5. >> Welcome to the Tuesday, May 26, 2026 meeting of the Long Meadow 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. Nicole >> here. >> Kate >> here. >> Emily >> here.
>> And me. That's it. Pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
All right. Public speak. >> Oh, minutes. I skip it. >> Yep, I did. And correspondence. There's none, but go ahead. Minutes. >> No correspondence. Minutes. Um, I move that the school committee approve the minutes of the May 14th, 2026 school committee meeting as presented. >> We have a motion. Do we have a second?
>> Second. >> Emily? >> Yes. Nicole? >> Yes. >> Kate? Yes. >> And a yes for me, too. >> All right. So, next we have public speak. And it looks like we have guests coming in for public speak tonight. Is this the center school reading club?
>> Excited to see you. >> You want to jump to that? >> Yes. They're here. They're standing. It's us. Do it. Do it. >> We are uh pleased to introduce the Center School of Green Club. Uh and the school committee has been looking forward to welcoming you and uh hearing about all your great work. Um, we're
very proud of the civic activism of all of our students from the earliest grades right up to our our graduating seniors. Very proud of the work that Miss Brown has done to coordinate the green club over the years. It's been a catalyst for uh sort of civic-minded young people.
Um, we've seen these students leave center school and make their way to the high school and beyond. Uh, but they all get their start, many of them get their start with Miss Brown at the Center School Green Club. So, welcome. >> Thank you. Good evening everyone and thank you for inviting us to share about the center
school green club. Green Club is an afterchool committee made up about of about 40 students of grades 3 through 5. What makes our club special is that students choose the environmental topics that matter most to them. Once we decide on our topic, students join committees
based on their interests and work together to make a difference in our school and community. Okay. Tonight we are excited to share some of the projects we worked on and
the difference together. This year we had five committees. Each comm each committee learned about important problems,
came up with ideas to help uh worked on project like yeah help worked on projects and taugh taught others how we can all make a
difference. Our plastic weighing committee focuses on keeping a plastic film out of landfills. Plastic film includes items like grocery lotion bags, bread bags, and bubble wrap
and other soft plastics that cannot go in regular recycling bins. Students bring plastic film from home and we and we also collect them from classrooms throughout the school. So far this year year, we have collected
and weighed 1,088 pounds of plastic film. That is almost half a ton of plastic kel kept out of the landfill this year alone. The Wildlife Wonders Committee focuses on helping animals
and protecting habitats. During the winter, we made bird feeders to support birds when food was harder to find. We also learned about light pollution and how outdoor lighting affects nocturnal animals like owls, bats,
frogs, moths, and butterflies. Turning off outdoor lights at night helps animals hunt, migrate, pollinate plants, and stay safe from predators. It can even help gardens because many nighttime pollinators are important for plants and flowers. We are asking you to take one
simple action. Turn off all outdoor lights when you go to bed. It can make a big difference for wildlife. >> The food waste committee worked hard to teach students and families about composting and reducing wasted food. We help students learn what can and cannot
be composted and why composting is important for the environment. This year, we also helped create a system to compost breakfast waste from classrooms. Before this program, much of that food was being thrown away. We also began collecting unopened and uneaten
breakfast food so it could be donated instead of wasted. >> So far this year, center school has composted 13,125 lbs of food waste. This number is bittersweet. We are grateful that this food was composted instead of ending up
in the landfill where it could be create methane gas. But it also reminds us how much food is still being wasted. We are continuing to work on solutions to reduce food waste even more. During the Future Planet Fiesta, we partnered with Banana Compost and gave away three
months sub subscriptions to have compost picked up from 10 different families homes. The Dacan committee focused on helping homeless animals while also helping helping the environment. We can we collected gently used pet supplies that
families no longer needed by cleaning out and reproducing items already at home. People were able to reduce waste and support animals in need at the same time. Together, we collected about 280 items, including
125 pet toys, 10 blankets and sheets, five dog beds, 66 towels, 64 leashes and collars, and 12 miscellaneous items. We were excited to know that these items could help animals waiting for homes. We
were excited to to deliver these donations on April 3rd. The baking committee also created dog toys using old tennis balls and strips of recycled fabric. Instead of throwing these materials away, students repurposed them into a finely and useful
toys for a shelter dog that day. This project showed how simple items from home can be reused in creative ways to help both the environment and animals in need. The handmade toys were donated to Dacan. We also taught visitors how to make them during the future of Planet
Fiesta. It was a great way to share ideas about upycling and helping homeless animals at the same time. Do any of you have a dog? >> I made dog toys. >> Thank you. >> Look at that.
>> I do. Oh, he's going to love that. Thank you so much. >> I'm sorry. >> That is so cool. >> Love this so much. >> Good job. That's smart. >> Thank you. >> You have a dog.
>> I don't. They're so cool though. One of our members even decided to have friends bring bacon donations instead of presents to a birthday party. Also, this year we started making eco bricks. Eco bricks are plastic bottles packed tightly with snack wrappers and other
plastics that cannot be recycled through regular recycling programs. Instead of throwing these materials away, eco bricks can be used to build benches, garden borders, planters, walls, and even furniture. This is a finished eco brick packed tail
with plastic waste. I'm going to pass these around so you guys can feel defensive. Wait, >> difference. The display committee created educational displays to teach others about environmental issues and solutions. We made displays such as
trash to treasure and true or false to help people learn surprising facts about composting and recycling composting and waste. in here.
>> One day we hope to to use our eco bricks to to make one of those couches or chairs. At the Planet Fiesta, we are sponsored by by cooler communities and gave and
gave away cotton produce bags, reusable wheat grass utensil sets and metal straws. These giveaways helped encourage people to reduce single use plastics in their everyday lives. We are we are als we are gifting you with a set of wheat
grass utensils to keep in your car so you can say no thank you to plastic silverware when you get take out. >> Excellent. >> Smart idea. >> Thank you. >> This is Oprah's favorite things.
>> Mr. Maza, we also have an idea we would love for you to consider. Many school Districts are beginning to place solar panels on school roofs to save energy and reduce costs. For example, Fitsburg public schools
installed rooftop panels and now save more than $40,000 every year on electricity costs. The schools the schools took advantage of a power purchase agreement allowing them to install the panels with no upfront
costs in purchase. the power generated at a lower fixed rate. >> Another Massachusetts school district, Hockin Public Schools, installed rooftop solar panels and energy storage systems that are acce expected to save about
$35,000 annually and nearly 1 million over the life of the project. Schools are using these savings to support students, improve buildings, and invest more money back into education. We think solar panels could be an exciting opportunity
for our district in the future. >> We're excited to share that our school has been recognized as an official tree campus by the Arbor Day Foundation. This honor is given to schools that care for
trees. Each teach students about the environment and take part in projects that help the community. Our green club worked with Miss Dowski to complete the application to show all of the ways our school helps the
environment. Thank you for listening to our presentation about the send to school bean club. We are proud of the difference students can make when we work together to care for our environment and community. We hope tonight inspires others to see that even
small actions can create a big change. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> You You did all these things this year. >> You should be really proud of yourselves. >> From like January, right? I think we started we started >> November. I think October November. We got We started our ID.
>> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Yeah. You guys, every time you come here, you have so many impressive and awesome things to tell us. And your club has just grown so much over the years, and it's excellent to see all the work you're doing. You have fantastic ideas. Thank you for all the cool things. Um,
and I hope the sofa thing works out. Those bricks are really neat. >> Yeah, that's awesome. >> I have some really quick exciting news. I didn't tell them yet. We just got this in the mail today. We got um a certificate of recognition from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the center
school. Excellent work. >> Thank you guys so much for your advocacy. You guys are doing a great job. Really proud of you. >> And how about a round of applause for Miss Brown. You're >> really hope you like our ideas. Yeah, I
saw he was nodding his head a lot more enthusiastically than he's ever nodded his head. >> Persuasive and public gifts. >> We can say uh the new middle school which uh will break ground on in June and which many of you will enjoy. Uh that the plan is to have it's being
built to be solar ready. We anticipating that uh there will be solar panels on the around the new Long Meadow Middle School. So there'll be SOME SAVINGS THERE. AND THEN WE'RE just one minute. >> While we have our center school family here, we're wondering if we could maybe
also, and she I lost her in the crowd. >> She's right there in the back. I see her pretty and pink. >> Oh, there she is. Um to take a moment as a committee to recognize um one of our dearest educational leaders um here in our Long Meadow Public Schools. Um, Donna Hutton
has spent the last 30 years uh 30 plus years actually in Long Meadow Public Schools and the last 17 years as center school principal as one of many center school parents whose children were lucky enough to spend their days in your
school. Um, I've always been grateful for the warm and welcoming school community that you've created throughout your tenure. Central School Center School is a very special and joyful place. Um, and that is a lot to do with you and what you've created there. You've set a wonderful tone. You've
welcomed in countless educators and you've been an amazing mentor for so many of our current educational leaders as well. Um, so your dedication and leadership will be greatly missed, but we you are leaving behind a community that is ready to step in and continue
your excellent work. Um, and we all wish you a wonderful retirement full of joy and many adventures to come. Thank you. >> Thank you, Center School. >> Thank you, Center. >> Have a wonderful last few weeks of school. >> Thank you. Thank you.
>> Wow. >> Impressive. >> Yep. >> Last me a lot of swimmers. the last up in there on the Greek club. >> You love that. >> My ideas, but Tammy goes the lines up. You come up with ideas to bring
>> I don't know. >> I feel like that's making them stay. Let's talk about why people keep rolling on this >> and then we'll go back to >> just going to let you go first. >> Great. >> Student advisor. >> Yes. Go ahead.
>> Yeah. >> Oh, hi. >> Welcome. I'm Jenny Cely and I'm here to talk about sports. Um, so the playoffs have just begun and girls lacrosse will be playing I think Thursday as well as
the boys lacrosse. I don't know what day they play. I don't think their schedule has come out. But baseball unfortunately just lost in the championship final for Western Mass. Both boys and girls lacrosse don't play that because they're both independent sports. Track is going
on there. They did very well at Western Mass and softball has had a really good year and they unfortunately lost in Western Mass earlier in the conference. So passing it on to Abby. >> Hi. Um I'm Abigail Golden. I'm also
sophomore at the high school. Um so I'm giving you all a music update. So um we had two recent concerts. First, we had the spring concert which was um the uh Lavox coral group, Lancer Singers Coral
Group as well as the concert band um the jazz band um and a couple of other mixed groups which went wonderfully. Um and just last Thursday um the wind ensemble and lyrics eanour and again a couple of other mixed groups um did the chamber
concert. So the concert season for the high school music department has officially wrapped up after a wonderful year. Um both lyrics and wind ensemble got um gold awards at the Micah Festival this year. Um and the wind ensemble performed at the National Band Association conference. So we had very
strong ends, very strong concerts with very challenging music to a wonderful year. So thank you for all of your support. We really appreciate it. >> To go into elections, we have elections for student council. Um speeches went today um during um
>> throughout the day >> throughout the day each grade went and >> class secretaries people who are running treasurers vice presidents and presidents all gave speeches to run and voting will go on tomorrow very easily during lunch
to vote in their lunch block >> and you'll get a senior activities update from Danica. >> All right. So, um, to start off, the student council received the national award, which is really exciting, and it was, uh, a lot
of hard work was put in by all of the student council members, and this is a really great way to recognize all the hard work that's been put in throughout the year. Um, and then tonight is the senior sunset, which at the beginning of the year, there's a senior sunrise,
which represents the beginning of the year, uh, for seniors. And now the sunset is as the year is ending and today was our last full day of classes. So it's a great day for it as well. Uh tomorrow we have the graduation uh
rehearsal in the morning. Uh and then the last half of the day will be regular classes. Uh and then in addition, prom is going to be June 3rd. Uh followed shortly after by the um awards ceremony
which is June 5th. Uh, and then June 10th is the actual graduation. Um, and then next Tuesday as well, we have the senior picnic. So, a lot of really exciting events coming up. So, >> thank you. Thank you, Danica. Um,
>> we also we have some things to say about your service for the school committee. Hold on. I got um some official words from my my high school friend that I served on the student government with that's now at BC and she had some words
to say to you. Hold on. >> Find it. Um Danica embodies Boston College motto, men and women for others through her service and her willing to help others.
We all know that you're an amazing ambassador for Long Meadow and that you will continue to be so at BC and we look forward to hearing how you do there in the future. I have it on good authority that BC is thrilled to have you and the
school is very lucky. >> Thank you. >> And we have we have something for you. We have Mave give them too who also has been not has not stopped listening to the >> Mama Mia soundtrack. >> Thank you so much.
>> So thank you. We wish you the best. >> Thank you. THAT'S SO SWEET. GO AHEAD. >> OH, thank you, >> Danica. >> We wish you well. I, you know, having worked with so many student reps over
the years, um, sometimes their attendance is uneven, their reports are uneven, but, you've been steady and and on top of your game, and you deliver some outstanding reports to the school committee. We appreciate you being there with us all year and and hanging through
some long meetings. Sometimes I I told Dan at the beginning of the year I said you're always welcome if you have some work to do and you need to leave but uh nine times out of 10 she hung in there with us and >> I don't think she's ever left a meeting >> and gave us some great feedback uh along the way. So
>> hopefully tonight for the senior sun >> yeah we're going to get you out I'm going to be out of here by the sunset. Hopefully not sunny. >> Thank you so much. This has been such an incredible opportunity. I've learned so much from it and I really enjoy these meetings and coming. Thank you.
>> Best of luck. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. And you are you are welcome to stay, but you're dismissed. >> Your duties are officially >> your dad. Do you want to make it to the sunset?
>> To the sunset. You go. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good luck, Anukica. >> Thank you. >> Okay, so Now go back to the >> So, um, just want to quickly, uh,
recognize Adam, who isn't here tonight, but it's his last official meeting on the school committee, and I just had a few words to say about his service um, and his term. Um, I learn I certainly learned a lot from him, and actually that's why I I purposely didn't plan
anything to say because I feel like that's something he's taught me. And I remember the first time when we were campa camp campaigning, I went with like my index cards and he just literally was looking at everybody speaking from the heart and I was like, how does he do that? and um it's a serious strength of
h his and it's been an honor serving with him on the school committee and um he brings a lot of expertise outside of education the field of education but also he he um truly appreciates um the work of an educator and he's done a lot
of important work on the school committee. So, thank you, Adam. We'll put that aside to get to him and then I'm going to take over the mic for a moment um to say thank you to Michaela
because it is also her last meeting. Um all right. Um you are a powerhouse. Um we are totally going to miss your positivity and your energy and your leadership over the last few years on the committee.
Um for the past three years you've kept a constant focus on the social emotional growth and and needs of Long Meadow's children. You've been an amazing resource for curriculum and for policy meetings. And you've been a devoted supporter and representative for CLR
Special Education Alliance for Long Meadow. Um, and I know they're also happy to have had you on board for the last few years with them. Um, you were a strong advocate throughout the way for an updated literacy curriculum for elementary students. Um, and you led the committee through this year um, through
the passage of the uh, middle school building vote, which is one of the biggest initiatives we've undertaken in years. Um, you are really good at building community and bringing people on board and bringing them together to support our schools and the new
initiatives and projects that are happening and make sure that we're always moving forward and improving. I've heard you talk a lot over the last few years about the importance of giving your time and energy to work that is aligned with your highest values. Um,
and I love when you talk about that because it is just always abundantly clear that education is one of those highest values and you really genuinely walk the walk when it comes to that and have taught all of us a lot about that. So, thank you for the time and the energy that you've put towards school
committee. Um, and we have been really happy to have you on board and are going to miss your work here with us. Um, but your positive impact has meant a lot and we appreciate your time and service. >> Thank you. if I could on behalf of the
administrative team and really all educators in in Long Meadow. Um, thank you Michaela for your service. Uh Michaela has a deep appreciation for education and educators and it's always great to work with school committee members who who have that level of
appreciation. So thank you. And then also sort of combined with some clear direction. Uh and I always appreciated that having a clear idea of where you know where we needed to head as a as a district. And um I'm not sure how many folks really understand how much time
and energy Michaela put into um building momentum for the passage of the new middle school. Um >> so much >> there was an extraordinary effort and she worked really hard to build consensus in this community on like as Nicole said one of the most important
initiatives that we've ever taken on. So thank you for all of that. Thanks for all of your support of our educators, our admin team and me as superintendent. So >> thank you Thanks for letting your mom come and hang out with us all. >> She's a rock star. >> I have words, but they're in my chair
part, so I'm going to save them. I don't get all emotional. It's not who I am anymore. >> All right. >> Nice. >> Wait a minute. One more time on that hug. You got to we got to capture this.
>> Oh, that's good. All right. Excellent. >> It's also my um mother-in-law's 75th birthday today. So >> exciting. She's literally the only person that'll be like, "No, we need to like put back the dinner for my birthday because it's my last school committee
meeting and the kids wanted to come see me." So, I'm thankful to be from not just like my um immediate family is supportive of education, but I'm from a big supportive family of educators both
on my side and and my husband's side. And I'm thankful for it because it's not an easy It's not easy sometimes >> for sure. >> All right. Oh man, what's next? I get all emotional. >> Spoke show before.
>> Oh. >> Oh great. >> Well, that's why I wrote it down because >> still under business with guests. We have good something else in between. Oh, >> you're sitting over there wondering.
That's perfect. That's actually perfect. >> Yes. No, something not emotional. >> Good evening everyone. Thanks for having me. So, as you know, whenever we uh
there is a proposal to adjust, update the student handbook. We have to run that through the school council under Mass General Law and then if it is successful there, we bring it to you and you have the final say whether to whether to or uh not accept the the
proposal. So, we bring in one proposal tonight for your consideration. Um, interestingly enough, I uh this was the only proposal that came out of the ad hoc student handbook committee. It made its way to uh the LHS school council and
it is the only proposal uh school council can add things at that point um or decide not to support it, but they um supported it unanimously. We had a lot of good discussion and debate um some dis disagreement on the specifics, but
ultimately agreement that we need a policy to put a little teeth into the work that we're trying to do. Um we're working really hard as many as schools across the country are to kind of push back against the normalization of missing um as many days as some students
do. Um I I gave you some uh background information, some context in the in the packet that I provided you, but the proposal tonight um is simply says a student must be present um at least 90%
in class to receive credit. Students exceeding 17 days in a full year course or eight absences in a semester course um risk losing credit. When while all absences count towards this total exceptions will be made for school sponsored activities, observed religious
holidays, absences documented as related to a student's disability under IDA or section 504. And then we added the language all students will have access to an appeals process to pres of absence absence related issues um
regarding disability, chronic illness, religious observance and other extenduating circumstances. Um we have been working on this topic uh on this challenge on multiple fronts. Please know that we communicate we overcommunicate with the with the students who are identified as
chronically absent. I think you know that the department of ed few years ago identified students who miss 18 days or more as being that represents 10% of this the required 180 days. Um, so while we're working on that on multiple
fronts, while we're communicating, while we're having having a record number of emails and letters and formal notifications and in-person meetings with teachers and school counselors, guidance counselors and administrators and as we are um saving no paper and no
emails in terms of all the communication we're doing, we don't have any teeth in the policy. We had teeth in the policy. Um different language that that was taken out of the book 10 or 11 years ago. At that time, the verbiage was different. Um this matches what the
state defines as chronic absenteeism. Um in that in the document that I provided to you, I I talked a little bit about the 12 schools that I reached out to. I know that they had a policy like this. In many of their cases, they were number their threshold was like maybe 14 or 15
absences. We wanted to make it 18. We wanted to match department of ed and admittedly this is going to bring on a lot of work for me and my two vice principles but it's important enough work to to have those meetings. Candidly I said in that document that I
anticipate the the purpose of this no policy is perfect but the purpose of this is to try to change the conversation to try to reiterate that being present and being engaged matters and we're sending students into the real world. We talk a lot about uh vision of
the graduate. Part of that is accountability. We talk a lot about preparing our students for the next phase. Um, while our goal is not to withhold credit, our goal is really to make people think about the absences, think about being present, think about
being engaged, having putting taking on more work ourselves, but to guarantee that they're going to be conversations to give parents some teeth, to give parents some help to have to say to that child, get to school. Um, I don't want to advertise this, you know, too much
next year, but I want to be candid with you. I anticipate a pretty flexible appeals process. It's not about not giving students credit. It's about making sure the conversations are happening and the push back again against the normalization of missing way
too many days of school which they could bring into college in the world of work and we don't want that to happen. So, I'm ready to answer any questions. Hopefully, the information I gave to you uh in the packet answered some of those questions. Um, but I ask for your consideration and we respect your
decision either way. >> Thank you so much. Um, I looked through it all and I looked through a couple other policies from other high schools and it looks like it's matches what the standard should be and it is a huge issue that needs to be um an anchor for
families and schools. So, I thank you for taking on the work and respecting about how important policy is. Anybody else have any Um, thank you. You're not wrong. This is a it's a huge issue in a lot of a lot of
areas. Um, I'm curious, do you guys have here at LHS any attendance remediation options for students if they are getting close to the wire or missing time? So right now there even though we communicate and we work with families
and we get creative and there is no policy that says if you miss x amount of days right now we just have verified versus unverified absences at the high school. I that was changed 21 years ago
I was coming in. So, um I mean that's how we we we code an absence if a you know years ago and and I don't disagree with it. It was decided that it was the most important thing to do to make sure that the parent or guardian knows that their child is not in school. Um but when I don't know
if I'm answering your question, but it when about a decade ago, there was a policy that said if you miss more than eight classes in a given quarter, you could lose credit. that was taken out years ago. That was a uh it was before
the superintendent became the superintendent. It it came out. Some lawyers thought that it might be, >> you know, it might not be applied equally. Some they thought that the ver verbiage wasn't perfect. So, it came out. We lived with it. COVID hit. There
is a new normal. So, that's why we're trying to like add some add a threshold back in. Um is that what you were >> um I'm more wondering. So, for example, um where I am, if a student needs to make up an absence and they stay with a
teacher or a guidance counselor for 30 minutes, then we have like a form that gets filled out that says like this student stayed and worked on this particular class's work for these 30 minutes and it counts as like, okay, that gets rid of one of your unexcused
absences. So we do not have >> a huge project because not it's not a requirement for everybody to stay and they have to do the work to figure out like is there a person that they maybe need to make up things for could they stay while they're doing that right >> etc. >> So we have the first part of that so
we're I'm our staff and it's very flexible and we let students make it up make up work we have verbiage in the handbook that that speaks to that. Um so we're doing the first part. Um, in the packet I pointed out that um, the two
options that the schools that that I looked into were seat time, kind of what you were referring to. Um, their insight, the administrator's insight was that that kind of has given way to because I I think teachers were saying, "Oh my gosh, like here I am. I'm being
required to stay here." And they loaded up their detentions. Um some had some regional school some area schools in the region had uh they have April vacation seats time um which which brings on more
costs which brings on more uh supervision and opening the schools when you're trying to do projects. So we did lean away from that. We discussed that and >> so it's a more burden to the school rather than >> it's a more burden rather than placing the the burden quite frankly on the child and the family. But the appeals
process, we're also trying to make it fair. I mean, we're trying to make it pretty accessible and pretty fair and having that dialogue. Um, almost every administrator that I chatted with, not surprisingly, said, "Get ready to, you know, see uh a lot of medical notes. We
see them already. We will respect them." It again, the focus is really to have that conversation. If this is passed tonight, we will put a fullcourt press on this and we will advertise this and we will try to approach it in a supportive way. and uh remind students we want them here
and we want them engaged and it's it's better for them and better for everybody if they're part of that dialogue, part of that class, if their participation in attendance is is within the acceptable boundaries. >> Yeah. Well, because it's a good message that more happens in the classroom than just whatever the paper or physical
assignment might have been. >> Absolutely. discussions, the work that's going on throughout the classes is incredibly meaningful and it's not really possible to do very well without those components. >> Correct. >> And it almost seems more like a two factor aification, right? Oh man, I'm
married to a financial adviser for too long. But like you're you're like someone could have a medical note, but you're holding them to the policy. So sure, take the extra step, bring the note in. There's an appeal process, but this is what the policy is, >> right? And then we tried to add some some verbiage at the end um you know
near the end of one of those paragraphs that if we absolutely know if a child is hospitalized, if a child is dealing with something, we we have the we reserve the right to simply say we understand and we're going to grant this. Um but in most cases, it's trying to go through the process and let the process work and and have that drive the conversation and
drive hopefully changing the culture. >> Two quick things. one is uh the language that Tom's proposing for the handbook. We ran it by u district council, legal counsel and um the attorney was comfortable with the language said it
was common. Um and then what can they do? They could they um there's different ways there's different online courses that they could sign up and take there and there, you know, there are year-long courses, semester long courses, uh
quarterlong courses, and then the the equivalent of like a summer school, and that's the one that we would have them do. It's the least um seat time, if you will. I'd also be okay to to listen to other avenues. We
offer that because it's easy. We offer that because it's convenient. Um but if a but if a a parent wanted to pursue if a student and a parent wanted to pursue something, we could listen to that. But generally, we're looking at um the smallest increment similar to what we give summer school credit for which
would last a traditional summer school if you did a brick and mortar would last about three and a half weeks the month of July. This would this should be no more than that. should be less than that. Quite quite frankly, if you if you focused on that, uh you could do it in a matter of probably a week and a half to
two weeks. >> So, um two questions. Um the first to keep us on the same topic. What would that look like on a transcript? In other words, could a student >> not come in for great swats of time throughout the year, spend a couple of
weeks doing an online class on their own and then get the same and then get the same credit as the student who was in the building. >> So, our proposal as is, well, two things. If a student was missing that much work, I'm hoping that they would
naturally not earn the credit through organic means. if you're talking about somebody who is not at 18 or 19 or 20 days, but if you're talking about, you know, excessively like you like you described. Number one. Number two, our proposal is
to not take the um the grade off the transcript, not to take it out of the GPA, to leave it there with a hope and plan that they're going to earn it back. So, it would just re if they were granted an appeal, there there's no loss
of credit. And if they pursued an alternative way to earn that back, that would that grade that they earned would stay intact and they would have >> um they would have the credit re uh >> it would come back on the transcript in the same way that the course of the
course of the year comes onto the transcript. It would look the same that that online class doesn't even have to appear on the on the transcript. It go their their grade that they originally earned as long as it was a passing grade would stay there. that GPA would stay there. That
>> so they have to have earned the grade first in the class. So for example, if they had a B in the class, but they only lost credit because they had, we'll say, 20 absences, right? >> And they did a credit recovery thing, they could keep the B. They would keep the B.
>> If they had an a D or say 40% in the class, the credit recovery is a different option. That's not say they've missed 20 days and also have a very low grade. That does not move their grade up to >> that would not move their grade. What
would kick in there is if if a student fails a class at LHS, they are allowed to make up the equivalent of one quarter >> and then that that's the route that they would take in that area. So if a student >> um >> this is really for if you're if you're
passing but you're missing so many grades. That makes sense. If a third scenario is if a student fails and a student has more than 18 absences, >> that uh grade recovery class could also
fulfill the law the credit loss they experienced because of attendance. >> Correct. They wouldn't lose their right to go to some they wouldn't lose their right to go to summer school under the current uh parameters. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Okay. And then the other question is who will sort of be keeping an eye and
tracking that? Will it be teachers that make sure that the >> No, it'll be out of the main office. It's going to have to be out of the main office. It would be um you know, me, my two assistant principles, and our admin assistants are really going to be the keepers of that because we have to make sure that it's being applied consistently.
>> Okay. Excellent. And the goal and and everything I mean we are asking for the for your consideration on this but everything you know we will watch this. I treat everything that we bring to you as a pilot project. And then the goal would
be to update you next year as we come back. This is you know this is how it's going. This is what we're seeing. This is what we're learning. Um and if it passes we'll start like I said advertising as soon as um this summer and then we'll hit it hard beginning in August.
Thank you so much for tackling this huge issue across the whole state and the whole country. And um it's probably not going to be perfect, but thank you for taking on the extra work to do it. And with I can tell you have like alternative pathways in mind and
flexibility in mind. So I thank you for that. That's how students will succeed. >> Does anyone have any questions or comments or motions? >> Questions. Hm. >> All good questions I thought were asked. >> Well, you got to leave it to the high
school teacher, right? >> Um, I move that the school committee approve the LHS proposal for an attendance policy as presented. >> We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Emily, >> yes. Nicole, >> yes. >> Uh, Kate, >> yes.
>> And yes, for me, too. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. >> I almost just called you Michaela. >> Thank you. I will give you an update next year and see you all soon. >> Thank you. Enjoy the rest of the school year. >> Thank you. >> Okay,
now we are going to the chair. Okay. Um, good evening everyone. It's I can't believe my last chair report and my last full committee meeting. Little bit sad. Only a tiny bit. I actually thought I would be a little bit more excited, but
I'm kind of really sad. Um, it's been a really fun time for me to be on the school committee and I feel really grateful. Um, first I just want to say thank you to the whole school community. Um, especially the reason why we're all here, the students. They're bright,
funny, resilient, talented, and they're endlessly deserving of all of our time and energy. So, I also want to thank the staff who always work every time I see or any email I have or any issue I've ever heard of. They're always working
flexibly and tirelessly and fiercely for the service of kids. Um, and I'm thankful to the families that also put in the dedication to work with the school district. um public education only works as well as the people who
show up for it and for the greater good of the schools and it's just been a real privilege to serve the community and to learn more about the like like I literally I went to the mass Massachusetts public
schools. I t I've taught in Massachusetts public schools and it's just interesting to see a really different side of it. Um, I've learned a lot. So, um, I also want to acknowledge my fellow school committee members, both
current and past, the ones that came before all of us, because I feel like we wouldn't have been able to do the work that like, you know, you see it as this like building block that keeps going. So, I'm thankful to anyone who's served ahead of me um and currently for the
commitment and the leadership that's helped bring everything where it is today. And obviously want to thank central office. Um, I really don't have the words to completely capture my
gratitude and respect and um, like got to give a shout out to Diane and Tammy because like it's been really interesting to be on the school committee and see that transition happen and how important this kind of role is
and how incredibly smart and organized and patient and efficient both of you have been. whether you're you've been at it a long time or you're just starting to this whole process and it's been incredible to see that. That's
taught me a lot in and in itself to be honest. Um, oh, so I couldn't really come up with words, so I came up with a like an analogy instead. This is what I do. You're lucky it's not about the movie
Rudy or Seinfeld. So, I instead went with the um the Patriots from the good days with Bel Bichc because I feel like that's just the way I don't know. I love the do your job philosophy and I feel like it just captures um how everybody
shows up in the central office to contribute and to be successful. So like obviously Tom Maza is the Tom Brady School of Finance. Well, Marty is the Bill Bich. Obviously that's what I I meant. And like Tom is the Tom is Tom is
the Tom >> Tom much more successful. >> Well then >> I don't know. >> That's great. That's great. And then um well I'd say Nicole Paris probably is like the Bronk
um because she's reliable and she has energy and she's super talented. Um Beth is like Julian Edelman. And I couldn't not decide on Nilda if she was um I was going between Adam Vinitary or Malcolm Butler. Either way, she shows up and
it's great. So really happy that you guys found that. Like in the time I started on the school committee. I know like at the very beginning we were making decisions about the structure of central office. So it's been really cool to watch it um come together effectively
and in alignment and also like I've seen it just in my role like help help me move things and and push things my perspective. So I'm really really thankful for that. Um
that's it. I just thankful to have served on the school committee and um also just don't forget to go vote on June 2nd. there's an election and um I know it's a busy time and it's not like a controversial election, but I think
the more people that go and show up to vote, especially for the school committee positions, like you're really showing the district, the students, and the people who serve the community how much you care for the schools when you show up and vote. So, please exercise your vote and and show up to vote on
June 2nd. And that's it. I just wish everybody a happy, healthy, and productive rest of their school year full of the last end memories of the end of the year and a happy summer.
>> That's it. >> Thank you, Michaela. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. and and once again congrats and thanks for for all of your leadership and for your support of the whole admin team and all of our educators and um you're in it for the
right reason. So thank you. Um on to on to sort of more mundane topics uh but important as well. Um we have identified a couple of finalists for the Long Meadow Middle School position. Uh, in fact, I made the announcement to the
staff uh this afternoon, and I'll do the same to families um our two finalists are, uh Jill Fis, who is currently the principal of Blackstone Millville Regional High School, uh and Dr. Pete Gillan, who is currently the principal
at West Springfield Middle School. So, we're we're pleased to have two outstanding candidates. Uh we'll initiate a series of meet and greets with the staff and looking at a meet and greet for parents uh next Monday and we'll find some time for the finalist to meet with our admin team as well. Uh we
may be in a position to make a decision uh the middle of next week depending on whether or not we choose to conduct some site visits to to their schools. Um which is gets to be challenging at this time of year um given the the variety of school schedules that are happening.
We'll uh we'll keep you posted on that. Um we have uh we're we're sort of at that phase where we're actively planning professional development for next year. Uh the professional development committee met today. They were hammering out some um some plans for next year.
I'm excited that the committee supported uh the creation of the four early release days that we have next year. Um we think that'll be critically important to help us especially with the um planning for uh developing the vision and program and schedule for the for the
new middle school. Um two other quick items. We're keeping our eye on some legislation that could involve belltobell uh cell phone bans. So um we're not sure how what how that legislation will take shape, but uh Dr.
Irizari has submitted a grant proposal to the Massachusetts uh attorney general to uh support us and prepare us if that uh does come down as a bell-to-bell ban on cell phones. Not quite sure uh what
direction that legislation will go. Um and our administrators uh as an administrative team in a in a singular way uh we're preparing to issue a faculty and staff climate and culture survey. Uh we've done these um in the
past, but uh this will be a uniform survey that we'll all send out simultaneously. So we hope it'll give us some good feedback. I think it's important that we kind of pay attention to the the needs and concerns of our educators. It's as as Michaela said
earlier, it's a it's a difficult profession and we just want to make sure that we're uh supporting our educators appropriately. Um and um the IT department has been really busy um a cyber security grant program. So uh Nick
George is our tech director and he is um initiating a cyber security fishing uh program. So uh that's something that will go out to all staff. We we just want to make sure that there's no shinks in the armor and that the staff are savvy users of technology so that our
network does not get compromised. So uh lots happening. Um looking forward to kind of wrapping up the year. Um field days, concerts, graduation on June 10th. Um and uh a lot of other great things
going on. So happy to answer any questions you might have on any of those items. >> Thank you. Is that like um the OSHA survey? That's what I used to take. >> This one is it's actually built off of a panorama tool. >> Oh. Um, so yeah, we're we're uh we've
we've been kind of teasing it and and and modifying it um based on some admin discussions, but we're hoping to get that out uh this week, >> which is cool because then you can really track it yourself as well. >> Exactly. Yeah. >> You can have them answer the same questions. >> Exactly. Yeah, that's that's the intent
is is to be a little more purposeful and intentional with gathering that feedback. So >> that's really cool to see how like I know this year you've already incorporated a lot of student voice into survey and feedback but also like the voices of educators. >> Yeah, for sure.
>> Any other questions or comments? >> All right. >> Thursday. >> Oh, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Uh this Thursday, uh senior citizen lunchon if any committee members are available.
Uh we are we are hosting um uh in partnership with the adult center uh a senior citizen lunchon and uh we have about 130 or so registrants and we expect about 150 guests. Our students will perform a concert uh and then
they'll uh we'll host them for lunch and so if any committee members are available we'd love to have you. It's a fun event. So thank you Tammy for >> Thursday. Thursday. Yes. Yeah. And so it's the the school community that's hosting the senior citizens. >> Uh Long Meadow High. Yeah. Uh we'll we
have uh student ambassadors who will welcome the seniors into the auditorium. They'll enjoy a concert and then from there they'll we're hosting a barbecue lunch. Uh that uh >> how did people get invited? >> Uh through the adult center. Adult center. Yeah. They through their mailings they they put out the
information and collected registrations. So, but we we recognize >> one >> we recognize that they'll there some who attend who didn't have an opportunity to register and that's fine. So, yeah. >> Oh, that's great. Do they do that every year or is this >> uh it's been uh I don't know probably did 10 years.
>> Oh, wow. >> Wow. >> Yeah. >> And you get a good attendance. >> Great attendance. >> That's awesome. >> It's great attendance. Yeah. It's it's a special day. Um, so many of the seniors have grandchildren in our schools and so it's it's a cool opportunity for us to
connect with the adult center and to give back to the seniors in this community who uh I would say always come out in support of our schools. They came out in support of building this great facility and they came out in support of building our our new middle school, too. So, uh, it's a good way to give back.
>> Excellent. >> Tammy gave me one thing just to remind me of before the meeting was to talk about the senior lunch. Of course, I forgot that. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. >> Thank goodness over here. Maybe I should have the Red Sox.
>> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Other reports of LPVEC board of directors. >> Yeah. We had a meeting last week. Um uh busing bus drivers
unfortunately. Um they did um kind of find some money so that um they were going to pilot um a program to give an incentive to uh a person who makes a referral
um $800 which is pretty significant and they don't get it until after the person's been with us a year. So um we'll we'll see how that goes. And what uh the committee decided was opening it up. The referral could be
from anyone at LPBEC. It doesn't have to be from another driver. So, we're hoping that brings in more people to uh to refer to us. Um they we also approved a position. Um >> a physician or a position?
>> A position. >> Okay. Sorry. >> A position. I don't have my notes with me, but it's um sort of bringing on someone as the assistant. director, assistant principal a year in advance. So, it was a little controversial.
Um, but they say that they have the money to do it and um they're hoping it uh will be sort of a training ground so the person can be up and running when they're needed >> to like run the transportation or to run the school services >> for the vocational vocational. Yeah.
>> The director is notified and that next show is last year. >> Okay. >> I think they're trying to build a succession. Yeah. >> So, like this person will spend the year learning. >> Correct. >> Also, um electrical has been approved
and they're looking at possibly leasing a building in West Springfield. Um so, >> for the electrical program or >> Yeah, to move some things into that building, I think. >> Yeah, >> either the electrical program or moving
>> the um special ed program there. and using up space in the other building. But >> we'll have to get some updates for you. Yeah. Not not too familiar, but yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, it was just sort of um very rudimentary uh research being done
on that building in terms of cost and what would need to be done to the building and >> it just sort of came up last minute. Well, it's exciting to hear about them utilizing some buildings that should be
utilized for like regional services that need to be had. So, that's exciting, right? >> Yeah. >> Great. >> LPBEC board of governors. >> Uh, no report. The next meeting is um like mid to late June. I think maybe June 17th, so after our elections.
>> Um, no seal report. Also, energy and sustainability. >> We didn't have our main meeting. Our next one's June 11th. >> Great. Um, and then there's no subcommittee requirements and no ongoing business. So, you're going to new business. School committee meeting schedule in
June. >> You have a meeting um tenatively scheduled for June 9 and June 23. As Tammy and I were reviewing uh upcoming agenda items, we thought that maybe uh if it's okay with the
committee, you probably can get away with one meeting in June on June 16th, which the added benefit of that is it would give us some additional time to get the new members up to speed. It's always a quick turnaround to uh from the
election to the first meeting. Uh and so we'd have some additional time, additional runway to get our new members up and running. Um and then part of the consideration is um graduation on June 10th, which
were that new committee to reorganize and appoint a new chair. That's a challenging turnaround for the June 10 graduation for whoever might become the new chair of the school committee. So for your consideration, I
think we we could reasonably get away with a meeting on June 16th. >> June 16th makes sense. I can't make June 16th. I would >> hope to maybe book to just keep the 23rd. I don't know if that's a week is make it
too late into is it too late? >> Uh I don't I can't think of anything right now that needs sort of immediate um or needs response before the 23rd um as I'm thinking through upcoming
agenda. So you could keep the 23rd. Do you have to vote on the move of school committee members before the positions before the school year ends? >> No. >> No. Yeah. >> No, we've done that before into the second one in June um in the past. Um I
don't have any strong objections to that. The 23rd would also be fine with me. I I know we don't have everybody here, but does that matter on your end? >> No. 16th versus 23rd. >> I mean, either one would work for me. >> Okay, 23rd is fine. Then let's just do
June 23rd will be our first. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> Okay, then we'll have that. >> Yeah, that's great. >> Um to that end, um when it comes to um diplomas at graduation, um since Michaela um would be since it's post
election and Michaela will not be on the committee, um I am unavailable um to serve as acting chair. I would be unavailable to serve in that capacity on June 10th, I will be unable to attend graduation um this year. Um and so I
would like to propose that since Michaela was the chair for the 2025 2026 school year, um I believe it is appropriate that she give the diplomas for the 2026 school year graduation. Um, so I would like to make a motion um that
we have Michaela Fitzgerald serve as the exofficial representative of the school committee for the presentation of diplomas at the graduation ceremony in her capacity as acting chair for the 202526 school year. >> I second that.
>> Awesome. Any discussion? Realize I can you should I should. Okay. >> Emily. Yes. >> Yeah. I'm gonna abstain. >> All right. And yes for me as well. So, thank you very much. Appreciate. >> Yay. Thank you. So excited to handle the
diploma >> since your name is on the diploma. >> Which I feel like is the most exciting part, I guess. I don't know. You just feel really like Oprah. Like you get a diploma. You get a diploma. >> That's awesome.
>> Okay. Next, we have the superintendent. Uh, back to >> Yeah. I feel like we jump around somehow. >> Don't we keep doing this? >> I don't know cuz we're just like going in the order that feels bad. >> It's just like it's put together. >> It's a vibes meeting.
>> It is a vibe. >> Um, okay. The middle school, the naming of the middle school. >> So, the working name of our middle school has been Long Middle School. That's been the name that we have used with the MSBA, with the design team in all of our communication. Uh and and
tonight I'd like to make a recommendation that the committee adopt uh the Long Meadow Middle School is the official name of the school. um will say um as a sort of side note that we do intend to engage students in the wider
community on um issues relating to the mascot and the school colors and the vision and and that kind of thing. But it seems to me that um this is reflective of the unity of the new middle school. So, for your consideration to officially adopt Long
Meadow Middle School as the as the name of our um new middle school set to open in 2028, >> I move that the school committee name the new middle school Long Meadow Middle School. Do we really need the in there? I see the in there, but we don't want that, right? Just Long Me Middle School. >> Long Middle School. >> Okay.
>> The the Long Middle School. >> One. >> We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Second, Ali. Yes. >> Nicole. >> Yes. >> Kate. Yes. >> And I Yes. Me too. >> Okay. Now, now we're on to the next
part. >> Super evaluation. >> So, um, evaluation subcommittee met last week on Thursday, May 21st, um, to synthesize all of our individual school committee evaluations. Every year each member of the school committee completes
an evaluation of the superintendent's performance throughout the year um based on the um goals that he made both professional practice and student learning as well as the district improvement plan and his progress in each of those things. Um Dr. Shay
provides evidence both in the open meeting of um the last meeting that we had, I forget the date for that, May 15th. um and also um provides information to committee members if they reach out with any questions or in need
of further information. And then those evaluations are submitted to Tammy um who thoughtfully put them together into one uh space for us to easily go through them. And the evaluation subcommittee met and went over those individual evaluations and then turned them into
one unified summitive evaluation that goes on to become the formal evaluation of the superintendent um for the year. So committee members can find that formal completed evaluation or summitive uh unified summitive evaluation included
in their packets. Um and over to you discussion or question. >> Yeah. Does anyone have any questions or discussions on it? We really um worked to try to include everybody's voice in
the um unified evaluation as best as possible, which honestly wasn't that hard. If anything, there was some redundancies, which is >> a good sign. It shows that like, you know, there's alignment and um that that's good. >> I just want to say thank you to Dr. Shay
for putting together um information that we could use to fill out the evaluation. That was really helpful. And thank you to the evaluation subcommittee for compiling all of our feedback and putting that together. I did read through it and I really appreciate how you distilled this into one singular voice. So thank you for your work on that.
>> Thanks Emily. Any questions or motion? I move on the recommendation of the evaluation subcommittee that the school committee approve the summitive unified evaluation of the superintendent for the 202526 school year as presented and authorized the chair to sign.
>> We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Emily. >> Yes. >> Oh, discussion. >> Oh. Oh, no. It's okay. I'm just going to I'm going to jump in with discussion because it occurs to me that when I went over all this, I did not actually say what the evaluation found. I feel like that's a good addition. >> Yeah. All right. So progress towards
goals on Dr. O'Shea's professional practice goal, we found that he met that goal. Uh we found that he exceeded his student learning goal and that he has met the um continued progress of the three-year district improvement goal. Um and then overall we found him um
proficient in the role of superintendent um with a nod towards exemplary in standard two on management and operations and exemplary in uh standard four on professional culture. >> Thank you.
And now we have a Emily. >> Yes. Nicole, >> yes. >> Pete, >> yes. >> And a yes for me too. um just thank the the evaluations of the subcommittee and the full committee for um for a real thorough uh fair
evaluation. Um I'm I'm pleased that it provides some direction for next year as well as part of the recommendations. um particularly in the area sort of continuing to collaborate with middle school staff in the community on the project but also in terms of um really
taking a harder look at um what it means to be uh what it means to have a competency determination here in Long Meadow. So uh you can expect that those will be part of my uh goals for the 2627 school year. So um it's a lot of work to
do it um well and to do it thoroughly. So, I thank the committee for their individual evaluations uh and the evaluation subcommittee for for pulling it all together in a really fair um really fair balance. So, thank you for a great evaluation. >> Thank you.
>> And thank you for your work. I know um >> that first goal getting from the balcony to the dance floor >> Yeah. took some time. But actually, I was over the weekend at the store and I ran into a third grade teacher who was next to you when you were subbing and she was like, "I wish I had more stories
to tell you. I just don't didn't even really need that much help from me." I was like, "Dang it." >> I uh center school has not called me back as >> and I don't think they're going to. >> I I have a feeling Yeah. I won't be
hired for that role. Yes, it was a >> Thank you for doing that. I feel like I need to do more of that. And it made it's a big deal to the teachers and and the students that >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um okay, next we have the end ofear
budget transfer authority >> for the year. Uh about this time we asked the school committee to authorize the superintendent to approve budget transfers that may be needed from now until when the fiscal year closes which
is sometime usually in the summer. Uh the transfers would be done in accordance with school committee policy DBJA which basically spells out the criteria in which requires a transfer to be done which is usually at least 10% in
$1,000 or a $10,000 deficit in any line. Um, historically we've kind of zeroed out every negative balance in the lines just to um move all the money so that there are no negative balances in any of our subcontrol lines. Um, the reason we
ask for the superintendent to approve it is because of the timing that they need to get processed doesn't always align with our school committee meeting dates in the summer in order for the town to continue on with their progress of closing out the fiscal year.
So happy to answer any questions you might have. >> Does anyone have any questions or a possible motion? >> I move that as specified in the school committee policy DBJA that the school committee grant authority to the superintendent to approve the necessary budget transfers between mun budgetary
lines in order to close the FY2025 accounts. >> We have a motion and we have a second. >> Second. >> Emily, >> yes. >> Nicole, >> yes. >> Kate, >> yes. >> And a yes. And we do. Can I just modify that to be the FY26?
>> Yes, you may. Sorry. >> Thank you. >> And so next up, we have building use, which is a consent agenda. So there's no discussion on items on a consent agenda. If a committee member would like one or more items of the consent agenda to be
discussed, the committee would have to vote to move it from the consent agenda. I can give a quick overview of the two requests. Both requests um have been approved in prior years. The first is from the Long Meadow Park and Recck
Department and Youth Football Association for a summer youth weightlifting program. They are requesting use of the uh multi-purpose gym in uh here at the high school on
Monday, Tuesdays, and Thursdays starting on June 22nd through August 13th. The program would be running from 7:45 to 9:45 a.m. And it is open to all students from
grades 7 through 12. Um, you don't necessarily have to be a football player or an athlete in order to participate in this opportunity and come use the facilities, >> but you have to sign up, right? >> I believe they do have a I don't know
that there's a sign up required. >> Um, because I think it's kind of an open gym. >> Wow. Yeah, that's great. >> As far as I know. And the second request is from the youth uh from the Lawn Meadow Football Association for use of field space at the high school for a uh
summer practice program. They would be running this mini camp program on Monday, Wednesdays, and Thursdays of each week for three weeks starting on August 2nd and the week of August 9th
and August 16th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. either on the practice field and possibly some use of either the grassy gutter or stadium field uh to accommodate the program. Thank you. Do we have any questions or
comments or motions? >> I move that the school committee approve the consent agenda for the May 26, 2026 school committee meeting as presented. >> We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Emily, >> yes. >> Nicole, >> yes. >> Kate, >> yes. >> And yes, for me, too. Dang it. I did
have one question. Can you be of youth size to go to the weightlifting or do you have to be an actual youth? >> I think it's Yeah. Grade seven. Oh, we have to be in grade seven. >> Grades seven through 12. >> 12. >> Okay. Now, we just have our executive
session. >> I move that the school committee meet in executive procession pursuant to Mass General Law, Chapter 30A, section 21A, purpose 2, non-UN personnel, independent contract administrators, and will reconvene into open session. and seven
consideration of minutes of executive sess consideration of release of executive session minutes of previous meetings to reconvene into open session. >> Do we have a motion? Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Emily, >> yes. >> Nicole, >> yes. >> Kate, >> yes. >> And yes, me too.
Awesome. and four. >> Welcome back to the Tuesday, May 26 school meeting of the school committee. Um we're returning from executive session back into open session um to
discuss our um contracts and salaries for central office employees. Do we just go in order? >> Sure. >> Okay. Yeah. >> So, we're going to start with the superintendent, Dr. O'Shea, and we um
added uh the same increase cost of living to his base salary that we that we did for the unit A um teachers. So, he's going to have a 2.75% increase to his base salary. And then we
um is that okay? And then do we have to vote on it? >> Yes. Um I move that the school committee approve the contract amendment for the FY2027 for the superintendent of schools Dr. M. Maurice O'Shea as presented and authorized the chair to sign the amendment for FY27 for the superintendent of schools.
>> We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Emmy, >> yes. >> Nicole, >> yes. >> Pete, >> yes. >> And a yes for me too. So next um we have Tom Maza and same we increased his base salary by 2.75 to reflect the same cost
of living increase as the unit A contract. >> I move that the school committee approve the contract for the assistant superintendent Thomas Maza for a three-year period from July 1, 2026 through June 30th, 2029 as presented and authorized the chair to sign the
contract on behalf of the committee. We have a motion. We have a second. >> Second. >> Discussion. >> Oh yes. Discussion. >> Um just a quick note that um this is a new contract for Mr. Masses. So he is joining us again for the next three years and appreciate your continued service. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. So now we're going to vote again. Emily, >> yes. >> Nicole, >> yes. >> Kate, yes. >> And a yes for me, too. So um next we have the director of special ed, Nicole Paris Crow. And um we looked closely at
her base salary and we also um discussed and noted the changes of the job, the increase of the role and what would put this director in alignment with um like positions in um nearby districts. So, we
increased the base salary to 135 and then added the cost of living 2.75% increase as well. >> And this is also a renewed contract. >> And this is also a renewed contract for three years >> for the next three years. So, thank you
to Nicole Paris Crow for continued service. Um, I move that the school committee approve the contract for the director of special education, Nicole Paris Crow, for a three-year period from July 1, 2026 through June 30th, 2029 as presented and authorized the chair to sign the contract on behalf of the committee.
>> We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Emily, >> yes. >> Nicole, >> yes. >> Pete, >> yes. >> And a yes for me, too. >> We have one final motion. >> I move that the school committee adjourn the May 26th, 2026 school committee
meeting. We have a motion to move a second. >> Second. >> Emily, >> yes. >> Nicole, >> yes. >> Kate, >> yes. >> And a yes for me, too. >> Now, when I never meeting, you're not allowed to leave.
>> Signing off. Sure.