Okay. Good evening and welcome. This is the March 23rd, 2026 meeting of the school committee. Call the meeting to order 524. This meeting is being both audio and video recorded. I would ask that everybody please rise for the pledge of allegiance.
>> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Okay, roll call. Samantha, if you start, please.
>> Velasquez, secretary. >> Pamela Player, assistant superintendent for business. >> Antiella schools. Gregory Thompson. >> Amy Delento. >> William Strawther. >> Carrie Derowski. Heather Brown, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning.
>> Okay, we have minutes for approval. I would take someone to move to ex >> I move to approve the March 9th 2026 executive session meeting minutes made by Anton second >> second by William discussion all in
favor say I >> I >> I those opposed nay that carries 5 to zero and one more please >> the March 9th 2026 regular session meeting minutes >> made by second by willing discussion all in favor say I
>> I those opposed nay 520 as well. Committee and subcommittee committee speech. Harry, would you like to start tonight? >> Uh, we had our corporation meeting for LPVC last Wednesday where they we voted
in the new leadership. Um, and that was pretty much it. We didn't really have any items to discuss. >> Cool. Great. Thank you. We have nothing to report. Okay. Amy, >> uh, we started a pair of professional negotiations.
>> Oh, fantastic. Great. Uh, the other thing I would just mention is April 11th from 3:00 to 5:00, we are having an open house here at the existing high school. Um, if folks would like to come any time within that window uh, to see the building one more time.
>> At what time? >> 3 to 5, 3 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Again, that's April 11th here at the existing high school at the front door. I think we get name tags or something if people want to put their names and like uh year graduated. Yeah. >> That way when you're walking down the
hall, you can check out other people and stuff. >> And anyone is welcome to to attend from the school committee. We'll have members of the building committee there to help facilitate uh anybody's available. And actually the historical commission asked to come in an hour ahead of this and they're going
to tour the building and see if there's anything that they'd like to keep in the historical uh room over in the library. So, they're going to look through the building. >> Okay. >> I just could maybe you Heather might want to make the announcement. I couldn't make the last meeting about the community resource fair on Wednesday.
>> I'm happy to do it. We have a community resource fair, our first annual one at Birchland Park Middle School this Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00. Uh we'll have some uh presenters and a lot of different tables with information about
community resources and there'll be food and child care. >> Oh, child care. >> What time is it? >> 6 to 8. >> Oh, and raffle prizes. >> Oh, door prizes. >> Thank you. That's >> Here's a door for you and a door for
you. >> Off the high school. Don't offer. People have been asking. >> People have been asking. >> Don't offer. >> It's Thursday. >> Wednesday. It's Wednesday 6 to 8. >> Wednesday the 25th. >> It's on the bottom. Upcoming dates.
>> Oh, it is right there. Okay. Thank you all for that uh opportunity for visitors address the committee. Seeing none, we will move right along. We have 5.2.1 2.1 assistant superintendent for business report school committee acceptance of grant
increase. >> Yes. So in your packet um you'll see that I have listed the amounts there. Um at least once each year uh department of elementary and secondary ed must adjust district allocations. Uh they are required to redistribute any funds that districts forfeited or funds that were
allocated to districts but went unclaimed. So, as a result, um, we have an increase of $342 for the FY26 Title One grant. The new amount is $318,717. The FY26 Title 2 grant has increased by
$518 to a new total of $52,616. So, again, this is just to be extremely transparent and make sure that the school committee accepts officially accepts those uh those funds. >> Excellent. Thank you, Pam. I would entertain someone to move to accept the
two uh specific grants and the uh new total dollar amount, please. >> I move to accept. You want me to read each of these? >> Just year 26 title one grant >> for the total amount >> increased by $342 to a new total of
$318,717. and the fiscal year title 2 grant increased by $518 to a new total of $52,616. >> Excellent. Motion made by Anton. >> Second. >> Second by Willie. >> Say I.
>> I move on to the next thing. Add um uh we have a timely issue. We have a memorandum of understanding from unit A uh that we'd like to um was recently accepted by the union on Friday and we'd
like to add it to tonight's agenda so that we can accept it or approve it and uh include it in our budget u presentation or um proposal. So if I could have a uh someone to move to add 6.3 uh the memorandum of understanding
to add item number 6.3 theou with the union to the agenda. >> Excellent. That motion made by Amy. >> Second. >> Second by antella discussion. All in favor say I. >> I. Those opposing nay. It carries 5 to zero. Thank you. Okay. Back on track
5.2. Uh we have a $1,000 grant from the Allstate Foundation for Youthled Projects. >> This was um exciting. This is actually uh National Honor Society student Sami Awan. Samyia, I hope that I pronounced your name correctly. Uh was made aware
of an NHS National Honor Society service grant opportunity for students leading community projects. Um, she submitted her project called Discovering STEM Sparks, which is a program Samya founded at the East Public Library at the end of her sophomore year to help kids,
especially those from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, discover their passion for STEM through hands-on, engaging activities. So far, she's hosted monthly sessions for over 80 children, introducing them to coding, robotics, and science experiments in a fun, creative way. Um, she also
organized a STEM donation drive at East Long Meadow High School, collecting supplies to help expand the program and make STEM learning more accessible. She partnered with Humanity First to use some of those donated materials to create and send STEM kits to schools in Tanzania so students there can benefit
from similar learning um, opportunities. Her goal is to expand Discovering STEM Sparks into more local libraries and schools. Uh, but uh, but the cost of materials and shipping has been a challenge. So, this $1,000 grant is going to um help her do that, which is really great. And uh they did reach out
to uh Carara, the National Honor Society advisor, and said that, you know, your student SAN has been selected to receive the NASSP student service grant this year. Their project stood out for its creativity, impact, and dedication to serving the school community. So, congratulations to
her. And this is under the U. National Honor Society under student activities. But before they can expend it, school committee needed to officially accept this grant. >> Uh do we have to say where it's going, Pam? >> Uh it's for the supplies and materials uh
>> account >> as as exactly as stated in this proposal application. >> Is that a high schoolbased account or not necessarily >> student activity account? the funds will be deposited into the honor society um account which is one of the sub accounts
under uh student activity accounts at the high school. >> Okay. >> I did reach out to the outside auditors to make sure that a it could be deposited there that I didn't need it to be set up in a separate account and b that you did need to approve it, you know, accept it and both of those are >> so part of that acceptance is putting in
the honor societ account. Okay. >> And that's where it will be expended and they're creating the the list of um items right now. I just didn't have that. She didn't have it organized enough to for me to bring it forward to you. >> Okay. Questions. Uh, someone wants to move to accept,
please. >> Move to accept the $1,000 grant from the Allstate Foundation for youthled projects to put into the supplies and materials account under the student activity account for NHS. >> Yeah, good. That's good enough. Good.
>> All right. Motion made by Anel, second by Will. All in favor say I. Or discussion. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppos? Nay. That carries five to zero. >> Great. We'll get that deposited so she can spend the funds. Thank you.
>> Okay, moving right along to 6.1 fiscal year 2027 budget development discussion. And a lot of this we've discussed in a previous um we are sticking with the 3% uh increase over last year or this current year's budget uh that we called the
level two budget submission. Uh it will require some um uh reduction of positions. We're hoping to accomplish this through mostly uh attrition. There will be some moving around potentially of uh some staff but
um as I said most mostly through attrition. >> Correct. >> Anything else we want to say about that tonight? >> No. The um the level uh two budget uh with the 3% increase from this current year's budget to next year's budget has
been submitted to the town. Um I believe that's going forward in the town manager's recommendation and draft budget to the town council. So, uh, the process will begin to shift from town manager to town council reviewing that
draft. Um, and that will be predominantly in the month of April. Um, so that could be the um financial oversight committee looking at at the budget and so forth as they uh discuss the draft budget from the town manager.
>> And that is on the town council um agenda for tomorrow night. Uh the FY27 uh draft budget. So, we'll keep an eye on that. Okay, good on that one. Great. Thank you. Up next, we have 6.2
superintendent midcycle formative self assessment. So, this as you know um has been uh in the packet for a couple couple meetings. Um I don't know if people have questions. the in the shared folder.
There are also um separate evidence folders for each of the standards of the four standards. I'm happy to answer questions. Um I think you just have to formally accept it in some way or alter it and accept it in some way. Um
so that we move from the midcycle towards the summitive towards the end of the year. >> Questions, discussion? I bet we've put all these things together over your 18 years, Gordon, or 16 years. It would be a heck of a lot of things you've got accomplished. So,
>> thank you. >> Biggest one is behind us. >> Literally, right? >> Literally, >> it's still ahead of us. >> Yes, it's going going up behind us. >> Yeah. >> Excellent. Uh okay. I take someone to move to accept the um midcycle, please.
>> I move to accept the superintendent's midcycle formative self assessment. >> Motion made by Amy. Second. >> Second by William. Discussion. Say I >> I >> carries five to zero. >> Excellent. We are moving along. You're welcome.
Thank you. Okay. We go back to 6.3 the memorandum of understanding from Queen and A. It's basically so this is a memorandum
of understanding that uh was approved. Uh we learned about the approval by the ELA membership on Friday morning of last week. Um, this then comes to all of you as um a memorandum of understanding that
agrees between the school committee and the East Long Meadow Education Association to once again freeze or suspend the $650 that um is in the contract to reimburse individual
professional development. Um, with that, we would also um freeze and not have five collaborative meeting days next year in the calendar. And we would move the second of the two district professional
development days from January to March. Uh, and then keep our scheduled professional development in the individual buildings as they were this year. >> Questions? Good. I would take someone to move
please >> to accept. >> I make motion to accept >> or approve to approve it >> to approve the standing between and school committee. >> Motion made by Amy. >> Second. >> Second by Carrie. Discussion. All in
favor say I. >> I. >> I. Those opposed, nay. That carries 5 to zero. We're thankful uh for their agreements to do that. >> Okay. >> Also, uh our strategies, our strategies gets us there. >> Big one.
>> Okay. Boy, we're cooking. Hey. Let's go to 7.1 discussion on the superintendent transition. Uh as many of you know, um first of all, Gordon is retiring at the end of this year and so we'll continue to move. I
mean, as much as we don't want him, um continue to move forward. Uh we have um Dr. Joanie Manard joining us starting in July 1 as our new superintendent. Um she has agreed to uh a four-year contract uh with this school district
and so she was here last week. >> Monday. >> Was it Monday? Last week. >> Last Monday. >> Yeah. We ago today uh and came on a tour of the new high school. Amy was there for that. Uh and I got to speak with her then. And then uh Carrie and I met with
her uh after and had a nice conversation. Um she will be back in the district on >> April 2nd. >> April 2nd. We have a pretty full day um lined up. And did we share that with the school committee that agenda for the her day? >> I have not, but I can.
>> So we'll share that out. Um if folks want to fill in on there's an opportunity for lunch. We're going to have lunch here with her. Uh and then there'll be an opportunity at the end of the day perhaps. I think you mentioned that, Antella. If anybody's interested in meeting uh one-on-one or two two with
one, um we can arrange that through that day. >> So, she is going to end her day at the a meet and greet, right, at Metobrook. So, if any folks are listening out there, we're hoping staff and >> are we okay? I haven't sent it out to uh uh it was just for the Metobrook staff
and then we're going to try to uh >> um have other times where maybe she comes for an afternoon and is able to do it at the other schools. >> Right. So, we'll hope to have her come back a couple more times um throughout the rest of the school year uh for that
and she's certainly willing to do that. Any other ideas or things we'd like to accomplish uh through the transition? Sorry. >> What um Samantha and I are going to put together is we have a um and I think
this was your idea, but we have a running list of what school committee and sort of central office does each month. And so we'll make sure that that's cleaned up and as current as possible. And we'll give her that. Um on
April 2nd she is going to meet uh starter day here meeting with the leadership team. Um so it'll be her first leadership team. I will not be in that meeting. Um and then after she meets with the leadership team uh she'll meet with central office staff and then
um the day is pretty filled from there. >> Nice. >> Yeah. As she goes uh great. >> She'll also meet um with folks at town hall. >> Yeah. So that'll be good. Okay, >> progress. All right, excellent. Thank
you for that. And uh on a similar note, as we go through the transition, um we in the uh agenda meeting had some discussion about reorganizing the school committee as we bring on a new superintendent. As many of you know, a
lot of things happen in the agenda meeting to get us to where we uh need to move forward. Um, and so since um, you know, Gordon's leaving, I won't be the chair anymore obviously. Um, and Amy
as the vice chair, you know, still up up for discussion. Um, thought it'd be best to reorganize now or soon. And so that the new chair and vice chair would have some time to work with Gordon and Pam and Heather in the uh, agenda setting
meetings. And that way when Joanie comes on board, it won't be three new people necessarily. It just may be one. Um, and so we're allowed to reorganize mid uh cycle with a super majority of the
school committee vote. So four fifths would have to vote in favor of reorganizing. And uh also the school committee would be required to have a reorganization meeting after uh July 1st again as we normally do. So you could re e either reaffirm um the chair and the vice chair
then or however the committee at that point decides to move forward. So that would still happen even if we do um reorganize >> soon. >> And when would that take place like >> well that's what for discussion. Uh I would like my thought is as soon as
possible. Um we have the >> I really want to get out of that city. >> Well the more we only have >> wanted to get organized. >> We only have Yeah. Well I'm ready. We only have four uh meetings left, four or five. And so, you know, a couple opportunities uh while Gordon's still
here, I think, would be very valuable for the new chair and new vice chair. Um sitting in this chair is a privilege of a lifetime for me. So, I'm not in a super rush, but it's uh it's it'd be it's the right time um that we uh start making that transition. So, uh I don't
know if folks uh have had a chance to think about it, if they'd be interested. Um I know this is kind of a unique situation. we have an opportunity as a group to to have an open discussion because we have it as an agenda item. Um, we can talk about it further today. We
could put it on the agenda again for our next meeting and potentially reorganize then or we could reorganize today uh with a vote of the school committee. Um, >> so that's >> I think it's a good idea.
>> Yep. so that we do get some practice because you have been our chair for a while. >> I know a practice. My bad. >> I know, right? Um I mean, I'm fine with voting on reorganizing it and maybe we do it at
the next meeting. I'm not sure how everyone else feels. >> I'm going to rip the band-aid off. Just just let's just go for it and get get it done. Keep it moving. Um, I think it would be better to get, you know, not trying to push me out, obviously, push away and push away.
>> No, but I do agree with, you know, having an opportunity with the chair, having opportunity to be able to sit in that seat working with Gordon, working with the staff, really trying to get things going prior to Makes makes a lot of sense. Makes a lot of sense. >> So, do we need to vote on doing it and
then we vote on actually >> reorganizing? Yep. Reorganizing. Okay. >> Yep. Any other discussion on the topic before we >> is there going to be current chair mentorship of the new chair. >> Right. Right. And I'm always a phone call away not to step on anybody's toes.
Oh, and what I'd also like to propose that I on the school building committee. Um I'd like to see that through. Uh certainly would offer for a school committee member to join that since we will no longer have one. At one point we had two. We had Beth and then uh myself
obviously but so we can add a school committee member. It's a bit of a timeconsuming endeavor. It's kind of like a second school committee is how I've looked over it for what bit here. >> Everybody else knows that. Um so certainly you know I could be a liazison
uh for the LA we have one more year after um we open the building. It'll take about another year to finish the project I would say. So, um, however folks want to, >> we can make it a senior chair, former chair, advisor. >> Yeah. I mean, whatever we want to do.
Yeah. There it is. >> There it is. That sounds official. Can I get a badge with that? >> Sure. >> Um, and we can work out those specifics uh later as well. um in the reorganization of the school
committee in the Jul after the July 1st, it will also mean the new superintendent would join the building committee and we would relieve Gordon of his uh duties to that committee as well. Um crying at all. >> A motion to reorganize the school
committee. >> Second motion made by Carrie, second by William. All in favor say I. I >> I those opposed nay. That carries five to zero. >> Okay. Um >> so typically how we reorganize and I guess we should have brought the
reorganized sheet but we >> Yeah, sorry about that. >> That's right. My bad. I didn't even think about >> Oh, that's my fault. Sorry. >> Um we have a nomination process. We can certainly have a discussion before there would be uh for the chair would be nominated. it would require a second and
then it would um require that person to accept the nomination. Then if there's anyone else that would uh be nominated, that person would be nominated second and would be seconded and so on if that's what happens. And then the um
then we would vote on the chair and then the same process would happen for vice chair. Will I make a nomination to nominate um Rail Antella as the chair? >> Okay. Motion made by William.
>> Second. >> Second if she she seconded by Amy. Would you accept it? Uh if you uh get >> I'll accept it. Of course, >> she would. >> Um any other nominations for chair? Seeing none, uh all in favor of the
motion. Uh, please say I. >> I. >> I. >> Those opposed? Nay. That motion carries five to zero. >> You putting a time stamp on it. >> Yes. >> And uh so I would say it's effective immediately. So you're up.
>> Oh my. >> Wow. That was No, I can keep going. You want me to finish it off? Okay. >> You get your last one ones in. >> Your last gavvel. You >> have to sign that. >> Oh, right. Sign it while it's still there. Right. Okay. Um I would entertain a motion if
anyone is interested in being vice chair. Is anybody interested in the vice chair? >> Nobody. >> No one's interested. Happy to do it. >> What's your thoughts for the term? >> Um what do you mean >> as far as just we're talking about
finishing out, right? Well, I think that turnover as Craig is speaking about it would happen immediately. >> Yeah, I would turn Yeah, I would turn the whole thing over. I would say now like >> Okay, so you would turn over. Would that mean you would turn over? You >> Oh, I mean that makes sense.
>> Yeah. >> Well, we voted you out. We didn't vote her out. >> No, we voted to reote anyone out. >> We voted to reorganize >> her chair and vice chair. So, >> okay. >> She certainly could be voted back in and nominated. >> Copy. Okay. Um
or not. >> I would like to nominate Carrie if if that's okay. I think >> Okay. Nomination has been made by Amy. >> Second. >> Second by William. >> Would you accept the nomination again?
>> Any any other nominations for vice chair? Okay. All in favor of the motion uh for Carrie to be vice chair, please say I. >> I. >> Those opposed say no. That carries five to zero. Excellent.
>> Okay. >> Um, >> exactly. >> Okay. With that, we have come to the end of our meeting, which I didn't think we'd get through this quickly, but >> all right. >> Only happens with excellent chairing. So,
>> I can say it. Yeah. >> I would take a motion to adjurnn, please. I'll make a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion made by Carrie. Second. Second by William. Discussion. All in favor say I. I. Those opposed? Nay. That carries 5 to zero. Thank you. We are adjourned.