Welcome to the Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025 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. >> Jamie >> here. >> Zach >> here. >> And is Adam here? >> No. Adam? >> No. >> And I'm And I'm here. All right. So,
we're going to um go right into correspondence >> email dated November 20th, 2025 from Art of Mason. Emails dated November 19th, 2025 from Kelly Laro. >> Thank you, Nicole. Um and next, we have
approval of minutes from our November 18th, 2025 meeting. >> I move that the school committee approve the minutes to the November 18th, 2025 school committee meetings as presented. >> We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second.
>> Awesome. Um, Kate, >> yes. >> Nicole, >> yes. >> Emily, >> yes. >> Zach, >> yes. >> Jamie, >> yes. >> And a yes for me, too.
Next, we have public speak. Um, is there anyone logged in to speak from the public? I don't think so. I don't see anyone. But am I do I see everybody? >> Not not seeing any one here for public comment.
>> And we're um rescheduling our business with guests tonight, which was the um Long Meadow High School Music Mentors program. And um we're going to reschedule for another date. So we look forward to seeing that in person because that will be very nice.
Um, next is um my chair report I guess, right? Um, I don't have that much to say, just that thanks to everybody for coming tonight um, remotely and anyone who is
watching remotely. Um, and I hope that the Long Meadow Public School student and staff had a really wonderful Thanksgiving with their families. And it's it's just such a exciting time of year. It's so busy um with [clears throat] concerts and
performances and winter sports starting. The pool opened and um we've been back swimming at the pool at the high school, the Long Meadow Aquatics Club. The kids have been really excited about that. And so just even with that and like thinking about this weather and all the
activities, there's so much coordination and planning going on both at home with families and all the staff members and administrators in the school district. So I just want to say thank you and how grateful I am for everyone in the school
community for what they do to coordinate during those tough times or busy times. And we kicked off the budget season last night with our first budget meeting. And I just encourage anyone that watches
this meeting either tonight live or later to make sure to stay engaged in the process of the budget season. Um it's important that we hear from the community as we make decisions about the budget and for the community to be
paying attention um to the the process. And that's all I have for me. Um, is there any other school committee announcements or recognitions? No. Okay. So, um, now we'll go to the superintendent report.
>> All right. Thank you and good evening, uh, to the school committee. Um want to just um start sort of most importantly by um uh letting the school committee and the community know that we have received um
the report that was commissioned by the school committee to uh conduct an independent review of the um arrest of the middle school librarian in August on child pornography charges. And so that
uh report is now available to us. Um uh not to my surprise, the um report has indicated that there was no evidence that Long Meadow students uh were victims of any sexually inappropriate behavior. There's no evidence that uh
administrators knew or should have known uh about the uh proclivities of of the middle school librarian. We had um facilitated a search of the middle school
librarian's digital history. Um over 100,000 uh emails were provided to the investigator. That investigator conducted um relevant queries and those queries did not reveal any inappropriate um sexualized behavior towards towards
children. Uh we had also uh made available to the community a number that um parent or community members could call uh the independent investigator. There were no calls to the independent investigator that were uh relevant to
his investigation um or emails I should say. Uh so that report um is complete. Uh my intention is to make the report available to the community on uh Wednesday or Thursday of
this week. Um I appreciate the school committee's leadership on this. I appreciate the school committee's response. Um I appreciate that that the committee had uh commissioned this um independent review. I think it was
important for us to um ask critical questions and get critical answers. Um again, I'm I'm not surprised that u by the findings, but they are certainly
um encouraging and uh we'll continue to work with law enforcement should we be asked um in the in the days, weeks, months ahead. So uh that that report will be posted online and made available to the community. It will it will stand
as our uh if there are public inquiries or public uh questions by the media that report will stand as as our statement. That would be my recommendation. So um unless um less serious matters but
but important to the uh learning of students here in Long Meadow. Uh last night we had a joint meeting with the select board. Uh technology director Nick George provided a thorough report to the school committee and the select board. I was impressed by how Nick
articulated our commitment to cyber security to student data pri privacy and then uh Nick also mentioned the capital request that the technology department has put in for uh network infrastructure. So, we're hoping that that request is honored um as it will be
important for the for the continued uh growth of our technology services. Um, additionally, um um I had an opportunity to visit the um Long Meadow Adult Center and met with the Council on Aging Board. Uh gave them an update on all things
Long Meadow. they had some amazing questions for us and uh we're eager to um uh support and stay engaged with our students. So, I'll continue to talk to Jim Leen, the director of the Council on Aging to uh explore ways that we can
engage the seniors in our community. Um, I'll also be taking part uh in a task force uh sponsored by the Long Meadow Historical Society that is meant to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. So, that's
exciting. As a former history teacher, I'm eager to uh support that work. Um other matters. Um tomorrow we will be participating in a webinar sponsored by the secretary of education uh and the
commissioner of education uh on new graduation requirements. So they have um a framework um an overview of what those graduation requirements could look like and that will certainly feed into our work as we begin to think
about what competency can and should look like for our Long Meadow students in the years ahead. So I'll keep you posted on that. Um in the world of uh student and family support, Dr. Nil deari is uh continuing to organize SEAL
learning walks. The intention there is to observe uh practices routines and to figure out what uh practices and routines we can build on. Um additionally, Dr. Zari is um uh working
to complete our review of the K8 um SEAL surveys that were issued at our middle and elementary schools. and um she'll be meeting with faculty to unpack that data and think about how it can influence our our programming and our
interventions uh etc. Also grateful to Dr. Izari for um coordinating uh continue review of our restorative practices. So when students are involved in disciplinary matters um the important thing for us is to um do some
restoration work with both the victim and the perpetrator. um putting together safety plans and communication protocols. And so we're continuing to strengthen our capacity in that area. Um Dr. Nelson uh and I participated in a
Safe Kids Thrive um uh Zoom meeting today. Uh Safe Kids Thrive is a state entity. It offers free tools and resources to schools and youth serving organizations uh to prevent child sexual sexual abuse. So, policies, training
materials, codes of conduct. So, uh we'll report back to the committee on that uh at some future date, but we're hoping to expand our partnership with that Safe Kids Thrive uh organization. Um and I think that's about it. The calendar committee um is meeting this
week. We are in the process of developing a cal academic calendar for the 26 27 school year. Uh so the calendar committee will bring its recommendation to the school committee. Ultimately it's the purview of the school committee to
set the academic calendar. Uh but our practice our contractual obligation is to bring a recommendation from that calendar committee. So I expect you'll receive that recommendation sometime in January or February depending on how quickly we're able to uh reach some
consensus. >> Um so that's all for me. Happy to answer any questions. uh or uh expand on any of those items. >> Thank you, Dr. O'Shea. Uh does anyone have any questions or comments on the
superintendent report? All right. So, next up is the LPVEC board of directors, Kate. >> Yeah. So, we um met on November 19th. Um we had a significant um executive
session but um one of the main issues uh I think that is applicable for us um was a discussion um you know uh about the transportation issue and about um how the contract is
currently structured. um that um we discussed the possibility of rewriting the contract because um the question came up of whether um any of the constituents could go um outside
of the collaborative um and whether there should they should be penalized for that uh because um we should hold our collaborative accountable to each other. So, um I think the the decision was to to address really kind of
restructuring the contract and the question came up um was whether um each member wanted to have any input um as to um adding anything for contract accountability and how [clears throat]
we we as a school committee in Long Meadow feel about um adding verbiage to that. So, I wanted to bring that to the committee um to get feedback. >> Thank you, Kate. Um does anyone have any
questions or comments about that? >> Did they have any sample verbiage they were thinking of using? Kate, >> not at that time. No, I think that um this is sort of um a new issue for the
collaborative. um the contract um didn't doesn't currently um have any specificity to the participation or going outside of participating within the contract. So,
um, the attorney for the collaborative participated in this meeting. Um, and so they're just looking, I think, for brainstorming ideas and I, you know, for anything that we might feel um, strongly
about >> when the current contract, how long has it been the current contract for? Do you know? >> I didn't know the answer to that. And this so this is like a new process of changing this. >> It's a new process because I don't think
it's really ever come up before. Um but uh because this year Lelo has decided to um go outside of the collaborative for a couple of roots um it's sort of percolated and came to a head.
>> So that um I think they're looking to add more structure to the contract. Who is the uh lawyer for the collaborative? >> Oh, that's a good question. >> Or law firm. >> Yeah, I don't remember.
Um, >> I'm definitely interested in hearing about the process and >> yeah, >> um, I think it's a I went I went to a uh panel [snorts] on collaboratives when I was at the school committee conference and I learned a lot
about they're all very unique and they all have their own, you know, because they're based on the school districts that they serve. So, I think it it'd be in my opinion, it would benefit our school district if we were involved in helping create something that would work
for us in the contract. >> So, I think that my next step might be um is to see what they they come up with in terms of a restructured contract and bring it back to the school committee um and to see if we have any input into it.
It's hard. I understand. It's probably hard to just um make recommendations without seeing what what the ideas are that come up. >> Yeah. >> But I think that the the goal is to to hold the collaborative members more
accountable to each other is is the main goal of restructuring the contract. And I think up until now, again, I'm new to the committee, so I don't really know the history. uh but my understanding is is uh the issue never arose before. So
that's why the contract is sort of loose and now that um the issues come up um I think that there was an agreement amongst the members that we want to somehow tighten the contract up and and make each other more accountable to one
another. >> How old is our collaborative? Like how many years? >> Smarty now. >> Oh man. uh predates I mean I've been a superintendent 17 years and it existed at that time. I I it's got to go back 30
years I imagine. I'm not sure. >> Um Tom >> a lot of the collaboratives on the um closer to the Boston area have been around as long as I celebrating their 50th year. So like the Northshore consortium just turned 50. So
I also wonder if there's other consortiums that have dealt with this. I mean, not consortiums, uh, collaboratives. >> Maybe, uh, Tom and I could do some leg work on this for, uh, the committee and Kate, maybe we can, uh, touch base with you offline and >> Okay.
>> kind of understand the the issue a little further and then, um, maybe do some research for you and, uh, bring some recommendations if it would be helpful. >> That'd be awesome. Thank you. >> That's a great idea. >> Yeah. Does anybody else have any questions or comments about
Kate's report? Thank you, Kate. Okay, next we have the LPVEC board of governors only. >> Um we won't meet again till December 17th. Um that's a a joint meeting that we'll have with um Kate's part of the collaborative.
>> Awesome. Thank you, Emily. Um and then next up is Seal. Um, and I have a report to read. Uh, we're excited to announce that our upcoming January meeting will feature a presentation on the Yellow Dot program.
And this is a vital Long Meadow initiative that offers free services designed to provide first responders with immediate access to critical medical information during emergencies. The yellow dot program is especially
beneficial for residents including older adults, individuals with special needs, and those with existing medical conditions um who might be unable to communicate their health details when it matters the most. By participating,
you ensure that emergency personnel are quickly informed of your medical history, medications, allergies, and emergency contacts. So, it's a simple sign up that's pretty straightforward. You complete the yellow dot medical
information form and it attaches to a current photo and they place it in a yellow envelope in a vehicle and they put a yellow dot sticker on your car in the real rear windshield that alerts emergency services.
So there's speakers coming that are going to represent the yellow dot program in the fire department at the it's the next seal meeting is on January 14th. So that is the update on from SEAL.
Um next we have our student representative report presented by Danica Shay. Hey, so started off our um fall sports have winded down and have um been
officially done last week. So, winter sports is starting has started this Monday and that's been really exciting to watch everyone um start with their sports. Um I started with indoor track and that was really fun. Um, and then
the drama club is um starting productions of Beetlejuice, which is this Friday. So, I'm sure that's going to be great. Um, and then the senior um student council um has been starting the preparations for the senior class play.
Um, and they've released the Google form for any suggestions to our class. And then finally, there is the potential for a new rock climbing club, which I think sounds really exciting and I would be interested in, but um the interest form
has gone out for that and I really hope that comes to be. >> Thank you. That sounds really cool. I'd like to join it, too. Thank you, Danica. Does anyone have any comments about um
Danica's student report? All right, great. Thank you so much. So, next up we have our subcommittee reports versus curriculum subcommittee. And I don't think we have a report, right? No. And neither for evaluation
either. Um finance, do we have a subcommittee report? No. Then we're working through that. And um the policy subcommittee also does not have a report. So then we're on to new
business. Sorry, Tammy, did you say something? All right. want me to I can I can jump in on the FY27 budget. >> Oh, yeah, that'd be great. >> Okay. Um, so, as you mentioned earlier,
we had a kickoff meeting with the select board and the finance committee. Um, finance director Ian Codington provided an overview of the the town's uh sort of long-term uh fiscal health
picture fiscal picture. also provided an overview of the FY27 budget. The the long-term view that he started with uh emphasized um some of the systemic challenges
facing the Long Meadow Finances including uh labor costs, uh health insurance costs, retirement costs, retirey contributions. Um and uh then as he moved into the FY27
budget, he overviewed as they as they always do at this time of year um the revenue sources that they're projecting and the costs that they are projecting as well. um the the the deficit that
they're projecting, the gap between the uh the revenue sources and the costs that they're anticipating uh is somewhere in the area of of 1.2 million. Tom Mazi, you can correct me if I'm a little off on that number. Um, and
I I think that's a it's it's not unusual to at this point in the budget season to start with a gap, uh, to start with a deficit, but this is unusually large. And so I think it will take some, you
know, extra pencil sharpening. uh it will potentially uh take some belt tightening and uh perhaps some reductions if um if revenue does not come in better than anticipated or costs don't come in lower
than anticipated. So it was a kickoff to our budget season. Uh our intention is to bring a budget recommendation to the school committee. I think it's the first meeting in February. Um and from there
we will move to a public hearing and eventually a presentation to the select board. So uh we're at the early stages. Uh but Tom has as he as he works hard on the FY26 budget, he's already started to
put together our assumptions for the school's assumptions for the FY27 budget. So, uh, I'd say a finance committee meeting might be in order, uh, at some point to kick us off and to really think about the projections that
the town had and what they might mean for Long Meadow Public Schools. Uh, so we can talk to the to our finance subcommittee about that. Uh but um most of the committee was able to attend last night and so if you had any uh any
questions or any homework for Tom and I in response to that meeting uh let us know. Uh I know that you know the committee was actively participating in the conversation last night and trying to understand the assumptions and and perhaps even offer some solutions.
yourself. >> Thank you. Um I did there was so at one point um there was the second to last slide I didn't get to see which was also about the schools. It was something about I know it's in the um I can see
the presentation but it also and I didn't get a chance to see what you forwarded today but I feel like the I'd like to see I couldn't understand the breakdown of the how much we're spending versus what's recommended
from DESIE versus other school districts. That didn't seem to add up to me. Um, so that was something that I would like to make sure is clarified. >> Yeah, I think uh we we definitely need um the the committee, the community
needs some clarity on how our uh spending stacks up to peer districts. I think we've always taken the position that our our spending kind of mirrors uh what we see in the you know regionally
and that um the amount that we spend over what is what is required is sort of typical for a um a community of Long Meadow size a community with with our wealth factors with our challenges with our demographics. So, I think I I I
share your um your interest in, you know, making sure that we're clear that um I think we have a sort of a modest budget given the the returns and given the you know, the achievement that we see here in Long Meadow Public Schools.
So, I think that needs to be a a continued focus of our of the budget work that we do in preparation for uh submitting a recommendation to you. >> Yeah. And I think um Jamie was speaking to that last night too and Josh Lavine
and it it when they were talking about you know staff and and the the schools and what we invest in it and how it's an investment um a sustainable investment too. Um, it made me think another thing
to think about is like how much money do we save by having highly qualified teachers that and administrators that, you know, make sure grants are filled out and all of these things. How how much money that that
saves us money too, right? Like >> Sure. Yeah. Yeah, I mean I in fact I was just coincidentally looking at some of our retention rates uh earlier today and our you know teacher retention and admin retention is is above state averages in
in those two categories. So that is critical to our success I would say for sure. >> Yeah. Anybody else have any other comments or questions or ideas they wanted to throw out about this topic? Now, just to say thank you to the select
board and finance committee and um to Lynn Simmons and Ian for the work that they put into starting off the conversation. Um and also to Nick George for the presentation he put together on our um cyber security and uh IT study
updates. >> Yeah, thank you Nicole. Anybody else? Michaela, I have the documents. So, maybe I'll stick them in our December 1st folder. So, that way members, >> I was a little surprised they didn't have them available for Yeah.
participants last night. So, >> thank you. Thank you. I want to look at them. >> Yeah. I'll put copies into that folder from yesterday's meeting for school committee >> cuz especially when I at one point I was like writing down things, but then I the the presentation went cuz I was at home.
Brandon had a meeting also. Um, and I'm like this I need to see it for myself. Thank you. All right. Um, does anybody else have any other comments or questions?
So, uh, now we're moving on to the fiscal year 2026. >> Yeah, I can jump in on this. So on tonight's agenda are two
two budget FY26 budget um documents. The first is the uh FY26 year-to- date budget report. This would be our first report kind of given a projection of where the fiscal year currently stands.
And then the two columns in gray are my best projection of what we may spend an estimated ending balance as of June 30th. I would say it's definitely up uh it's fluid. Um the
numbers will change. We haven't even started the heating season. So we have not received any of our natural gas invoices yet. I would say we still also have some vacant positions that were filling andor individuals uh going out
on leaves. So that all will impact the bottom line. But I think it's just helpful kind of getting something out to the school committee as we're starting to talk about the FY27 budget and where we stand currently in 26 and what the projection will look like as the year
goes on. So, um I wouldn't say there's anything that is shocking at this point. I, you know, we have a balance on on the last page of where uh I anticipate we
could end um with the best my best assumptions at this point in the year. So, uh I think we're we're in a pretty good position. nothing jumping out at me that I think is of a concern at least uh
five months into the fiscal year. >> Be happy to answer any questions now or later if anybody has any questions about the report. >> Does anyone have any questions? Jamie? >> Yeah, Tom. [clears throat] I I can't see I can't get into that uh drive on this computer. What's the bottom line showing
>> right now? We're at about 360,000. >> Negative or positive? >> Positive? >> Positive. >> Yeah. And I would I would say, Jamie, I think a a good amount is attributed to vacant positions we're seeing still in our special ed department. You know, we
probably have seven or eight paraprofessional positions that we have vacant at this point. Um, and again, some staffing positions based on employees going out on leaves and trying to fill them with, you know, we have
subs in there for now as we're posting them and trying to find candidates. It's always difficult to fill a a teaching position mid year um with a qualified teacher for the remainder of the year. So, but we post it. We do our best. And you know, if you recall at your last
meeting, you approved for some teachers to pick up additional sections because we are unable to find subs to cover the the sections of teachers who are out. So, those expenses really aren't reflected in here. They'll they'll be incurred as the teachers teach the
sections every pay period. But, um, I think it's, you know, it's we're we're in a decent position right now. Okay. Got it. >> Thank you, Tom. >> The second item for consideration would
be a short list of FY26 general fund budget transfers. Um about this time each year, um I try to bring forward some adjustments in our general fund to
kind of lay the foundation for the FY27 budget preparation. They are all reflective of salary shortfalls that um occurred in the FY26 budget that before we start planning for 27 trying to
adjust them so that the starting point for our 27 budget preparation is reflective of current salaries at least in these lines. Um there's about 10 or so transfers. Um the bottom line that's
out to zero because it's within the general fund. So we're not adding or reducing any um any amount to the to overall budget just transferring uh amounts within uh the general fund. So um again they are to cover salary
shortfalls and FY26 salary lines. >> Thank you Tom. Does anyone have any questions or comments or a recommended motion for the budget transfer? >> I move that the school committee approve the FY26 general fund budget transfers
dated December 2nd, 2025 as presented. >> We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Great. Kate. >> Yes. Sorry, >> Zach. >> Yes.
>> Emily, >> yes. >> Nicole, >> yes. >> Jamie, >> yes. >> And a yes for me, too. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Tom. Uh, next on our agenda is the middle school building project.
>> Uh, I'll take that. It'll be brief. Um, uh, Mr. Maza was uh supposed to go on a field trip today to see a a handful of recently finished schools just to take a look at materials, finishes, and surfaces both interior and exterior. Uh
we want to review their our options with our design team and then bring those options to the building committee. So, uh we'll have to reschedu that that field trip. We had three or four schools that Tom and some folks from DPW are
going to go to today. So um the other hot items for uh our work right now in the design development stage include looking at uh the field and the landscaping uh security systems and then finally uh
the staging of the construction process, the deployment of construction equipment and the temporary access roads that need to be built. That's a project in and of itself. So, we're working with uh Fontaine Brothers and Collers on what
that staging will look like, and I'm sure that will be a topic of discussion at next Wednesday's building committee meeting. So, those are some of the items that we're working on. Uh we continue to work with um the design team on the interior of the building, the the the
the finishes, the furniture, the equipment. Um, those are exciting conversations that our educators are involved in. So, >> thank you, Dr. O'Shea. Um, does anyone have any questions or comments on the
middle school building project? >> Nicole, >> nope. >> You're just ready for the next part. >> Sorry. [laughter] >> I just like I just try to see who's like unmuting so I can see who might want to talk. Um anyways, our next on the agenda
is our executive session. So we can entertain a motion. >> I move that the school committee meet in executive session pursuant to mass general law chapter 30A section 21A purpose two to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for collective bargaining
sessions with unit BDE and F. Three to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation. and seven approval of minutes and to reconvene into open session. >> We have a motion. Do we have a second?
>> Second. >> Kate, >> yes. >> Nicole, >> yes. >> Jamie, >> yes. >> Zach, >> yes. >> Emily, >> yes. >> And a yes for me, too.
All right, I will pause the recording now and uh uh if and when the committee reconvenes into open session, I will resume the recording. Recording again. >> Welcome back to the school committee
meeting on December 2nd, 2025. We're coming back from executive session back into our open meeting to discuss the um unit F contract. So, Dr. O'Shea, are you going to
>> Sure. >> All right. You can see the MOA features there. All right. Uh so the negotiation subcommittee has uh shephered after u many meetings, many discussions with the
Long Meadow Education Association has shephered an agreement to extend the unit F contract to the 2025 2028 school years. This is a three-year agreement. Uh the MOA, the new contract would
expand a parental leave, offer extended bereavement leave, uh provide some critical health and safety language for our employees. Those three benefits that I just mentioned extend to uh all of our collective bargaining agreements that
have been settled. This contract would also uh feature ex medical leave for unit F employees who generally are not FMLA eligible. It increases the substitution rate if they're subbing outside of their unit from $4 an hour to
$450 an hour. There's some housekeeping language that needed to be cleaned up. and then it applies a dollar raise to all steps and levels on the unit F schedule uh for each year of this three-year contract. So, uh thank the
negotiation subcommittee uh for long hard work on this contract and we're pleased that the unitf um collective bargaining unit and the LEA uh agreed to ratify this contract. So, uh it's for the committee's
consideration. this evening. >> Thank you, Dr. O'Shea. Um, does anyone have any questions or comments or a recommended motion? >> Quick thank you to the Long Meadow Education Association and Unit Fing this
forward. Um, I move that the school committee approve the memorandum of agreement with the Long Meadow Education Association unit F and to amend the collective bargaining agreements for the three-year term 2025 to 2028 as presented.
>> We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Emily. And now we'll take a vote. Nicole, >> yes. >> Jamie, >> yes. >> Emily, >> yes. Kate,
>> yes. >> Zach, >> yes. >> And a yes for me also. And now we just have one final motion on our agenda. Correct. >> I move that the school committee adjourn the December 2nd, 2025 school committee
meeting. >> We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Kate. And I'll take a vote. Emily, >> yes. >> Kate, >> yes. Nicole, >> yes. >> Zach,
>> yes. >> Jamie, >> yes. >> And a yes for me, too. >> Thank you, everyone. Have a great night. >> Have a good evening.