Good evening and welcome to the Tuesday, December 16th meeting of the school committee. 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. Emily Hansen >> here. >> Jamie Hench, >> here. >> Kate Bean >> here. >> Nicole Schwiner here. And no one online, correct? >> No. All right, we will begin with the pledge of
>> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> We'll continue with correspondence. an email dated December 2nd, 2025 sent
by link. >> Thank you. All right, moving on to school committee meeting minutes for December 2nd, 2025. We have a recommended motion. >> I move that the school committee approve as presented the minutes of the joint budget review meeting held.
>> We're actually one right beneath that one. Yep. >> Oh, sorry, that one. Okay. Sorry. Um I move that the school committee approve the minutes of the December 2nd, 2025 school committee meeting as presented. >> We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. Thank you. Any discussion? Seeing none, we'll move to a vote. Emily, >> yes.
>> Jamie, >> yes. >> Kate, >> yes. >> And yes for me as well. Public speak, we do not have anyone here. We do not have anyone online. We're moving on. Business with guests, we have none. And that brings us to our student representative report. Welcome, Miss Shay. >> You're up.
>> Okay, so um last Friday and Saturday, the drama club had the Beetle Juice um play, and I heard that went really well. It was really um well done. The production was really impressive. Um and then on the 12th, the robotics club held
a STEM night for younger grades. So they where they really like introduced um a ton of students to what um the robotics club looks like in high school. And tomorrow there's going to be um a concert. Um and I know that they've been
working really hard, so that's probably going to go amazing. Um, and then next week we have uh some fun events to celebrate uh winter break coming up. So there's going to be an ugly sweater contest on December 22nd. And then on
the 23rd, the the day before break, we have the talent show and then the faculty versus senior basketball game and then like a maker space like craft area for students who don't want to do either of those events. So I'm really looking forward to that. It's always so
much fun. >> Nice. That sounds wonderful. Thank you. >> All right, that brings us into um school committee chair reports, which doveetales nicely with what we were saying. This is the time of the year where we get lots of emails and see lots of photos of fun and festive events
happening throughout the district. And so, just a big thank you to all of the faculty and staff members, parents, community members, and students um for making all of those events happen. Um and we wish everyone a safe and healthy and happy holiday season and winter
break. Any other committee announcements or recognitions? Seeing none, we'll head to the superintendent report. >> Sure. Few items for you. Yeah, to echo um what was said, all the holiday spirit
activities are are underway. Um ugly sweater contest, faculty student basketball games, pajama games, craft days, you name it. Um so, a lot of exciting things. Um, want to mention to the committee that we uh, one of our tasks this year, the administrative
team, is to review and revise our district curriculum accommodation plan. This is a plan that we uh, post and make available to families and staff. And it's meant to outline the range of supports that are available to all students uh, as part of our MTSS
framework, sort of outside of the supports that a student would typically access um, through an IEP. So, um, we're looking forward to finalizing that revision and sharing it with the community probably sometime in January. Uh, it's been a big undertaking for us
and it's also reflective of some feedback that we received from DESIE through the tiered focus monitoring process that we've talked to you about in the past. Um, in your packet is a copy of the governor's interim graduation
uh framework report. Uh it's a interim report from the state on the types of experiences and courses that the state will likely uh require or recommend. It's an interim report. We're expecting the final report sometime in June. So
we're busily unpacking that and it will inform some of our work around taking a look at student graduation requirements as well. Um, our middle administrators uh were here a few days ago. All four of them uh
in our conference room with some presenters from the national from the New England League of Middle Schools and it was a training specifically focused on uh building a schedule. Um, so we're we're constantly looking ahead to the new school opening in 2028 and we know
that um with the new facility, new staffing pattern that we'll need a new schedule as well. So they're they they've begun that work um and really have been revisiting some of the feedback that we've gotten from staff and from families in recent years. So
that's exciting work for our middle school administrators. Um Dr. Ariari has um is completing our SEAL walkthroughs and this is an exciting project. She has teams of educators and teams of students at our
K8 schools uh doing some walkthroughs to look at uh SEAL look for sort of to kind of take inventory of SEAL practices and kind of build on with the hope that we can build on on the practices that the teams are observing. So it's been some
really exciting work. I think it's been really well received by our educators. They've welcomed the chance to be in each other's classrooms. So, I thank Dr. Irizari for organizing that. Um the no place for hate certificates are in. And so, uh the collaborative for educational
services uh has facilitated that for us and and we are officially trained, officially recognized as No Place for Hate Schools at the middle and high school level. Danica mentioned the concert tomorrow night. um hoping for a good crowd at the LHS auditorium starts
at 7:00. You can also mark your calendars. January 22nd, uh a screening of the film Screen Aagers and there'll be a panel discussion following that and it's just meant to generate some conversation in the community on how to keep students safe online. Um I had the
opportunity recently to participate in a task force called Rev 250. It's a group of residents in town that are planning some uh activities uh to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. So, um the Long Meadow
members of the Long Meadow Historical Society are largely spearheading that work. Um more to come. And then finally, Mr. Maz and I were over on Brush Hill Avenue over in West Springfield today at the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative. Uh we had an initial
budget presentation from the LPBC. um mostly some projections that we anticipated and in and expected. Nothing uh too out of the ordinary, but those projections will obviously feed into the development of our FY27 budget
recommendation, which I know Tom will be working on uh over the next month or so with our administrative team and we hopefully will bring that to you, plan to bring that to you on on February 3rd. So that's the FY27 budget February 20 February 3rd. So, uh, and that's it.
Happy to answer any questions or take any feedback on any of those items. >> All right. Any questions and or feedback related to superintendent report? Seeing none, we're headed into other reports. Um, LPVC board of directors. Kate, >> we are meeting tomorrow night. I don't
have an update since the last update. >> All right. Perfect. LPVC board of governors, Emily. >> Same meeting tomorrow. >> All right. Perfect. Um, SEAL, we do not have a report from tonight. and energy and sustainability. >> Um, all right. So, we met on the 11th. Um, there's a a couple things I wanted
to talk about from that meeting. One is, um, the committee is they've, uh, submitted a building request for the high school. Um, they want to use the auditorium to do a workshop and like a panel Q&A around the documentary plastics people. Um, so they're they're
looking to do um starting around 6:30 the people will screen the film. It's like 80 minutes and then there'll be a Q&A um with some panel members around the documentary. They're looking at seeing if they can get babysitting services from the Key Club so that if people have children and then they want
to be able to come, uh they'll be able to to bring their kids. Um, one thing that they've mentioned is that they're asking the different town committees and boards for partnership to help spread the word with our respective audiences. Um, so, you know, I might see if we could maybe put a a plug about the
documentary and the different um, school newsletters that go out kind of closer to that date. Um, they did have a couple questions about if they want to do a snow date, do they have to do another request? Um, so I have a couple questions from them if they should go ahead and submit that as a separate request so they could reserve
us a day for like a snow date. >> Yeah, I mean it's hard to tell. I don't think they need a separate request, but if they have a date they're interested and if they want to send it to us, then we can at least check and the availability of the high school auditorium. >> Perfect. Um, and then they just wanted
to make sure uh the building use request will probably be on the next agenda for our approval. Yeah, I'm not even sure it's going to require a school committee Jennison since the high school not on a weekend during a vacation period. So, I think they might be able to move forward without it having to come here. >> Okay, perfect. Um, the other thing uh I
wanted to mention the climate action plan that the group is trying to draft. Um, they are actually looking at some grants to get helps from groups that actually write climate action plans or comm Yeah, climate action plans for communities who have experience doing that. Um, and so I mentioned it because
there'll definitely be sections that relate to schools. So, we'll want to take a look at those as those get drafted. Um, but they're trying to get those grant applications in, I think around March. Um, so that'll be good because we'll have groups that actually know how to write these things, helping us to draft those sections. Um, I think
that's it. Our next meeting is January 8th. >> Yeah, that's it. >> All right. Wonderful. Thank you very much. Moving forward, we have no subcommittee reports other than a note on policy sub um in the process of being scheduled. And that brings us to new
business. So, our competency determination policy that we looked at several weeks ago is back for a second reading and possible approval. Um this was posted already to the district's website and received no public input. Um do you want to do a quick recap before
we Yeah, sure. discussion. So you recall this is is necess it's necessary for districts to create a competency determination policy because of the uh ballot question that eliminated MCCAST as the way that competency was determined previously. So without uh
MCCAST districts are required by the state to establish a competency determination. I would say that this is separate and apart from our graduation requirements. Um I actually think of competency determinations they sort of sit inside of our graduation
requirements. Uh generally students if they were to follow the um the the recommended course sequence the recommended or the required course sequence here they would achieve that competency determination by the end of 10th grade in most cases which kind of
lines up with um when they would have taken and potentially passed the MCCAST in prior years. So, so this is a um for your consideration a competency determination policy. I'd say it builds off of some boilerplate language,
frankly, that we got from um from the superintendent association and from DESIE. Uh and it simply outlines the uh course requirements in the areas of ELA, uh mathematics, and social studies for
students beginning in 2027. Our our in and science as well. Our intention, as you know, is to take sort of a longer, harder look at how we define competency and what our graduation requirements are here in Long Meadow. That's work that
we're going to launch in January. But this is just to define competency for students who are currently enrolled with us at Long Meadow High School. So, as Nicole mentioned, the policy has been out for public comment. Uh we did not receive uh any public comment uh which
was anticipated. Um so it's for your consideration tonight. It can be voted if you're comfortable uh voting on the policy. >> All right. Does anyone have any questions about the policy and or in the interest of making a possible motion?
>> I move on the recommendation of the policy subcommittee that the school committee approve and adopt the competency determination policy. the I KFE as presented. >> We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Any further discussion? Seeing none, we'll move right to a vote. Emily, >> yes.
>> Jamie, >> yes. >> Kate, >> yes. >> And yes for me as well. All right, that brings us to an overnight field trip with preliminary approval. Um, Mr. Mazer, are you taking that or is that straight? Okay, >> I'm happy to take it. So, um, the your
policy requires approval for overnight field trips. This is simply sort of goes beyond what is required by policy is seeking a a preliminary approval. So it's been our practice to um come to the school committee to seek preliminary
approval on overnight field trips and that way our administrators can begin the process of making transportation arrangements and um overnight accommodations. So this is a trip for a group of students to attend the Mass Association of Student Councils spring
conference. Uh 12 students in total under the chapronage of Miss Heidi Drowick. So Danica, is that something you attend or >> Yeah, it is. >> So um this is just a preliminary approval. Once all the arrangements are made, we would come back to the
committee to seek uh final approval. >> All right. Always an excellent conference. Um, and thank you to the students for putting the time into that and to Miss Drowick for spearheading that. Um, we have a possible recommended motion for
>> um, early pre-approval for this. I move that the school committee based on the details provided in the report pre-approved the Long Meadow High School field trip for the student council to participate in the Massachusetts Association of Student Council spring conference on March 4th through 6, 2026 in Barnesville, Massachusetts.
>> We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Any further discussion? Seeing none, we'll move to a vote. Emily, >> yes. >> Jamie, >> yes. >> Kate, >> yes. >> And yes for me as well. Will this be your first time going to the conference table? >> This will be my second time I went last year.
>> Nice. Excellent. Well, enjoy. All right, that brings us to a building use request, Mr. Mer. I'm guessing that one is you. It is. Uh, good evening. Tonight, um, you have a building use request submitted by the Lawn Meadow Aquatic Club. They are looking for use
of the high school cafeteria on Thursday, January 29th from 5 to 8:30 p.m. for their end of season banquet. Believe they've requested this and have been approved in the past. >> All right. Any questions or feedback or
possible motions? All right. >> I move that the school committee approve the building use request as presented for the December 16, 2025 meeting. >> Thank you. We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Any discussion?
>> Seeing none, we'll move to vote. Emily, >> yes. >> Jamie, >> yes. >> Kate, >> yes. >> And yes for me as well. Glad to have the aquatics club back in the building also. All right, moving forward. Um, we are headed to Wait,
tell me something about a gift too. Did I go buy that or is that not happening today after all? >> Not that I wonder if it it's on the detailed. Did Did that make it up to a warning? We had one and I see a note about it. >> Um,
>> yeah, we do have one because it's >> donation. Okay. So, it's just not on this one, but it is on the um regular agenda. So, we should be good to talk about it since it made it onto the posted agenda. Correct. Yes, >> this is the posted one. Yes. Okay, perfect. Then, is that you as well, Mr.
Maza? >> I can take it. So, we did we received a gift um for funds to be used for students to attend Long Meadow uh high school basketball this season, both boys and girls. Um the
athletic director will be setting up a table on game days and during lunchtime for students to come receive a a ticket. Uh the donation is in the amount of $4,000 um to support those uh students attending and supporting the basketball
teams. So it's >> a very generous gift um from the donor, >> Mr. Dudak. >> All right. Great. So, we have a possible acceptance of the gift of $4,000 by Mr. Dudek to the Long Meadow High
School basketball. >> I move that the school committee accept the gift from Mr. Dudek as presented at the December 16, 2025 meeting. >> We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? >> Is did he give us the money or is he
going to refund us the money? >> He gave us the money. So, we're just going to hold it and then give it back if we don't use it all. >> We're going to track uh as tickets are distributed for students to attend and then I believe yes. If we don't, we'll require if you would want it back or hold it till next season.
>> Okay. Got it. >> All right. Any other questions or discussion? Seeing none, we'll move to a vote. Emily, >> yes. >> Jamie, >> yes. >> Kate, >> yes. And yes, for me as well, we accept with sincere appreciation generous gift building project.
>> Send off on a thank you to him on behalf of the committee. So, thank you. >> That's a generous gift. >> Um, >> sure. Uh, just briefly on the middle school building project. I I thought it would be most helpful just to share the
uh some of the slides from the last uh building committee meeting. So, um Oops. Let's see. So, we had um I'll make this a little larger. So, the meetings uh you know the the
design meetings um are well underway. Um we have um as you can see uh design meetings with town and school staff in in many important areas. athletic fields, a solar uh array, potential um
for a storage shed outside. The building committee talked about that. Um so, it's been a busy uh month or two of meetings to further the design of the of the middle school project. One of the things that the building committee is uh
considering is hiring a tax consultant to assist with the inflation reduction act. So there's a number of uh rebates that uh communities are can tap into from the inflation reduction act. Uh
it's it's a very dense, complicated, complex uh path to access those rebates and those incentives. And so communities that have secured those incentives have typically hired a tax consultant. So the
building committee has um is seeking uh proposals has put out requests for proposals to secure that tax consultant. So um it's a small investment with potentially significant returns. So a lot of the sustainable features of the
project are are subject to um to these incentives. Um, moving along, the the other thing that is progressing is the uh field design. And so this field would uh as we know it
would be a synthetic turf field that would accommodate soccer field hockey, boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse, and football. And so we've been in discussion with the design team about the some of the peripheral uh equipment,
the peripheral layout on this field, including some benches and some netting and uh and a storage shed as well. So uh if you have any questions or thoughts on that, you can let us know. Uh but that that field design is progressing well
and and we're uh eager to continue further that. Uh we also have been working with the design team on the staging, the construction staging. This is really the only thing to really represent here is in purple is the um
temporary access road. So we're contemplating at this stage a temporary access road off of Williams and temporary access to the school off of uh Woolworth. This is during the construction phase. And this is a a
layout, a rough draft of the staging that has been uh reviewed and approved by LFD and LPD as well. So, um more to come on that, but if you have any questions, uh certainly I can take them
back to the building committee or answer uh anything that you might be wondering about. also working with the design team on some of the exterior and interior colors and materials. So, this still needs some additional conversation, but
generally uh leaning towards uh what our design team calls the the warmer colors that are depicted here. Uh frankly, we've asked them to sort of pull back on some of the the bright colors that are represented here. Um but uh that work
continues and will be subject to the review uh to review by the by the building committee. Um I'm going to we're also looking at uh interior finishes. So this is a representation of the floor finishes that we're expecting
in the new middle school. The the blue along the main spine is terazzo flooring. Uh lenolum will be used in the uh main academic wings. Areas that are green will be carpeted. We're probably going to pull back on on some of the
green that you see here. Um so we'll be limited with carpeting and only use it in areas where you need sort of the you need that as a as a floor finish. Uh the science rooms uh will include a a polished concrete um uh and then in some
of the other science rooms actually a rubber flooring. So you'll see in the uh on the second floor here in in yellow is a uh is a rubber floor that will um be in the seventh and eighth grade science rooms. So, the floor finishes uh have
gotten considerable review and attention by our administrative team and the building committee. And um again, if you have any questions or input on that, certainly let us know. And then we uh are starting to understand and work with the building committee on the interior
finishes. This is a a view of the main entry that you'll see the terzo flooring and trying to think about some sort of splashes of color that would be um interspersed on that terazzo flooring. The the wall graphic you see here is
just a placeholder. It's not the wall graphic that we would feature, but it's just a represent that this is a way that we can bring some color into the building with wall graphics that represent the the culture and the spirit of the of the new middle school.
Uh so um again all in early stages uh and I think at this stage it's really more about the materials than the final colors that we would choose. Um but I know the building committee has some uh we'll want to stay uh attached to our
design team as the as this gets refined further. So, um, auditorium, um, really excited about the auditorium, sort of a two-tier auditorium that will, uh, feature a wood stage. Um, right now that the chairs are depicted having a a wood backing. We're
not sure if that would actually be the the final backing of the chairs. We we've been emphasizing to the design team that we really want uh durable materials that will stand up to the uh test of 600 middle schoolers. So, uh we're still working through that with
the design team, but it will be a fully accessible auditorium and really acoustically advantageous to our uh performing students and gymnasium as well, wood floor, and um we're full-size
high school uh size competitive court. And we're still working with the design team again on the on the finishes around the gymnasium. retractable uh hoops uh will make it a good multi-purpose space for the entire community. And then um
the committee also heard from JWA on a volta photovoltaic design proposal. This is to uh ensure that the building is truly photovoltaic ready. I think the the recommendation at this stage is to
um to include the to really work through the design and engineering of the roof and the rest of the systems in the building to be sure that it is ready for the solar array if that's a direction that the committee chose to go towards
the end of the project. So, uh it's easier to do that uh the layout and develop the specifications at this stage than to try and do it uh at the end. So, um that is still under review. Storage shed, we've heard from
uh town officials that and from school officials that storage uh exterior storage, outdoor storage will be important to the project. So, the building committee heard uh some proposals on an outdoor storage shed. No
final decisions were made uh other than just trying to secure some pricing on on the outside outdoor storage. So, uh I think that's it. And we also talked in um executive session about some of the security features of the new middle
school as well. So if you had any thoughts or questions on any of that, happy to try to answer now or take the questions back to the design team or the building committee. >> Any questions or feedback? >> Questions. Yeah. >> So once this like all these decisions that are being made?
>> Yeah. Is it solely the group group's choice or is this is there a vote on this or >> ultimately the the project is is the design is under the under the purview of the building committee but I think we
have a building committee that doesn't want to move faster than the input that we get from town officials from police fire um parks and rack DPW uh but ultimately It would be the the uh school the
building committee's purview to set the final scope and size and design of the building. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Got it. And the finished layout like as >> Yeah. >> Um and then my other kind of questions on this. So the fields are they are they
lit? >> Yes. >> There. So there's lights in there too. I I couldn't tell you. >> Not not depicted here at least in ways that I can tell. But, uh, it will be lit in sort of environmentally sound, um, lighting that that sort of is more
focused on the field in ways that doesn't create a lot of light pollution, we're told. >> Got it. And and then my I have one last one that the accountant that we're hiring, is that all in relation to energy efficiency or is that something else where there's these little buckets
of money that we're going after? uh as I understand it right now it's in relation to securing the um incentives tied to the inflation reduction act. >> So the geothermal system and other sustainable features of the building are potentially uh subject to these end of
project incentives that are paid directly to the town. >> So we are including geothermal in this correct? >> Y got it. >> Any additional questions andor feedback?
All right. Thank you very much. Um, seeing nothing else, we have a um, executive session motion and we'll be reconvening after. I move that the school committee meet in executive session pursuant to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 30A section 21A
purpose. Two, to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for collective bargaining session with unit B, D, and E. three to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation and seven approval of minutes and to reconvene into open session. >> Okay, we have a motion. Do we have a
second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? Seeing none, we'll move to a vote. Emily, >> yes. >> Jamie, >> yes. >> Kate, >> yes. >> And yes, for me as well, we'll return to open session after our executive session. Thank >> welcome back to the December 16th, 2025
Long Middle School Committee meeting. We are returning to open session. Um we'll begin with a quick overview of the memorandum of agreement that we have reached with the Long Meadow Education Association unit E. Dr. >> Sure.
uh pleased to uh reach tenative agreement with unit E. Uh unit E is um a collection of uh specialists who serve students across the district at all grade levels. Uh like other contracts
that have been settled, we are um we have an MOA for you to consider which is a three-year agreement. It would extend the contract three years. It would uh expand parental leave, expanded uh bereavement leave, provide some additional health and safety um
requirements. It would offer FMLA like uh benefits to employees who are not otherwise eligible for it based on their work year. Uh slight increase to the longevity payments that are featured in this contract.
The contract, the MOA for your consideration would also create an allowance for preparation time for BCBAS and RBTs. It would ensure that specialized assistants and RBTs in this unit receive
the appropriate schedules to ensure that they are on track for reertification and that their work is being properly overseen by uh other uh members with higher certifications. There's some brief housekeeping language
uh that has been changed. And then finally, uh compensation adjustment. Uh to stay competitive, the contract would uh adjust the hourly rate for RBTs by $2 per hour in the first year of the
contract. And then for other members of this unit, the increases would range from 2 and a half to 3% uh on the hourly rate for all categories in each unit in each year of the contract. So um
grateful to the uh LEA for their partnership for engaging in very collaborative negotiations to bring this MOA to you this evening and obviously to the school committee for their leadership uh in in guiding the
negotiations as well. So for your consideration. >> All right. Great. Thank you. We have a possible motion. I move that the school committee approve the memorandum of agreement with the Long Meadow Education Association unit E and to amend the collective bargaining agreements for a three-year term 2025 to 2028 as
presented. >> Thank you. We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? Seeing none, we'll move to a vote. Emily, >> yes. >> Jamie, >> yes. >> Kate, >> yes. >> And yes for me as well. And also just to echo Dr. crochets. Um, thanks to the
Long Meadow Education Association and UNAE specifically for um, this collaborative process. We appreciate having this set up. That brings us to one final motion to adjourn. >> I move that the school committee adjourn the December 16th, 2025 school committee meeting. >> Thank you. We have a motion. Do we have
a second? Second. Thank you. Any discussion? Seeing none, we'll move to a vote. Emily, >> yes. >> Jamie, >> you said 2025, right? >> Yes. >> I think it says 2026. That's what I was wondering. Uh, yes. >> Going like is this like
>> and yes for me as well. Thank you. Have a wonderful evening and happy new year to everyone. We will see you in 2026.