Good evening and welcome to the Tuesday, June 17th at Long Meadow School Committee meeting. Mass general law allows for remote participation at public meetings until June 30th, 2027. All votes while there is remote participation must be made by roll call vote. This meeting is being recorded and
aired live on LCTV. School committee members, when I call your name, please say here for the record. Um Jamie Hench. Jamie, are you with us? Here. Sorry, it was taking me a little while to get my mute off. No worries. Adam Rosenble,
I am here. Thank you. Kate Beam here. McKenna here here. And Emily Hansen here. All right, perfect. We will begin with the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible
with liberty and justice for all. All right. So before we kick off tonight's meeting, we wanted to take a moment to wish our friend Diane a wonderful and well-deserved retirement. We will miss your ongoing dedication,
knowledge, and expertise throughout your 25 years of time with Long Meadow Schools. You've been a cornerstone in central office, and our schools are better because of the service and support that you have given. So when Diane told us that she was retiring, she did a little bit of math. And I think
that that math is a real testament to the steady presence that she has provided for Long Public Schools over the years. In her 25 years, Diane has worked with five superintendent, five business managers, assistant superintendent, six directors of curriculum, assistant superintendent,
seven directors of technology, four directors of people services special education, one director of student and family support, 24 principles, seven facilities directors, and 45 different school committee members. She's also been here to welcome 25 years worth of
new kindergarten students, and has survived renovations, new buildings, new policies, and plenty of new technology, some probably more helpful than others. And through it all, she's been the keeper of so many moving pieces, ensuring that everything ran smoothly
every day and day to year to year. On a personal note, I have really enjoyed the opportunity to work with you over the last 5 years. um you've been the go-to person for so many questions along the way. Um and oh my goodness, I have asked a lot of questions. So many questions I've pestered her with and um every time
she has patience and grace and helps me figure out answers and just I've never stumped her. So that's really impressive in my mind. Um your advice over the last few years has been invaluable. Thank you so much. Um, on behalf of all of us, thank you for everything that you've done for Long Meadow Public Schools over
the years, welcoming new students and families to keeping so much of this little corner of the world, moving forward orderly and making progress. Um, we all wish you a long and healthy retirement full of joy and fun-filled adventures with your beautiful family. Thank you so much.
[Applause] We have a plaque to recognize Diane honoring 30 years of excellence presented to Diane in recognition of the outstanding dedication, professionalism, and commitment to the town of Long
Meadow. Oh, thank you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you. [Applause] And rumor has it that I'm not the only one who is here tonight to celebrate
Taya. So we would love to welcome anyone else who would love to come up. Come on up. There's chair. Yep. Why don't you come up? Yeah, of course. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you, Diane. We are here obviously from the House and
the Senate to uh celebrate and to thank you personally. Just thank you for everything you've done. You're all in on Long Meadow. I know you got 30 years working for the town overall. Got your bachelors at Bay Path. You stayed all Long Meadow. You get your coffee at Starbucks.
But um thank you so much. It's difficult these days to find commitment in any field to stay here for so long and and to put everything into it and obviously you know anytime your name is mentioned people really appreciate and you can see them smiling and to have your husband
your son and your grandchildren your grandson already told me he was going to run against me he's got a perfect face make sure you take out papers for rep and not Senate but um we are thrilled for you hopefully you have some great plans for uh
retirement. I haven't heard. Apparently lips are sealed on that. No, but um to make it official from the house, I'd like to read off a citation for you. Thank you. Be it hereby known to all that the Massachusetts House of Representatives offers its sincerest congratulations to Diane Groanthist.
Yeah, Diane G. In recognition of your 30 years of dedication, commitment to the Long Meadow Public Schools and for your invaluable organization, communication, and efficiency, the entire membership extends its very best wishes, the hope for future good fortune, continued success in all your endeavors,
especially spending time with your beautiful family. Um, it's signed by the speaker of the house and by your state rep, but I'm I'm so happy for you and thankful for everything you've given to the community. Congratulations. Love how the glasses go off on this. I believe the senator has
something. Thank you. Similar. Diane, having spent 12 years as a school committee member in Love, my favorite interactions were not with our superintendent, our other school committee members. It was always the administrative assistant to the school
committee and the superintendent. I had two while I was in my 12 years there. I still um sometimes run into them, Annie Phillips and Sue Santos. Yeah. Um they were just wonderful. They kept everything in order for the committee. They were their go-to people for
everything. And even when you had transitions and superintendent, that steady hand of having somebody right there who knows the system is invaluable. I know to Marty, I know to the committee members. So, just thank you for your service. On behalf of the
Massachusetts Senate, I just want to thank you. And as a recovering school committee member, thank you for guiding us along the way. And congratulations to the two new school committee members, both Kate and Emily, who are here today for their first meeting. It's exciting. Unfortunately, they won't get the
privilege of having you guiding the way for one month. Um, but truly is enjoy your retirement. My dad just retired from the Lo public schools after several decades to the service for it. And you know, my mom is a little skittish about having him home all the time. And I'm
sure your husband is he retired as well? Oh, no. I'm sorry for that. My mom doesn't know what to do with having my dad around all the time now. But congratulations to you for so many decades of just giving back to the community. It's always something that is
the first line of defense when you come into the school department. Having somebody there who understands and is also welcoming to people um is such a big part of the community. So, thank you for your service. On behalf of the Massachusetts Senate be hereby known and
extends our congratulations to you Diane of Long Meadow. I'm sorry. I will slip this one. Long meadow public schools in recognition of your dedicated and committed years of service to the Long Meadow Schools learning community on the occasion of your well-earned retirement
and with gratitude and be it further known that the Massachusetts Senate hereby extend its very best wishes for continued success that this citation be duly signed by the President of the Senate and a copy of transmitted to our clerk of the Senate and signed by me your state senator. Congratulations. Thank you.
And I think we with all the committee members too. Come on in. And Marty, we can hold these glasses down. Just for the Nothing. Beautiful plaque. Oh yeah. It's over there. Bring it. Bring that.
Bring it. Oh, let's get a laptop. You take the fancy one and you do that. That's good. That's nice. I want a noted uh quality. The the granite quality is very nice versus snow.
Much better picture than last night. Thank you. Thank you. Because it was much more gender balanced than last. Congratulations. Thank you so much. Sorry. Thank you for being
that was so great. Thank you. You're doing great. May I see? So Diane, I know I'm not the only committee member you have shephered
along the way and been there to offer so much information and warm support for. So, I just give a moment if there's anybody else who wanted to say anything from the committee before we head into the next part of our meeting. I'm hoping folks at home are still with us.
You both got on you both on mute. Oh, there you go. I can't see who's trying to go first, so sorry. Can just dive in. Hopefully, we did not lose them. All right. We also have a card that has some well-written notes in it. So, I'll
let those speak for themselves. But, thank you so much on behalf of all of us. We really appreciate that. All right. On that note, we'll turn over to Dr. O'Shea. If I may, um I I you know, on behalf of the dozens and dozens of administrators that that you've so
capably served over the years, we we also want to wish you well in your retirement. We had a a gathering for Diane uh not too long ago and her great family uh was there in force and um so many members of the LPS community turned
out with a couple of former couple of my predecessors uh Jan Hart Marie Doyle uh came to honor Diane as well and it was a testament to uh just how much support and care she's provided to the superintendent's office over the years.
um had the opportunity to to ask some of the administrators to to share some of their thoughts um and just I wouldn't have time to read everything that they that they mentioned but uh commenting that Diane has been a beacon of support
uh calming presence wisdom generosity uh was noted quiet strength and dedication professionalism attention to detail a wealth of knowledge um all of these things sort of really reflect reflective of Diane's character professionally and personally. Um I think what I heard over
and over from the administrators when I asked them to share some thoughts was Diane's level of integrity and you know I always valued that as superintendent. Um the the confidence, the trust, the confidentiality that we shared uh is so
important to the relationship between a superintendent and and his or her assistant. And so I'm always always grateful for that. Uh but um one of our uh members of the admin team that um noted that she uh want to make sure I
quote this properly uh wears more hats uh than a dotted grandmother packing for a week-l long cruise. Uh she's GG by name, GG to many of us, but um CEO of Fun and Function. Um Diane was the one that would rally the uh office the
central office staff for holiday parties, end of year parties and um always brought a lot of cheer and fun to uh to the office culture. So we're grateful and and we're going to miss Diane and uh she has been so gracious in
supporting and welcoming her successor Tammy Welcome who is here uh for her first school committee meeting officially. So, uh, we welcome as we as we wish farewell to Diane, we welcome Tammy, but um Diane has earned a a long healthy um retirement with her amazing
family. So, thank you Diane for everything you've done for me personally and professionally and for all of her administrative team. So, thank you. I I just want to say it's been a privilege. It really has. It was very unexpected
career. Um, never planned it. never thought I'd ever be an admin assistant. Just kind of fell into the role and it took off and I've I've loved every minute. I really have. So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much.
All right. I'll turn back over to you for some reorganization. So, we are um here uh tonight to reorganize the school committee and to welcome uh our newest members, Emily Hansen and Kate Bean. So, welcome to your first meeting and congratulations on your election to the
school committee. And so, one of my formal um um opportunities is to um at least launch the reorganization of the school committee. And so, at this point, uh I would entertain a motion for the
position of chair. We're going to entertain motions for the position of school committee chair, school committee vice chair, and school committee clerk. And so to begin, um I would entertain a motion for the position of chair of the Long Meadow School Committee. Would
anyone care to make a motion? I would. I move that the school committee appoint Michaela Fitzgerald as chair of the school committee for the 2526 year. All right, we have a motion. Is there a second? Second. House. We have a second
from Kate. And so um any discussion? Seeing no discussion, I will uh lead a roll call vote. Um Emily, yes. Michaela, I'm going to abstain from voting.
Abstain. Nicole, yes. Kate, yes. Jamie, yes. Jamie's a yes. Adam, yay. Adam is a yes. Uh with that, we have a new chair of the Long Meadow School Committee. Congratulations, Michael.
[Applause] Okay. So, now I'm going to entertain a motion to appoint the vice chair of the school committee. I nominate Nicole Chener as the vice chair of the school committee.
We have um a recommended motion. Do we have a second? Second. Second. Great. Any discussion? Okay. No discussion. So, we'll vote. Jamie, yes. Adam,
yay. Kate, yay. Nicole, abstain. Emily, yes. And a yes for me, too. And next we have um a motion if anyone wants to recommend somebody to be the clerk of the school committee.
I move that the school committee appoint Kate Bean as clerk for the school committee in the 2526 year. We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. Any There we go. Two seconds. Any discussion?
All right. Seeing none, we'll vote. Adam, yay. Jamie, yes. Kate, abstain. Nicole, yes. Emily, yes. And a yes for me, too.
So, now we're going to move on. We don't have any correspondence. So, next on our agenda is our approval of minutes. And I'd entertain a motion. There's two motions. I move that the school committee approve the minutes of the May 27th, 2025 school committee meeting as
presented. We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. Any discussion? So, we'll vote. Adam, yay. Jamie,
yes. Kate, yes. Nicole, yes. Ellie, yes. And yes for me, too. We have one more recommended motion. Under approval of minutes, I move that the school committee approve the minutes to the June 2nd, 2025 school committee meeting as presented. We have a motion. Do we
have a second? Second. Second. Any discussion? Adam, yay. Tammy, yes. Kate, yes. Nicole, yes. Emily, yes. And a yes for me, too.
So, next on our agenda is public speak. Do we have anyone here tonight that is from the public that would like to speak to the school committee? You can come right up to the microphone and introduce yourself and um speak.
Hi. Um, my name is Sylvia Scott and I live on 25 Chattam Road in Long Meadow and you can go ahead and just get right into it. Whatever you want to share with us. Okay. Uh, so this is um specifically outlining a little bit of the technology
program in the elementary schools, specifically Blueberry Hill, which is where I work. And um, just giving a quick overview. So um, I'm going to just read this. Good evening. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak with you today. I'm
excited to share how our elementary technology curriculum not only supports authentic learning, but also helps students build the skills to succeed in middle school and beyond. At Blueberry Hill, technology is designed to be benefit all learners. The technology
special provides students with hands-on learning experiences. This project-based approach aligns with academic standards while also fostering social emotional growth. Our curriculum focuses on four key areas. Classroom integration, digital wellness, digital
literacy/computer science, and STEM/engineering. I'd like to briefly highlight each. The first aspect is classroom integration, which supports classroom curriculum. Students create stopotion movies of the butterfly life cycle, build virtual
field trips of landforms, or create a presentation in Canva about animals um physical and behavioral adaptations. These projects strengthen content understanding and collaboration skills. Another aspect we teach is digital wellness and safety, now more essential
than ever. Using the Common Sense Media curriculum, students learn to be safe, respectful, and responsible digital citizens. Topics include online privacy, kindness in digital communication, and balancing screen time, lessons that foster sound decision-making.
In digital literacy and computer science, students begin coding as early as kindergarten. From programming areas, sorry, programming games to uh creating digital art with robots. And I have a couple examples here. This was made by
fourth graders using robots, some digital art. Um, students gain fluency in multiple coding environments. These activities nurture perseverance, creativity, and a growth mindset, and it's fun. Recently, our afterchool coding workshop was filled to capacity
and included former students and parent volunteers. Truly a testament to the excitement that coding brings. Unique to Blueberry Hill, each student receives 10 blocks of STEM focused enrichment programming throughout the year. In enrichment, students are empowered to think like engineers and innovators
through challenges that are centered on empathetic design. Students work with various materials and experience trial and error and celebrate creative problem solving. Projects include creating designing a safety harness for a blind dog and a candy dispenser that could
work in space. Our emphasis on empathetic human- centered engineering is perhaps best demonstrated by one of my favorite fourth grade projects. The unit begins with an investigation into the Boston molasses flood of 1919. Students study primary sources like
photographs and maps to understand the societal impact of an explosion of an overfilled molasses tank. We bring history to life through roleplay, 3D modeling, and even taste test molasses. We then create sorry we then compare the design decisions that led to that
disaster with modern engineering practices which focuses on the needs of the people they designed for. The culminating project is to design a chair. Students choose from fictional case studies. An elderly man with back pain, a remote learner who is
disorganized, or a teenage gamer who needs a reminder when it's time for dinner. As a team, they build a representational model of how they can engineer a solution to their needs. So, I brought one. Um, so this is one that was made. Um,
and they have it's a representation. So, there's um a cat toy for the cat that is always relaxing. They designed the chair to be low to the ground. There's a remote control and some organizational tools and a back rest. So, they start
with a piece of foam board and some cutting tools and hot glue guns and they create something like this and they paint it and decorate it. So, I just wanted to give you a little show of what it looks like. So, in conclusion, technology at Blueberry Hill is not merely about preparing students for the
future. It's about helping them become thoughtful, capable, and compassionate people. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Thank you, Mrs. Scott, thank you. Does any school committee members have any questions or comments they want to
gear towards Mrs. Scott before she goes or It's not necessary. Just wanted to give the choice. Right. Thank you. Could I could just quickly note so uh later on in the agenda um we will be addressing the
elementary technology offering and I think um so much of what the committee will hear about is sort of reflective of many of the approaches that that Sylvia described and her uh program at Blueberry. So uh it's good background for the committee for your discussion
later on. So thank you. Okay. Thank you. Um is this was it this a pilot program at Blueberry? Do all the elementary schools? This um this is the existing program at Blueberry that Sylvia is describing. Yeah. Any other questions?
Okay. Thank you. Congratulations to your appointments, too. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Next, we have business with guests. Do we not have any business with guests? No business with guests. So, we're moving on to school committee
announcements and recognitions. So, I'm going to start with my first chair report. Don't worry, it's not that long. I promise. First, I just wanted to say um thank you for the nomination and the votes to serve as the chair for the school committee this year. It's an honor to
take on this role and I'm grateful for the opportunity. I've truly enjoyed working with school committee members past and present as a team guided by our shared goals, policies, and values to support continued progress and achievement within our educational system. It is working together with each
other, the school staff, and the community that helps us create a positive and efficient culture and provide the best outcomes for all students. Congratulations to all the students, teachers, and staff on a successful completion of the 2024 2025 school year.
A heartfelt thank you to all the families, caretakers, grandparents, and community members who showed up for field days, class parties, and graduations and performances. Your presence and participation are what make the end of the year really special and memorable for the students. A special
shout out to the Long Meadow High School class of 2025 on your final school year in the district. We are so proud of your accomplishments and look forward to your continued success as you take on your next steps and become true visions of graduates outside of your Long Meadow
education and out in the world. Good luck to every one of you. I want to recognize the Long Meadow High School girls tennis team on an incredible achievement, securing their second consecutive state championship. They completed two undefeated seasons,
winning 46 consecutive matches. I've seen the coaches and the team working tirelessly on the courts on hot afternoons, pushing themselves to greatness, and clearly the hard work paid off. Congrats to all the players, coaches, families, the athletic
department, the teachers, and the booster club. It takes support, determination, grit, and heart to achieve that level of excellence. A big shout out to all the staff still working hard to close out the school year and prepare the schools for a
successful year ahead. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. It takes a lot of work to go from one school year to the next. And finally, just looking ahead, I just want to um make sure everybody's aware of some upcoming dates for the fall that are important for our middle school
project. So, there's the special town meeting on September 9th and then the special town election on September 30th. And that's it for me. Um, other committee member announcements and recognitions. Does any other committee
member have any announcements or recognitions that they'd like to present? All right. So, then we'll move on to other reports. So, we have the superintendent report. Uh just briefly, um I think Michaela said it well, uh
winding down the uh 2425 school year and uh simultaneously prepping for the for the coming school year. Uh we are preparing our extended summer year programming uh to begin in early July. Summer enrichment programming. Uh the
preschool will be underway. summer preschool um on the summer special education programming will be at Lbury Hill this year. Um also recognize our 20 class of 2025 was a a classy great
graduation that recognized an outstanding class. Um and um also a shout out to to the girls tennis team. That was quite an accomplishment to to win two state championships in a row is is a is a rare achievement. So, uh, very
proud of that team and coach Fram as well. So, thank you. All right. So, we have additional reports. I'll be BEC. No, not Oh my goodness. Sorry.
CBS calling me again. Um, there's no report for SEAL. We're closed for the year, but definitely keep your eye out for the date for the meet and greet. Um, that will be our first kickoff meeting in the fall right at the beginning of school. It's such a great event. It's a
good time to meet many administrators, principles have come and families. I always see families connecting there, kids making friends, and it's a great event. Energy and sustainability is also no report and we also have no student
representative report, but um Miss Danica Shay is the new student representative and she will begin in the fall. So, we're going to move on to subcommittee reports. There's no report for the finance subcommittee and for the policy
subcommittee. Um policies are posted for public comment. Policies JJF student activity accounts continues to be posted to the district website to solicit public input. And then we have the curriculum
subcommittee. We met on Monday, June 9th, and we discussed um the uh changes to the center school technology integration
program where they're going to pilot um a new course called exploration studio. And so we learned about how the alignment to social emotional learning and the CKLA curriculum which goes in
depth to many um science as well as history topics and how we can create a um improvements to our already great program to kind of align and also bring
it kind of forward because it is an ever evolving area of um education in elementary school. So tonight uh here to present is Dr. Beth Nelson, our curriculum director. Uh
Beth uh spent some time with curriculum sub uh discussing some of the proposed changes to the technology offering at the elementary school. And if you give me one second, I'll pull up a slide deck and Beth will take us through that. Uh there's also some detailed documents uh
that have been in your packet. So certainly uh we can answer any questions you have about the slides or about the detailed information that is in your packet. So um excuse me. Welcome Emily and nice to meet you. I haven't met you yet. Um but Emily, nice to see you
again. Met briefly the other day. Um so currently just to give background to some of the committee members who are brand new. Uh currently in the elementary programming we have our students go to a 45minut special subject class once a day um for 45 minutes. On
one day of the week they go for a second related arts class. Um so traditionally we've had music, art, physical education and library media as our related arts classes. about 5 years, no sorry, 10 10 12 years ago, we added a technology
integration class to be responsive to the fact that technology was all of a sudden everywhere. Um, so that was response to our students need, response to our teachers needs. Um, and at that time it also gave our teachers in the elementary level a common planning time. So once a week they were able to meet as
a collaborative grade level team um, by getting a second special. the their class had a second special one day of the five-day rotation. So, what we're going to learn about hear about today is building off the wonderful things uh Mrs. Scott shared with us today that they're doing at Blueberry Hill
Elementary School. Um so, she has had the principal there has uniquely been able to schedule every classroom for 10 additional tech blocks during the school year where they're getting an enriched experience through Steam and STEM experiences. So, those were the projects
that she was showing today. um we want to take that knowledge and preserve those really special projects that are that are already happening and really powerful and build upon that with all of the other competing needs that our students are asking for and in in need
of in our classrooms today. So with that, um the tonight's presentation will give you a very quick glimpse and overview of how we're hoping to enhance our current technology offerings to include um working towards the vision of
the graduate social emotional learning that's deeply rooted in our Yale ruler, which is already our um curriculum and programming that we're using at the elementary through grades 8 level. um it it is tied to endofear projects that follow one of the domains at each
grade level for our CKA which is our literacy. So it's really taking a lot of what's already happening but trying to bring it together in one place. So, we see this um the hands-on learning through steam as a really great opportunity to teach students that f the
future ready skills they need. The competencies of in our vision of the graduate are those critical skills that we want everyone to gain as they move through pre preschool through grade 12 here in Long Meadow Public Schools. Um and then the Yale ruler is the
programming that we're using already here in the district. Um, but this by having it in this course, we're going to be much more intentional about being able to follow some of those lessons and really deliver them in an effective and meaningful way that will tie in with
some of these hands-on projects. So, as I shared earlier, this will be a weekly uh K to5 special subject class. So, every classroom will go to this exploration studio once a week for a 45minute period. um where they will focus on SEAL, steam,
vision of the graduate and it will be inquiry based and project based learning. So a lot of hands-on, a lot of collaborative work with partners um but also just some tinkering. They're going to have the opportunity to really um try to learn and figure things out for themselves, use those critical thinking
skills. So in this classroom, it's our goal that students become explorers. They explore the world around them through the curriculum that's in front of them. So, um, essentially what we're hoping to build is scaffolding from basic
emotional literacy skills up to really intense leadership project leadership projects so that by the time they're finishing fifth grade, they are presenting really robust capstone projects that will lend itself very nicely for heading off into the middle school. It will align really well with our steam programming that we have at
the middle school and then tie in with our capstone projects that we're offering at Long Meadow High School. So up here you have a sample of just what a kindergarten um we kind of tried to break the year up into three themes. So in kindergarten the the beginning of the year they'll be working on an introduction to SEAL and just the
routine for the classroom. um as the year progresses, working together and playing together. Those are really important kindergarten skills, but we'll be making sure that within that there's a real focus to the units. And what's hyperl there that you um we're not link
clicking to today are actual lessons on building relationships that are approved and already in use um in our schools. Um and then as the year goes on, exploring ideas and sharing ideas. So what a kindergarten capstone project is going to look a lot different than fifth graders, but at least getting them to a
place where they might be excited about showing something. Maybe it's through storytelling, but by the end of the year, they have something to show and they're really proud for their work. The CKA theme for kindergarten, so taking care of the earth is one of their big standards or one of the big units in kindergarten. So wouldn't it be great if
that storytelling that they're doing lends itself back to the CKA unit? And that would be our goal through the kindergarten. um as you get to the fifth grade as I I said um so they'll engage in a full compass capstone project where
they'll go from the idea phase to the planning to the execution to an actual showcase and like I said before it'll hopefully build itself really beautifully into our middle school STEM programming steam programming and our high school capstone. Um, I think it's important that we think
about what a classroom like this might look like. And I think we envision it with, you know, space for a maker space innovation area. Certainly some desk space or table space that people can work collaboratively. Um, we envision it with like whiteboards on the wall so that they're planning and erasing and
rethinking and engineering things. Um, they'll certainly have tools. We have coding kits at all of our elementary schools already. We want to maintain that. We want to have access to that. We have tinkering building sets um both at the middle school and at the elementary
schools that came through um some leaf grants several years back. We want to maintain that and give students access to those sets um and then certainly a calm, inclusive, creative space. I know a question that's come up often is how will we measure the success of Exploration Studio? And I think we
already have some measures in place. We do have um student surveys that we already do, but they can be more intentional with how has this course or how has this experience helped improve or shape some of these SEAL skills. Um and that's all kept in Panorama right
now, those that data and information. So, we'll be able to look at that. um will certainly have the opportunity to look at their social emotional development on the the mood meter which is a function of Yale ruler uh where students learn to assess their own mood
and their own emotional intelligence against the mood meter um student engagement. So we want to hear from the students what do they like about the course? What would they change? We can't always change everything that the students want but at least we can hear from them and and maybe make revisions or twists. Uh student led demonstrations. So those would be those
capstone projects at the end of the year. And then of course we want to hear from the classroom teachers about how is the the knowledge and the information from this once weekly experience transferring into your classroom. Is it enriching your conversations when you are doing a CKA unit or when you're doing morning meeting and working on
some of the standards or can we enhance that a little bit more? Can we be more specific and explicit with the instruction? Um and then of course family input. So, you know, we have family input through many channels, school council, PTO's and PTO's
um principles every couple of years put out a survey to the community about what's going well and what needs improvement. So, we have some existing channels in place to make sure that we're gathering that feedback. Um, and then just observational data. Are all kids engaged in this learning? Are they
enjoying the hands-on opportunities? Um, are we seeing students who, you know, maybe their traditional style of learning uh is difficult for them, but they're just excelling because now they're they're using their hands and they're using they're learning in a different way.
So, next steps um would certainly be um gathering feedback from staff. I want to lean into um our existing staff that have been teaching technology and digital media and um digital literacy skills. We want to learn from them and
preserve that special part of their program programming. We want to lean into classroom teachers to find out what's going to be really important for them in this space. How can we help their curriculum advance um through the opportunity to align that with this
class? um and then hopefully hire a teacher for center school and uh support that teacher throughout the summer to make sure that we have a really great program um to begin in August.
Um so we're really proud of this work uh the the people that we have shared these ideas with. Um, you know, I did send out an email to the Blueberry Wolf Swamp and Center school staffs last week after I met with Curriculum Sub sharing um the plan and we received some really
exciting feedback. They're they're excited about the opportunity to tie everything together. Um, and we're excited for what's ahead. And I think, you know, I sat here maybe a little over a year ago speaking to you all about another big um change and I know change
is hard and the unknown can be scary. Um but I think as the year progressed, even those who are who are worried and and afraid of the the changes of our new uh literacy program have just fully embraced it and adopted it and they're excited about the the growth that our students showed from September through
June. So I hope that we have that same outcome um with Exploration Studio. Any questions? Can I underscore a couple of things? So the idea would be um to launch this as a pilot next year at center school with the expectation that it would be rolled out at Blueberry and Wolf Swamp and in
the in the succeeding years. It'll give us an opportunity to really gather some additional feedback and staff input over the course of the year and really get this in an even better place for the 26 27 school year. Um, I was thinking about how this class is really in so many ways
a culmination of some of the directions that have been an important part of school committee conversations over the years. And that is trying to find opportunities for kids to be really deeply immersed in their learning, to own their learning. Uh, finding opportunities for students to create, to
collaborate. This is what we've been talking about for so long. So that really comes together with this class. The other thing later on in your agenda, we're have an opportunity to um thank Leaf, the Long Meadow Educational Excellence Foundation for um contributing to teacher grants. And when
I think about the teacher grants over the years, it it feels like many of them uh planted seeds that are, you know, kind of blossoming with this class. when it when we think about coding kits and circuit kits and robotic sets and things like that, like we're really grateful to
LEAF for providing an impetus for so many, you know, a lot of the equipment uh and furniture that we hope will kind of surface in this in this class as well. So, um thank you Beth for her leadership. Um, it was it was a
collaborative effort, but we're really at the at the beginning of the road in terms of, you know, we've been very thoughtful and purposeful about designing the class and and Beth has built it out in great detail, but we know that there's a lot in front of us
in terms of engaging the staff and students and families to make sure that this is the best course it can possibly be for our elementary students. So, so thank you to Beth um principles, our tech teachers who provided some some critical input there as well. So
definitely open to your thoughts and questions. Nicole, I was wondering if you could just talk to us a little bit more about I know you talked about this a little bit at curriculum subcommittee, but for everyone else too um about sort of some of the intentionality of um collaboration that might be available. I
know this would be a newer position at center school and as a pilot. What kind of support that person might have and what kind of collaboration they would be able to have to ensure that as we move forward into future years, the current
technology teachers are able to bring in the work that they've done over the years and make sure that this is a wellsupported and and sustainable program. So, I think um once the new teacher is hired, we'd love to begin the initiation and the opportunity for those conversations to take place. Um I also
think it's really going to be important for them to lean into our middle school steam teachers as well so that we align and make sure that we're not doing um projects that are happening in the middle school or that we're building on we're we're maybe perhaps building projects that can be expanded on in
middle school. Um I think it's really important that there's conversation with classroom teachers. It's important that there's conversations with our library media specialists and what standards are going to be preserved in that space um to make sure that we're we're really being intentional about how best to
address the many many different things that we need to that we're responsible for um sharing with students on an annual basis. Um in terms of what does that look like? So, we will have some dedicated vertical planning times next year. And that's where I see possibly some of those middle school steam
teacher conversations, but also opportunities to to meet with the library media specialist and the current technology integration specialists who are still existing at center, I'm sorry, at Blueberry and Wolf Swamp. Um so I think for we want to we have dedicated
time already in the calendar built in for that to happen but I also believe um all the principles will be supportive of providing release time or substitute coverage if there's a need for a conversation that needs to take place um more urgently or some planning um to take place so that we can make sure that
that there's a space for that. Okay. Any other questions? I know it's a pilot program, but is the hope that by the end of the year there's sort of a a working curriculum that all three schools would use that are unified
around. Yes. Or Okay. We would want to make sure that it's fully aligned um so that those special projects are happening at all three uh at all three schools. So certainly every individual teacher can put their own spin and flare on how that curriculum is delivered, but
we want to make sure that there's a similar experience regardless of what school you're in. Perfect. And I know the math frameworks, the ST frameworks you highlighted in here um in pink some of what those were. Um and it looks like there's a good blend of both the SEAL
castle competencies and those science ones. It feels kind of I mean I guess we'll find out over the course of the pilot program. Um if it will feel like there's room to fit the current Yes, exactly. the current STE frameworks for each grade while also accommodating some
more space for the Yale ruler which is exciting to see more opportunities for that to grow in the district as well. Absolutely. Yeah. So I think there'll be a lot of revision, reflection, conversations and and tweaking as we learn. You know, that's the best thing about having a pilot. you learn what
works and um you you just refine and improve. So, great. Thank you. I have a question. Um so, I know currently because I just had two students in first grade, they learned through their tech
integration class everything that they needed to know about using a Chromebook. And that was something that they didn't have the skill set for. They were used to kind of more of like an iPad or um a phone. And so I'm just I I want to just
make it I'm understanding that that's going to be now something that's taught to them in library so that this can take place. Correct. And so the digital literacy skills will be more geared in the library class and this will be more
of the time where they can apply and we can find alignment to the other. Yes. So, and then of course just by the nature of that we're using computers in classrooms, the classroom teacher has a responsibility in that as well. And they
are working on that digital citizenship every time they're opening their Chromebooks and reminding them, you know, appropriate use of technology and appropriate and safe use of um the internet and being online. So, it's kind of infused in everything we do now just
by the nature of of where we are in the 21st century. Um, but we do have, you know, the teaching digital citizenship and pre-K to 12 and we would want to make sure that we're honoring this work. Um, and that this work doesn't doesn't leave us. Um, so we certainly see that a
space for that. Yeah. And I mean, I think this is what is an example of it is that it is ever evolving work. you know, it's always changing and the the way we teach digital citizenship has to be like dynamic and flexible and
so does the way that we you know it's a great place for kids to have UDL. Um do you feel that so it's a lot of the SEAL stuff getting tied into um the kind of STEM steam projects. Are you afraid that
like I know there was a piece about inclusion, but I just want to make sure like that those opportunities like the STEM and the STEAM enrichment or if it's during a specials that it is a time where kids who have learning
disabilities are honored in there as well. like maybe they have a harder time with collaboration than others and we don't want to be like taking away from their work in learning steam in STEM by focusing a lot on that or is that
something that will be yeah and so the way the elementary schedule works um students are included that's one of the most inclusive spaces is the related arts um but I think that as I said earlier I think sometimes these are the opportunities for students to shine the
greatest um that might maybe a traditional math or ELA lesson is really a challenge, but you kind of remove that barrier when you can give them something in front of them and and and work with that. Um and we know that everybody's a little bit different and everybody their
challenges are different, but we work with every student. Um and we want to make sure that every student's successful. So, I I see it as a great way to to actually be more inclusive and and to support their learning. Awesome. Thank you. Um, any other
questions? All right. Then we have a recommended motion. I move on the recommendation of the curriculum subcommittee that the school committee approved the curriculum for a new course entitled Exploration Studio. We have a motion. Do we have a second?
Second. Any dis any discussion or comments? Looking forward to hearing next year uh roughly probably a little earlier than this Mayish. Um kind of how it all came together and what it what it looks like it'll be for the 2627 school year. Be
great. Maybe we can have a capstone presentation. Yeah, that'd be great. I'm looking forward to it, too. I think um I looked at a bunch of different websites of school districts just to see like well what are they doing like what is it and what I came up with was everybody is doing something different right now and
like the common pattern that I saw was it is ever evolving and kids need to learn about themselves and how the world works and they have to learn from each other and it's sort of lost on a lot of kids these days especially postco so I'm
excited for the opportunity to see how pilot works out. I am, you know, curious about the measurements. I know it's hard to measure, but I think in the way that we we split up the the grades and the the themes and the projects, maybe
there's a way we can preassess and post assess and do that like parallel to what's happening at the two other elementary schools and really look at that to see like is this the best approach? is there. Um cuz one one other area is like nature and science too. I know this is like it's a lot but like
that's one other way that I think kids could be like learning more in nature with science. So I'm excited about like the maker stuff. Um, I was reflecting today on 2019 when I we had did this like almost like a everybody stop and
read, but it was everybody stop and steam. And I had to teach kids to put circuits into bananas so that they then they we learned how to play um Mary had a little lamb and I remember how scary and nervous it was for me. I had no
training as a teacher to teach this at all. But I think at the heart of every teacher and same with like through CKLA um people are passionate to give the kids in front of them what they need. And um like they were just all so happy
and proud and and I saw kids that never got along working together because they were so excited to like hit the the banana button. And I had practiced so many times the night before that no one in my house still wants banana bread.
Any other comments or discussion? All right, then we will vote. Adam, Kate, yes. Nicole, yes. Emmy, yes. And a yes for me, too. All right. Thanks, everybody. Thank you,
Dr. Nelson. Thank you. Have a wonderful summer if I don't see you. Thank you, too. Okay, we are on to ongoing business. Middle school building project update. Sure. Uh we last night had an opportunity uh to present to the select
board on the status of the middle school project. Uh Christian Witet, the principal architect, one of the principles from JWA, our design team. uh and I presented to the select board and we put together a slide deck and I thought I'd take another opportunity
since um this also goes out to the wider community to provide an update on where we are with the middle school building project. So I will uh sort of move through this efficiently if that's okay. Um we have as uh it's it's known to the
committee uh Christian uh reiterated to the committee uh the members of the school building committee which uh we have to um uh identify a new uh school committee member to take Julie Morgan's place who uh has been on the building committee as a member of the school committee. Um last night uh Christian
and I had an opportunity to talk to the select board about the proposed site plan. And I know this has been a topic of conversation with the committee, but um I thought it was worth uh reinforcing a few things. You'll see the the lengthy
driveway to uh take uh as much traffic off the street as possible. One of the things that um is worth highlighting is on William Street as you're heading eastbound. Um you can see sort of perhaps see my cursor faintly. uh
heading down William Street, there is a proposed uh turn lane heading onto the campus. So, we hope that that's another strategy to alleviate um the potential congestion. I think the I I'll I'll say
again that what we have here is a is a campus that is designed for traffic and busing and pedestrian traffic. Our current campus is not designed that way. our current campus, the parking lot, the driveway, a through street, the bus
lane, and the drop off lane are all combined and and really there is no it's just one open space on the current Williams site. This breaks it out into, you know, distinct uh bus lanes, traffic
lanes, parking, drop off, etc. Um you can see that the site plan also incorporates uh a uh artificial uh turf field on the um south side of the campus. And so, uh, I think it was
widely felt that given the amount of of traffic and play that goes on on that Williams campus that it was important to have, um, a field that served, it was a multi-purpose field that served students and athletes, uh, throughout all
seasons. So, the site plan, this information is posted to our website, and certainly if folks have any questions, uh, we're happy to address those. Um we continue to be engaged with police, fire, DPW,
um town manager's office on the site plan. Uh as recently as a couple of weeks ago, uh we had a large meeting of all those folks and school and school officials as well just to think through the traffic flow and think if any additional adjustments were needed. Um
uh good view of the the elevations from different angles. Um, again, familiar to this committee, I'd say, but uh, looking for every opportunity to push this out to the wider community as we prepare for votes in September. Some interior
sketches. We are only at the schematic design phase. Uh but even at this stage uh the renderings are fairly advanced and you'll see uh the renderings here a lot of um uh wood surfaces that bring some warmth and color into the building
that we think will add an attractive element. Um the the general floor plan uh you can see how the floors would stack. Uh each wing uh will uh house a
team of students or teams of students. Right now our schools uh are organized in hundred student teams. There's a 100 student team at sixth grade, seventh grade, and eighth grade. That will continue to be the case in the in the new school. Um, and so though it's a
larger school with a larger cohort of students, a greater enrollment, it is an opportunity for us to really ensure that kids have that that small school feel and that they are still assigned to the hundred student teams. Uh, the admin the
notice the the counseling wing that's stacked on top of the administrative office. I think that's one of the things that stands out is the the seal supports uh that will be incorporated into this building. It is a a highly inclusive school. Very excited for the um uh
spaces that we've set aside to serve students on uh on IEPs. Uh we think that it creates uh very inclusive opportunities for us. All of the classrooms will be larger than what we're typically used to, which in itself
that creates opportunities for inclusion. Um, another look at the the floor plan. I won't uh linger too much on the educational advantages. We've discussed that at length uh here at this committee meeting. But, you know,
certainly the opportunity to bring more students uh into the middle school to expand academic programming, to expand elective programming is very, very powerful. and the spaces, the furniture, the fixtures, the equipment, the
technology that will be available to kids, I think will really help us raise the bar uh for students at the middle level. We're very excited about that. Um the on the sort of the uh south side of the building is an area that
incorporates the arts, the performing and the fine arts and incorporates some of the steam spaces. Um, and we think that area of the building is going to be a focal point for the type of programming that Beth described earlier, which is built around students
researching, designing, creating, presenting, like all of those durable skills that we want students to get. I think this building is really going to help us advance and embed all of those critical durable skills. Um the overall schedule again
familiar to most September votes uh we can't say that often enough September 9th town meeting September 30th will be a ballot vote. We would need success at both stages to advance the project. Um
and then finally um these are um our preliminary pro uh project costs uh while we are here at schematic design. I say that these are preliminary because it is tomorrow, big day tomorrow, June
18th, we will um have an opportunity for our project to be formally considered by the MSBA board. And um we anticipate that the board will approve the schematic design. They will approve the all overall project scope and budget and
that will put us in a position to bring the project forward to the residents in September. Um, just quickly on the on the project costs associated, you'll see that the overall total project budget at
just over $151 million is almost exactly where we thought this project would land um about a year ago. And two independent estimators have looked at the schematic design and looked at the plans and
really came within fractional numbers of each other. uh in terms of supporting that estimated total project budget. So, we feel very confident that that $151,594,000 total project budget is a is a a good firm solid number for us to continue.
The MSBA um grant we're estimating at $54.7 million. And it's worth sort of noting that um we will receive the MSBA
reimbursement will be about 56% of eligible costs. So I'll repeat that. 56% of eligible costs. There are project costs that are eligible for reimbursement by the MSBA and then there are project costs that uh are not deemed
to be eligible by the MSBA. For example, the auditorium is not considered to be an eligible cost. Uh but it's important to the um to the music department. It's important to our educational program and plan. And so the building committee felt
strongly that uh we should proceed with an auditorium as opposed to cafetum or gymnastorium. Is that the right word? Um, but those are some of that's an example of the the types of costs that
would be deemed ineligible by the MSBA. We're anticipating that the district share of the project would be 96.8 million. Um, worth underscoring that um the design incorporates
about $1.4 $4 million of offsite improvements to alleviate to mitigate the potential uh traffic and congestion issues. Um so that would include a proposed turning lane, an additional sidewalk on Williams, and then some
enhanced signage and beacons and that kind of thing throughout the campus. So we feel um we feel confident that the overall project costs that we have identified they've remained consistent for a long time now and we feel confident going to the MSBA with with
these projected costs and we feel confident that the MSBA is going to look favorably on this project tomorrow. So, um, cross your fingers. We're anticipating an affirmative vote from the MSBA. And, you know, if that goes well, if we get the town votes in
September, then we would proceed to uh full design and construction in the spring or summer of 2026 for an opening in the fall of 2028. So, um, things were in the May June time
period, as Nicole knows, as a member of our our building committee, uh, things were were moving productively, I'd say. Um, and now we're at that stage where we're going to wait and see what the MSBA says and, uh, if we get the green light there and with the town, we'll
we'll roll into the advanced design phase. So, um, we're excited, um, for the opportunities. We're excited. It it we got a good reception from the select board last night. Uh they appear to be uh firmly behind the project. Um and we
are making our way to various town constituencies including the planning board on July 2nd. Um just to give them an update. We don't need a special vote of the planning board just yet, but we do want
to keep the planning board engaged. And that also goes for other town departments, police, fire, DPW, etc., etc. So, we're really trying to do our our diligence in terms of uh you know, connecting with all the right stakeholders in in the wider community.
So, um appreciate the chance to update the committee and the wider community on where we are with the building project. And if you have any questions, happy to happy to answer. So, being a newbie, I just have a a few questions that you probably already covered in previous meetings, but so I
understand what you're saying is that there there's going to be construction on Williams. We're a new turning lane. Yes. So, we're going to widen that road. Correct. Great. And then I just noticed in the notes already answering one of my questions that we're going to be able to have some economies of scale in our administrative staff. Yeah. I think I
think I would I would probably link it back to like operational costs and and really um the efficiency that we'll gain. Right now there's there's a lot of redundancy, right? We have, you know, teachers, administrators, custodians, food service personnel um across both
schools kind of doing some of the same work. And so they'll there'll naturally either be some savings associated with operations. Um but I think we can spend our education dollars more wisely. I think we can we can be more targeted, more efficient in the in the way we
commit resources that really make a difference to kids in terms of teaching staff uh and and programming. So, so there will be some realignment in terms of the number of teachers that teach middle school in one meta. I think we have to sit down and sort of I think one
of Yeah, we don't know for sure yet, but we have developed a really lengthy education plan that's kind of laid out what we what we hope to see. I think we also over the next three years have to think about what additional offerings we
can provide to students and I think that will some of that will drive the answer to the question that you're talking. So, we really think that we can provide some additional elective opportunities for kids and and um and you know m so music
educators rather than kind of running back and forth between two schools, they can be more specialized in their practice. So, it's not necessarily that that you're trying to save on teaching staff, but you're able to commit their their schedules, commit them more
efficiently and more effectively for kids, I'd say. and our class sizes will stay the same. Yeah, I I think actually it will help us with some class size issues. We we you know, Long Meadow's got a really firm commitment to really manageable good class size. And so when
you have larger cohorts of students, it really can divide those cohorts more evenly. Um we've had experiences in recent years where uh a particular grade level at one of the schools might spike to
you know, 115 kids. And so there's a question, you know, it's it's a little bit maybe it's 120 kids. It's a little bit more than the existing staff can can handle and you have to add fractional amounts of English teachers or social studies teachers, but when you have
larger cohorts of students, it really can divide them more efficiently across grade levels. So, we actually I think it's gonna it's going to help us even out uh class size for all kids across, you know, all grades. So wonderful.
Sounds great. Yeah, it's exciting. I think those were my questions. Any other questions or comments? Thank you. Appreciate the chance. Y so next on the agenda is the 2025 2026
school calendar revision. All right. So, um let me you have um a recommended revision uh for the 2526 school year calendar in your packet and
I'd ask you to there's there's two recommendations in there. One is the recommendation of the calendar committee and one is the recommendation of the superintendent. Um, and so, um, before we get to that, I I just want
to explain in greater detail why we need to consider some revisions to the 25 26 school year calendar. So, give me one second here. Um,
so it begins with um a and I'll share this for our members at home. And this document is in your packet.
It begins with the changes to our uh parent teacher conferences for the 2526 school year. And so the conference schedule at the K8 level and the 912
level uh will look slightly different based on the terms of our agreement with the Long Meadow Education Association. So um we spent a lot of time thinking about how we can sort of bring conferences into the 21st
century. We we have a conference model that predates um email, phones in classrooms, Zoom communication um all of the tools that are available to parents, caregivers and our staff.
And so next year we have um developed a new conference schedule that will one of the prime features of this it will take uh one full day will be dedicated to parent teacher conferences from um 8 in
the morning to 4 in the afternoon. And so that's going to create um a nice chunk of time for our educators and for our parents to to have those conferences. I'd also say as as we look at the conference schedule, um our educators I
I would say um are really good about being responsive to requests for phone calls, emails, meetings, quick Zooms. Um and so this is sort of reflective of
that. We we find that um you know the the the conference schedule can be a little bit more flexible. So the the total amount of hours that we're anticipating uh next year will be the same number of hours in total that we've had in the past, but we would transition
from fewer half days for conferences. We had we had four half days for parent teacher conferences, which is really kind of unusually it was an unusually high amount when compared to peer districts. Uh so it'll transition us from some of those frequent half days uh
to uh the full day of conferences that I mentioned and we would still retain a couple of uh uh we would still retain one of the evening conferences as well. The other thing that will happen is that this will um more than double the amount
of time that's available for high school conferences. Uh we had heard that our high school parents and caregivers were having a hard time accessing the limited amount of time that we had set aside and it was sort of like speed dating quick you know five literally five minute
conferences. So we've we've expanded the amount of conference time available to parents uh and caregivers of high school students. So, I know we've talked about this, but the the reason for the adjustment to the 2526 calendar uh is
tied to the new conference schedule that we'll be sure to um explain to parents in greater detail. So, for your consideration is a calendar that um
really is the same for all practical purposes. it matches the calendar that had previously been approved by the school committee. In other words, the committee the the calendar um has the same start date, end date, vacation dates,
all of those key uh cornerstones of the calendar have not changed. What has changed is the assignment of some of the conferences. So calendar committee came together, we developed a set of recommendations for the school committee
to consider. Um subsequent to that there was one adjustment that I wanted to bring to the committee. Um only difference between the calendar that uh the calendar committee put together and the administrative
recommendation that I'm offering is the placement of the high school conference. it would move the high school conference evening from the uh second half of the year to the first half of the year where it has always been. So
um there's a lot of a lot of detail in here. Um I guess I would say the key dates for parents have been in place for a while now. They've known first day, last day, vacation days. Those are the things that people plan around. But um
for your consideration, my recommendation to you is to uh is the 25 26 school year calendar that um is noted as the administrative recommendation of the superintendent. Happy to answer any questions about it or uh explain further
the um parent teacher conference schedule. Anyone have any questions? If not, we'd like to entertain a motion. I move on the recommendation of the superintendent that the school committee approve the 2526 school calendar as
presented and dated June 2nd, 2025 superintendent version. It's June 12th. I'm sorry. Oh, sorry. June 12th, 2025. Thank you. We have a motion. Do we have a second? Any comments or discussion? Thank you to the calendar committee for working on
that. again. Um, if I'm correct, you also your recommended change has also been discussed with LEA calendar committee. They Yes, I did circle back. Thank you. Um, I did circle back with the calendar committee. They're sort of friendly to uh the adjustment that I put
in front of you tonight. So, I appreciate the chance to to mention that. Thanks. Yeah. Thank you. All right. So, we'll move to a vote. Adam. Yay. Kate, yes. Nicole, yes. Emily, yes. And
yes for me, too. So, next up, we have our school committee meeting schedule where we'll plan out our summer meetings. And this has all the meetings on here that we'll have all year. So, correct, just mark them with your calendar. They're mostly all
Tuesdays, but there's some It says when they're a Monday because of holidays or the town meeting. And then same in May, there's a Thursday meeting because of um the town meeting, a Monday meeting in November because of Veterans Day. But
those are all the meetings. Are is anyone have any like with the summer meetings put out there? Like any problems with them? I'll most likely be remote for all of them. My camera has to make it for the August 19th one. We have August 5th uh and and
August 19th is something that that Nicole and I had discussed. It's it's possible that there won't be any pressing business for the August 5th meeting. Um more likely there will be some items for us to to talk about on the 19th, but it's good to it's easier
to cancel a meeting than to try to um place one on the fly. So mark those for the summer. Okay. Do those all work? if no one has any problems with them. I know we're missing some. Oh well,
those are when the meetings are going to be. Snooze or lose. You snooze, you lose. And um for our new members, we will as the dates approach or maybe even well in advance, we'll send out meeting invites so that you can kind of just easily uh
plug it into your calendar. So, we'll get that we'll get that information off to you. That's just an informative priority agenda. No votes. We're going to move on to um the uh 25 grants and special revenues
revisions. Good evening. Um got in your packet is a uh request for the school committee to consider a revision to our FY25 budget. uh specifically um some grants that we
either have currently in our budget or recognizing two new grants that we received uh later this school year. Uh so I'll quickly just review them. The METCO grant is just realigning the allocation of the uh budget to reflect
where we anticipate the final spending for FY25 to be. Uh, same with the credit for life grant. Um, again, it's just um it's recognizing that as a new grant, sorry, for $6,400. It supported a
program at the high school for juniors. Um, bringing in an opportunity for students to experience some real life challenges with budget and loans and uh groceries and having to go through this experience of uh living based on a
profession and a salary you get. um and trying to manage your budget based on expenses. So was trying to bring some real life opportunity experiences to the I think they were juniors for the junior class for a while. Credit for life. Is it
scholastic? I don't think so. Yeah. I can't remember who as the author of the program. I don't I think it's the might be a local chamber of commerce or local bank that that sponsors it. Yeah. Oh, really? So that helped paid to bring in the entity and um the materials for the
students to participate in this activity and hopefully give us the basis for offering it every year. Um a new um special ed IEP grant to help with the implementation of the state's new IEP uh that started up this year. So there's
$15,000 that will be recognized uh through this budget revision. And then the last one is the cooler communities grant which uh again was already in the budget but just revising the distribution in the lines. Uh this
grant supported center school. They uh were involved in the um Earth Day program down on the green uh I think back in May early June at a booth and um encouraging composting and recycling throughout the community. So, the total
revision would add $26,400 to our uh total budget for FY25. Great. Any comments or questions about the revisions to the revenues? Move that the school committee approve
the FY25 grants and special revenues revisions number four dated June 10th, 2025 as presented. Got a motion. Do we have a second? Second. Any discussion?
So, move into a vote. Adam Gary. Kate? Yes. Nicole? Yes. Emily? Yes. And a yes for me, too. So, now we're moving into um the building requests, which I believe have already been recommended by the finance
subcommittee. It's a consent agenda. So um there's no discussion on items on a consent agenda. So if any committee member would like to discuss one or more of the items on the agenda discussed, the committee will have to vote to
remove the item from the consent agenda. So does anybody have any of the items in the consent agenda that they want to discuss for building use? You can give a quick overview if you want. Um so there are three requests. One is from from the
Long Meadow uh Park and Recck Department, the Youth Football Association for uh use of the high school uh the multi-purpose room back here next to our back gym for um a football or
weightlifting program for all students in grades 7 through 12, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursdays, and Fridays starting on June 23rd running through August 8th. The second request is from the youth football association which
would be for the high school fields for trainings on um Monday, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays starting on July 20th running through August 7th. And the last one is from the Girl Scouts of
Central and Western Massachusetts for uh to hold their meetings um for various states at Wolf Swamp who's in the cafeteria. Um the dates are listed there. They're on Tuesdays starting in September through
December. Uh approximately 15 participants in that one. Uh the Girl Scouts and the youth football um park and rec one are repeat requests. We get them every year. Um the youth football
one running the um field use for their trainings, their drills is new this year for us. Are there any of the items in that consent agenda that anyone wants to discuss? Seeing that there isn't, I would um
entertain a motion. I move on the recommendation of the finance subcommittee that the school committee approve the consent agenda for the June 17th, 2025 school committee as presented. We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. Second. Great. Any discussion? No, we can't discuss it,
right? Anyways, let's just vote. Adam, yes. Kate, yes. Nicole, yes. Emily. Yes. And a yes for me too. Thank you.
So now we are moving on to gifts to the school. All right. So you have uh we mentioned earlier in the meeting um the generosity of the Long Meadow Educational Excellence Foundation. And so, um, the school committee has a
policy where that requires the committee to formally accept, uh, gifts to the schools. And so, we're really excited to, uh, learn earlier this or late this year that, um, LEAF had approved $94,11
in grants for the 2526 school year. Um, we're really fortunate to have uh a foundation that is this generous and that supports and incubates creative projects that teachers have in mind. Um,
so often these projects, you know, they start as uh innovative incubator type of experiences and then they wind up getting amplified across all of our schools. And so in your packet is is a a summary listing of all
the projects that LEAF has supported. And um without trying to name all of them, it might be worth just for folks at home. leaf grants uh to support Word Scholars at Blueberry, uh Circuit
Machines at Blueberry, um volleyball uprights and nets at Glenbrook, um Model Congress work at Long Meadow High School, um graphic novels at Long Meadow High
School, um na uh cello storage racks for the music department, uh culturally and linguistic diversity training for speech and language language pathologists, um, middle school chorus resources, owltastic ecosystems explorers, a
hands-on science adventure for fifth grade science at at Wol Swamp. Just to give you a flavor of some of the just some of the the projects that were awarded uh through the LEAF grant process. So, um recommend to the committee that you uh accept the grants
again totaling $94,11 from the Long Meadow Educational Excellence Foundation. I love some of the titles of these projects like Nutty for Non-fiction and Giddy for like sign me up. Yes, I'm nutty for non-fiction.
Yeah. Any um questions or comments about the gifts? Thank you again to Leaf for all the work they do every year. Yeah, they do an incredible job. They're really invested in in the schools. We're lucky. Yes. Yeah. I move on the school I
move that the school committee accept with genuine appreciation the gifts to the schools as described in the gifts to schools document dated June 17th, 2025. We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. Second. Any discussion? Seeing none, we'll move to a vote. Adam,
yes. Kate, yes. Nicole, yes. Emily, yes. And a yes for me, too. So, now we're moving on to Desi program monitoring. All right. This has been in your uh packet for a couple weeks. We didn't get to it at
your last meeting. Um but actually somewhat timely that we were able to present it tonight for our new uh committee members. Um sometimes quietly our directors
um respond to Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education uh program monitoring requirements. Uh, and so when I refer to the directors, I mean director of student and family support, ND Rosari, director of special education, Nicole Paris Crow, and our
director of curriculum, uh, Beth Nelson. And the three of them uh, responded with diligence to the program monitoring requirements uh, that um, basically monitor how we spend critical grant money and how we support students uh, in
some critical areas. So, for starters, the elementary secondary or the elementary every student succeeds act um requires some monitoring of the title one, title 2A, and title 4A funds that we receive. Title one is the is the most
critical uh resource for us in this area. Uh Glenbrook and Wolf Swamp are title one schools based on the number of um lowincome uh families that send their students to us. And so um it supports
some very specific programming at Glenbrook and Wolf Swamp. Uh we did well with the program monitoring findings there. Uh we fulfilled requirements in 26 of the 28 monitoring categories. This is a I can't underscore enough how what
a heavy heavy lift this is for uh for our directors to respond to the monitoring requirements. they have to pull together a considerable amount of evidence to show how we fulfill um uh the requirements of the grants. And
you'll see the the six areas that were monitored in conjunction with the uh Every Student Succeeds Act. Um so 26 out of 28 monitoring categories. Uh they did note that we needed to do a better job posting a school report card to the Wolf
Swamp site. So that's been taken care of. Uh and then also ensuring that we are diligent about um doing some family and guardian outreach for title one um families families that might benefit from title one programming. So uh we'll
be sure to address that in the coming year as well. uh Nicole Paris Crowe um took the lead on responding to what's called the tiered focus monitoring uh project of DESIE and the they
monitored our adherence on a number of standards um dozens and dozens of standards but the general buckets that we had to respond to included early childhood transition, student identification, IP development programming, supports and services,
secondary transitions and ensuring that we provided equal opportunities. So, uh again there I think we did quite well um a reflection of the diligence of our directors and all the the teachers that are involved in these areas. Uh there
was only one area that was deemed to be uh partially implemented and we have already taken corrective action on that. it was relating to the transition of students from um early childhood programs into our preschool and
kindergarten. So, um we're pleased to to know that we jumped on that right away, but uh I think uh you know, they're bound to find some areas to uh give us some feedback on. It's almost like holding up a mirror. Uh and and we're
bound to find a few things that we can improve on. Um, Nilzari took the lead on responding to the focus monitored focus monitoring in the area of English lang language learner education. Uh, you'll see the areas that were um were audited
and monitored. Uh, again, Nilda pulled together a considerable amount of information for DESIE officials to review. Uh there were a few areas that um we were found to be um partially
implementing in and and Nilda has um as she often and always does um taking the lead to ensure that our implementation will be full in the areas that are projected here. um ensuring that we are
identifying and properly serving English language learners when they first join us uh as students here in Long Meadow. um in ensuring that we're properly monitoring them as they make their way
through the grades and that um we're also making sure that we are uh providing appropriate opportunity for uh families to opt out if they choose not to access the services. But documenting that uh is an area that we needed to uh
tighten up. And then SEI endorsement. SEI stands for, pardon the all the acronyms to our our new members here. Uh SEI stands for uh sheltered English immersion. It's a certification that teachers who serve EL students are
required to have. And so we just want to make sure that we are that that teachers who serve EL students have that endorsement um when they begin teaching EL students. I think Nilda had actually reported this already to Yeah, we were
presented on this thoroughly and I know I brought up a couple questions and I know even that part was more of like a student coming in after and that one teacher happening to not have you know just a a shift and she'd already worked
on partnering with um administrators in Springfield to improve our impressed with that's been one of the strengths I think of our response is that it's really encouraged those partnerships with area school districts and area colleges to ensure that we are
um that we've have a pipeline of educators and that we have ways to ensure that teachers get that SEI endorsement. Uh and then really ensuring one of the things that's happened uh is to work closely with um Thomas Barrows
who manages our student information system so that we really want to make sure that we're tracking and monitoring students e students in that um student information system power school. So um all those things have um are have taken
place and and already in place. So really pleased with um the leadership that the directors provided to um to um really reflect the diligence that we have in in so many areas and a lot of red tape, a lot of bureaucracy, but at
the end of the day, it's important to be compliant in these areas to ensure that we're properly supporting kids. though. Um also perhaps to provide the committee and the community with that reassurance that um in addition to the oversight provided by the school committee uh in
administration we have federal oversight we have desi oversight that that keeps us uh um compliant as well. So thanks for the chance to update you on that. Just I have a question. What percentage of um our student population are English as second language students? Uh
I'm gonna say I'll bring you back an exact number. I think we're around 40 or so. Mr. Mazer, would you know? 40% 40 including the flips. So what percent is that? We're like at one one and a half%.
Yeah. But it has gone up significantly in the last It's gone up. It's gone up. Yes. Yeah. And 20 was high for us a few years ago. Now we're in the 30 to 40. Oh, okay. Range. And then the the so it's pretty significant increase and the
intensity of the need varies from year to year too. I mean sometimes you can have a larger cohort of EL students but perhaps um their level of need isn't as high and you can have a smaller cohort but they're you know they're they're just emerging as English speakers. So
one. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. All right. Any other questions? I just want to ask one clarifying question. Um, well, first I I just am always impressed with Nicole Paris Crow. And I mean, this is to be able to have
like, oh, only one is partially met, but everything else is like check check is very impressive. And and it's it's binders and binders. I'm reflecting it in in just a small number of slides, but we're talking binders and binders of of data and evidence that they had to
compile. And so I know obviously who's the district person responsible for that. And I know Nilda is responsible for the um Yeah. multiling language learners but the title one is that also Nilda or who's the Nilda and
Beth's office kind of coordinates the budget but Nilda often you know will be involved in some of the programming. Okay, great. Okay, one we we use in a variety of ways to support um some of our neediest kids. Any other questions or comments?
All right, thank you. move on to our new school committee assignments. Very, very exciting. So, I think I heard from
I don't know how the best way to do this is do you because it's usually people. Yeah. Oh, well, no. We usually go through go through see who volunteers. the uh some of us may have an agenda that
I did. Yeah, I'm missing a lot of the annotated I think the last couple of pages on the agenda got cut off. So, okay one here as well. I'll take that right here. All right. J already said he wants to do
the same. Oh, assignments. Missing all these pages lost. Yeah, sorry about that. Oh, yeah. Okay. And then so we have the
page agenda and then the detailed. All right. We can start with the finance subcommittee. So, previously on the finance subcommittee was Jamie, Julie, and Nicole. Julie is her spot on
the finance subcommittee is open. I know that Jamie would like to continue on it. I'm happy to also continue on it. Is there anyone interested in being in the finance subcommittee? Is there a list of the committee? Yes, it's in your item number 12. [Music]
Okay. What goes into that? Yep. So, finance sub, I should let you answer my first finance sub goes over all the things related to the budget. Okay. Anything that might be related to the to the budget. In theory, it meets roughly once a month. Sometimes a little bit less frequently depends, sometimes a little
more frequently depending on what's going on. Um, all subcommittees meet kind of at the scheduling preference of the members of the subcommittee. So, whatever time works for the most people on that subcommittee will be the date for that meeting at that time. Um, and
then yes, Tom graciously walks us through a thousand budget specific things and then answers all of my many questions while I try to keep up with the math. He's doing very fast in his head. I'm I'm interested. Okay, great.
So Emily will be on the finance subcommittee on the policy subcommittee. Last year was Julie, myself, and Adam. I obviously love being on the policy subcommittee very very much and would
love to continue. Um Adam, is that something you're interested in continuing with? Yeah, I think that would be a great idea. So, we have one position on the policy subcommittee and we we meet as regularly as the
Massachusetts policies change or we get ideas for other things. But it's fun. It's a really good time. I will volunteer. Oh, good. As long as it's fun. It is. I mean, if you like to
talk about words, it's fun. Okay. and read documents. It's the only place where you can have 30 minutes of conversation about a common placement. Yep. It's good times. It's fun. You can always log in and join us.
Yeah. Just for fun. Um we getting we get into it. Um all right. So then next we have the evaluation subcommittee which only meets really twice a year. Um it does have a little bit maybe three maybe three um a little
bit more um I'd say like work than others outside of the meetings but um I'm happy to do that one again. Yeah, me too. And I think Jamie said he'd be fine continuing in everything he is currently
in. Okay. So he'd be fine. And then naming we don't have to add Okay. So the curriculum subcommittee this last year was just Nicole and I and we didn't have a third person. It's also very very fun. Great great time. Really
good if you like to talk about great. Maybe only Nicole and I like but we do we do tend to like that a lot. Sure. I you know you said like your face said that to me. I said she looks like she she should be on the curriculum subcommittee. Okay. Great. So then next
we have the middle school building committee and we Nicole is willing to stay on and um it is a bit of a heavy lift some months more than others. Um so it's been Julie and I since the middle school building committee was formed
several years ago. We don't typically reappoint for that unless somebody's like I need to come off of that. Um but since Julie's gone, we need a second school committee representative to joined in that. Great. Awesome. Excellent. You okay? Yeah.
So, then next we have negotiations. I'll stay on it. Nicole will stay on it and um I'm sure Zach will stay on it, right? I think it would. Yeah. Yep. So, we have one open position on negotiations
if anyone's interested in that. Not my area of expertise. Every committee doesn't have to have three. So, it's also fine if you can always come back. As long as there's two, that's good. Um, and is it like will it be and payroll?
Jamie's fine with continuing on, but we would need a second. Um, which is often the chair if you're good with that. I need a vote of that. Yes. Male, I'm also though interested. Um, there's the wellness policy review committee. Oh, yeah. Adam is involved in Yeah, we can
get that. Do we It's two years. It's a Yeah, it's a it's a cyclical review. We just wrapped it up. Um, so we we probably can leave that unassigned unless unless the band gets back together. But I But I only have to do it if James not around. Okay, then. No,
that's fine. I I just So, and I'll call you. Maybe it could be ad hoc. Tell me what to do. We're excited. Chair, can I make a motion then? Yes. Okay. Um, I move that the school committee designate Jamie Hedge to review and approve the warrants and to appoint Michaela
Fitzgerald as his backup. We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. All right. And we'll vote. Adam. Yay. Kate, yes. Nicole, yes. Yes. And a yes for me, too. Can I make another
motion? Yes. I move that the school committee authorize Jamie Hench to sign payroll sheets. We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. Second. Um, all right. Adam, yay. Kate, yes. Nicole, yes. Emily, yes.
And a yes for me, too. All right. So, next we have the two LPVEC positions. Um, Nicole, do you want to give a Sure. So, the corporation meets, both of these
meet once per month. The corporation meets first. So that meeting tends to be shorter. It's about a half an hour. It's sort of an overview of the things that are going on. The director, the board of directors is the longer meeting. Um Adam has been doing this one and Zach
has been Adam, you've been doing the corporation and Zach has been doing the collaborative. Um if I know that Zach said he would be open to continuing the collaborative unless somebody else would like to tackle it. Um and in theory, according
to their chair, those meetings will be available um both in person and on Zoom beginning. Oh. Now, he loves it. He's so excited. I would, you know, I would not want to
rob any of the new committee member of the opportunity to get involved and really see the wonderful work that they're doing here and how, you know, this is this is the behind the scenes look at how education works in Western
Massachusetts. And I I really think it it's a great opportunity for for some of our newer committee members. Okay. Yeah. Um, LPDC, for those who are not yet sure what that is, is the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative. Um, so there are seven,
am I correct? There's seven. Thank you. Um, seven different towns that work together to provide um special education services, but also um technical and career programming as well. Transportation. And transportation. Yes, of course. The busing. That was always
Mary's favorite part. Yes. Is anyone new interested in any of those roles? I think Diane, you noted that this can wait if or because they don't meet over the summer. Yeah. So, if you want to think about it, but it can't wait till past
August. So, you need a representative by August. Okay. So, if we can pin it down tonight, it would be great, but not the end. Exactly. Then we can let them know. Yeah. All right. All right. Wait till wait. So
then we don't have to assign somebody to wellness policy review. I think we'll, you know, as Kate uh mentioned, it it might come up. I mean, if there's some change in federal or state legislation, but barring that, we're in a pretty good
place with our wellness policy. But if if it if if there are changes that land at our doorstep, then we probably would reconvene that committee and we could at that time appoint a committee member. All right. So then um we have energy
energy and sustainability. Need one school committee representative for awesome. Perfect. And then we have SEAL which is the special education alliance of Long Meadow. And I love to be on sale. I'll keep going. But if anybody else wants to
do it, I I'll still go to the meetings, but you can come too if anybody else wants to. No. Okay, I'll keep doing it. That's it, right? Um Yeah, cuz we're not going to vote on Oh, wait. Um we actually need to vote on Yep. Sorry. Uh
I'll make a motion. Can I make a motion? Yep. Yes. Thank you. Um, I move that the school committee appoint um, Kate Bean to serve on the middle school building committee. We have a motion. Do we have a second? We have a second. Um, and so
we can just vote for it now. Adam, yay. Kate, I guess I stayain. Nicole, yes. Emily, yes. And a yes for me, too. Fantastic. Looking forward to hearing your updates about the middle school building project.
One final motion. Oh, and then we have one final motion, right? I move that the school committee meet in executive session pursuant to mass general law, chapter 30A, section 21A, purpose two, to conduct a strategy session in preparation with collective bargaining
with units A, B, C, D, E, F, and H. Not to reconvene into open session. All right, we have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. Great. Uh, Adam,
yay. Kate, yes. Nicole, yes. Emily, yes. And a yes for me, too. And that concludes our public meeting for the night. Have a good night, everybody, and we'll see you at the next meeting.