Manchester-Essex Regional School District School Committee Meeting | September 1, 2026

The Manchester-Essex Regional School District School Committee meeting on September 1, 2026, approved a one-season cooperative hockey program, with Manchester-Essex providing administrative leadership and the program remaining at Talbot rink for the coming season. The estimated operating cost is about $70,000, planned to be covered by $650 athlete fees, approximately $15,000 in home-game gate revenue, $20,000 from participating districts, and $15,000 in fundraising. The pilot requires at least 10 Manchester-Essex student-athletes (13 were anticipated), is expected to be cost-neutral to the district, and will be reviewed after the season. The committee also approved exploring a shared team identity and unanimously extended Superintendent Pam’s contract through June 2028; no contract value was stated.

The committee received an update on the Essex Elementary building project: design work and facade options are under review, with updated cost estimates expected, and town meeting and funding-vote dates were tentatively identified for November 16 and December 10. The superintendent also reported that Dord’s Garage is replacing Salter as the district’s bus company; no contract amount was provided. No cell-phone policy change or building-project funding approval was made at this meeting.