Town Government
Lakeville School Committee & Superintendent
The Superintendent
Barbara Starkie, Ed.D.
About 2,589 students start their day in this district, and one person answers for all of it. Dr. Barbara Starkie leads the Freetown-Lakeville Regional School District, proposing the school budget, setting academic priorities, and running a system of five schools day to day. A former principal of Apponequet Regional High School, she stepped in as interim superintendent in 2025 and became permanent superintendent on July 1, 2026. The Superintendent is hired by and reports to the elected School Committee, which carries out an annual evaluation. Because the district is regional, that committee answers to two towns at once: four of its eight seats are Lakeville’s and four are Freetown’s.
| Role | Superintendent of Schools |
|---|---|
| District office | 98 Howland Road, Lakeville, MA 02347 |
| Phone | 508-923-2000 |
| Website | freelake.org |
The School Committee
The Freetown-Lakeville Regional School Committee has eight members serving staggered three-year terms, four filling Lakeville’s seats and four filling Freetown’s. The committee sets district policy, approves the school budget, and hires and evaluates the Superintendent who runs the schools day to day. It meets at Apponequet Regional High School in Lakeville, and the meetings are public, which means a Lakeville student who shows up can speak.
Melinda Marie Richards
Courtney Anne Brightman
Timothy Emery
Jennifer A. Blum
Kathrine Trost
Derek Manuel Medeiros
Recca Cushing
Robert W. Clark
The District at a Glance
- Enrollment: 2,589 students, PreK through 12.
- Schools: five, including Apponequet Regional High School.
- Graduation rate: 96.0%.
- State data: DESE profile (code 06650000).
Meetings & Participation
- When: at Apponequet Regional High School, with agendas posted on the district website.
- Public comment: residents may address the committee with the chair’s permission. Check the agenda for sign-up details.
- Watch: agendas and minutes are posted on the district website.
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