategy
• Special Education and Policy Updates
• Finance and Budget
• Subcommittee Reports
• Adjournment
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,600 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of October 14, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.