Sandwich School Committee Unanimously Adopts New GPA Scale for 2025-26

SANDWICH -- April 30, 2025, Sandwich School Committee votes 7-0 to overhaul high school GPA scale starting next fall. The committee unanimously adopted the Massachusetts state college recalculation 4.0 weighted scale for Sandwich Middle High School, effective with the 2025-26 school year, replacing a system Principal Jeanne Nelson said "no one can really remember when it came to be." The new scale leaves college preparatory course weighting unchanged but increases point values for honors and Advanced Placement courses, which Nelson said better reflects the extra rigor those classes demand. The committee also accepted the summative evaluation of Superintendent Dr. Joseph Maruszczak, with five of six members rating him exemplary and one rating him proficient overall; all six rated him exemplary on family and community engagement. Maruszczak separately flagged that a House Ways and Means budget proposal could deliver roughly $324,200 in additional Chapter 70 state aid to Sandwich, funds the district would seek to direct to capital projects through a special fall town meeting. Outgoing member Christine Brown, who chaired the policy subcommittee for two and a half years and completed a review of the district's entire policy manual at Wednesday's meeting, was recognized before the committee adjourned.