Dover School Committee Adds Two Classroom Sections as Enrollment Outruns Projections

SHERBORN — June 2, 2026 — Dover School Committee reorganizes, adds two classroom sections to absorb unexpected enrollment growth. Meeting June 2 at the Dover Middle School Library, the committee elected Jessie Holt as chair and Kate Cook as secretary before hearing from Superintendent Nicole McCoy that second- and third-grade enrollment at Chickering Elementary has reached or nearly reached the district's 66-student-per-grade cap — with one grade rising by five students between the May and June meetings alone. McCoy announced the addition of one second-grade and one third-grade section, plus an educational assistant in first grade, all funded by redirecting existing budget dollars without a formal vote. The district's chief financial officer reported the town of Dover has agreed to let the regional district retain approximately $437,000 in circuit breaker funds as a special-education reserve, reducing the amount transferred back to town beginning in fiscal year 2027. McCoy also described a six-phase study, launched in early June, to examine how to better support teachers and students amid rising student complexity, with recommendations due to both the Dover and Sherborn school committees by early October.