Taunton School Committee..October 21st, 2026

The Taunton School Committee’s second regular October meeting was held October 21, 2026. The committee approved, by a 6–2 roll-call vote, authorizing the superintendent to spend up to $45,000 to purchase a van for the Taunton Alternative High School’s emerging work-based learning program. The superintendent said the purchase would use the state contract through Combies, after obtaining three quotes ranging from about $44,000 to $85,000. A potential $75,000 earmark from Bristol County Savings Bank could support the alternative school’s broader improvements, including a maker space; the superintendent said it could be used for the van if the committee did not wish to use appropriated funds. Members discussed the vehicle’s intended use for transporting students to work sites, the need for staffing, and whether the purchase was justified during the program’s pilot phase.