Foxborough Schools Replace Grades 1-2 Spanish With STEM Pilot After Failed Teacher Search

FOXBOROUGH — June 24, 2026 — Foxborough School Committee votes to cut elementary Spanish in grades one and two, replacing it with a STEM pilot for 2026-27. The committee voted 5-0 Wednesday to suspend world language instruction for first and second graders at all three elementary schools after five job postings since December 2025 attracted 17 applicants, only four of whom were certified, with the strongest candidates accepting full-time positions in other districts. Taylor Elementary Principal Erik Stanton, presenting his final agenda item before leaving after 14 years, said the district's part-time positions — totaling 2.3 FTE across three buildings — make certified recruitment structurally difficult: "People often see the decisions you made, but not the options you had." Spanish will continue in grades three and four under a 1.5 FTE configuration. The committee also voted 4-0-1 — with one member recusing over a legislative aide conflict — to approve a joint letter to the state budget conference committee with Stoughton, East Bridgewater, and West Bridgewater urging higher special education circuit breaker reimbursement, universal free school meals funding, and retention of the $160 per-pupil minimum aid figure. A prepayment of out-of-district special education tuition not to exceed $361,970.21 was approved unanimously.