School Committee:

From 1733-1784 a school committee consisting of three members was elected for a term of one year annually. In the years 1785 and 1787 there were five members, although in 1786 there were only three. From 1788 to 1820 the committee consisted of four members, and from 1793 to the latter year each committee was elected from either the “East End”, “Center”, “West End”, or “Southside”. From 1821 to present it has ranged between three and five members. From 1828 to 1859 a second committee, known as the “Prudential School Committee”, or “District School Committee” was elected and managed the business and financial affairs of the schools of the town. A membership of four elected annually from 1828 to 1836 was increased to six from 1838 to 1850, while from 1851 to 1859 the committee was composed of seven members corresponding with the number of school districts or wards within the town. In order to distinguish the academic from the prudential or district school committee, the former was referred to as the “Standing”, Examining”, or “Superintending School Committee. Until 1858, members of the “Standing” or regular school committee were elected annually for a one year term. After 1859, by virtue of Chapter 270 of the Acts of 1857 (section 2), one third of the committee, or one member, were elected annually for a three year term, although occasionally there have been minor departures from this practice.