Am I sitting in the right seat? Call the meeting of the Woodio Votech School Committee to order. Call the >> Mr. Early. >> Yes. >> Miss Sullivan >> present. >> Mr. Rossy >> here. >> Miss Carpenter here. >> Mr. Fitzgerald >> here.
>> Mr. Murphy. >> Mr. Paglia here. >> Miss L >> here. >> Mr. Bow >> here. Miss TR >> here. >> Miss Ana >> here, >> Mr. Slovski >> here, >> and the chair >> here. So, please join us for the pledge of
>> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Those attending tonight's meeting should
be aware that the meeting is being audio and video recorded by Woodier Tech. Any audience member who wishes to record any part of the meeting must inform the chairperson who will announce the recording. This is to comply with the mass wiretap statute. First item on the agenda is public comment and I believe
we have a list for public comment. First one on the list is uh Logan Hardy. Good evening, members of the school committee. My name is Logan Hardy and I'm an eighth grade student at Nettle Middle School who hope to attend
Whittier Tech in the fall of 2026. For as long as I can remember, Whittier has been part of my life. My dad, Robert Hardy, works there as the facilities manager, and because of his job, He spends a lot of time at the school, sometimes even more than at home with our family. Since I was about 7 years
old, he has been teaching me about the wittier way and everything the school stands for. I grew up looking forward to the day I could be a student there. Over the past few years, I worked hard to prepare myself. I focused on keeping my grades up and making good choices because I wanted to meet the
expectations for acceptance. When the admissions process changed to blind lottery the year I applied, it was disappointing to know that the work and effort I put in no longer mattered in the same way. I understand that the admissions changes are not entirely
within your control, but there were decisions that could could have helped me uh students like me especially children of woodier staff. If students, if staff members, children were given the consideration, it would mean a lot to the families like mine. Right now, my
dad often has to choose between his responsibilities at work and being at my sports games or school events. If I were able to attend Whitty, he wouldn't have to make that choice. Our school and our family would finally be in the same place. I also hope you will reconsider
the decision not to use a weighted lottery, even if only during these first years of the new system. Many students, including me, worked hard to meet the standards that used to matter. It's discouraging to feel like that effort no longer counts. I am respectfully asking
you to reconsider allowing the superintendent flexibility to accept children of staff members and to look for ways to recognize student effort during this transition transition. Putting students first is what I've always been told is the wittier way. I hope you will keep that in mind as you
move forward. Thank you for your time and for listening. >> Nice job. >> Thank you. Good job. Next up on the list is Nicole Hardy. >> Tough act to follow. Hi. Uh, good afternoon committee members. Thank you for your time today. My name is Nicole
Hardy. Um, I'm here tonight as a parent of Logan. Geez, it's a little harder than I thought. and it's the wife of Bob Hardy, the facilities manager here. I've had a front row seat to the level of dedication that the employees at
Whittier give to this school. My husband works during the day, evenings, weekends, throughout the summer, really putting in his all to make this place a safe school for students and staff alike.
Many times our family plans actually revolve around the students in this building. We accept that we believe in what Whittier represents. We believe in the opportunity it provides. We believe in the standards that it upholds and the
message that it sends to students about opportunity, accountability, and effort. That's why I'm here tonight to speak about this lottery. I fully understand the intention behind it, right? It is a worthy goal to improve access for
marginalized students, to create equal opportunity, and to hopefully eliminate bias. We know that that occurs. In practice, the blind lottery didn't really do that. It just removed the individual student from the process. It
didn't consider any of their individuality. For years, our students have worked hard, been told to show up every day to demonstrate good behavior to set a goal to attend Whittier and you can earn that opportunity. These students believed that they
aligned their behavior, attendance, performance around that goal. The teachers mentored them to achieve that goal, worked closely with them, and they've worked towards that promise. under the blind law to read this effort no longer distinguishes readiness for
this. Students who met the expectations and demonstrated commitment didn't get in. Meanwhile, others who don't really meet those standards were admitted simply by chance. That's not equal opportunity. That's equal chance. Those aren't the
same. It really leaves students who worked hard toward this goal asking what their effort was for. I spoke to several middle school teachers um and they're really concerned because the students that they've been working with didn't get in. They have
grave concerns because for for those students Whittier was the path. It was a place for a structured environment for them to be successful. possibly the only environment available. At the same time, placing some of these other students that I know personally that are going to
be coming here in the fall here likely won't have the resources to support them, right? So, putting them into a setting that they're not prepared for and that is not prepared for them, that's really not aligning to what they need. A school environment should really
be a good fit for the students readiness and their needs. If the alignment's not there, everyone suffers. Everyone feels an impact, including that student. I want to address the families, right? Employees and students because at the end of the day, employees do give a tremendous amount of themselves to the
school. The dedication is high. The expectation of that dedication is high and it should be, but the current system doesn't provide any consideration for that. Doesn't provide that consideration of the balance that it takes to put all the effort in here and at home.
I do want to be clear. I don't believe that allowing employee students to come into Whittier is any sort of special treatment or consideration. I think it aligns with practices at some of the charter schools, some of the local public schools that allow the same courtesy, understanding that they want
their their employees to be able to balance work and life and to continue to give their dedication to the school and their family. That flexibility would be a small impact. I think it's maybe three students that we're talking about for this enrollment. I think that would be a huge impact for
the employees. Recognizing them is not special treatment. Again, it's about balance and appreciation. So, I encourage you please to reconsider the options that are available to you. Lean into the weighted lottery. There are options to really look at this.
allowing the superintendent some discretion around admissions to allow those employee students in readiness indicators like inter interview interviews to really make sure this is a good fit for that student. You're going to have some students here next year and they're going to struggle
and that's a disservice to them. I really appreciate everything that you all are doing and taking the time for us to meet. Every day we ask our students to work hard, show up, take responsibility, put that effort in, meet the expectations in front of them, and
if they do, opportunities will come. Students should believe that effort matters, that responsibility matters, and that when they do those things, they can achieve their goals. Right now, many of our students, they're questioning that. They don't believe it. And that
came from the middle school teachers that I met with. So I respectfully ask you to reconsider if not for this year what you can do future to truly make this an accessible school for more students. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
Uh Amanda Crosby. Good evening, Chair Pson Wood, Superintendent Lynch, and members of school committee. My name is Amanda Crosby. I am the vocational coordinator here at Whittier. I always look forward to attending school committee meetings to share all the amazing updates from our CTE and adult education programs.
But tonight, I'm here sorry for a more personal reason. I would like to introduce my daughter, Laya Crosby. Laya is 13 and an eighth grade student at Hunking School. On Tuesday, January 27th, Laya became an
insignificant number, L31482, or 356 on the weight list at Whittier Tech. The wait list for a school she's dreamed of attending. Laya has wanted to attend Whittier Tech since third grade. When I first started here as a marketing teacher, she would visit during our annual open houses. As she grew older,
her interest in Whittier only grew. Laya is a regular at the girls basketball game and was looking forward to being on the Whittier team. She attends the play each year and volunteers at events like community meals with the Interact Club and Veterans Day breakfast with Skills USA. Knowing how competitive admissions
is at a vocational technical school. Um, as an alum myself, who has only gained admissions through an appeal process, I continued to remind Laya that through hard work, pre perseverance, and commitment, she would be rewarded. She took that message to heart. Despite academic struggles, Laya worked
diligently year after year to maintain her grades and remain focused on her goal. I knew when given the opportunity, Laya's passion for Whittier would shine through. Unfortunately, just as that goal was within her reach, it was taken away. This was not due lack of effort or
commitment, but simply due to chance. I know the decision to implement the lottery was not made by the Whittier Tech School Committee, but by the board of elementary and secondary education. I think it's very important that the governing body of Whittier Tech understands how dangerous this is and how it has already done so much harm to
kids. With Whittier being one of the first schools to implement the lottery, similar outcomes will follow across the state. As a parent, I am angry and heartbroken. As someone who has dedicated their career to vocational technical education, I feel compelled to take action. We are witnessing firsthand
the harm harm the lottery system is causing under the current regulations. schools are left powerless to address clear inequities or make reasonable student centered decisions. At a minimum, the regulations should allow for reasonable and transl uh transparent
exceptions, including sibling preference, admission consideration for children of school staff that live in district and superintendent discretion in cases where family-owned trade businesses depend on the future skilled workforce. A system designed to promote equity
should not eliminate professional judgment, disregard demonstrated commitment or undermine the vocational workforce pipeline that Whittier Tech exi exists to support and has supported for the past 30 50 years. Thank you for your time.
Anyone else here for public comment? any comments from members of the school? >> Just I I will say that um I me personally speaking for myself I couldn't agree with more with what um
you've said. I to me the new processes sends a message that hard work doesn't pay off. Um and um I I'm totally opposed to the new process. I just don't think it was well thought out. Um, and um, I I
I know that those are only two of the stories that I've heard from countless phone calls that I've got from families of students that worked really hard, came from tough circumstances, um, but really worked hard to meet the standards um, to attend Woodio Votech
and then due to a random lottery um, they weren't chosen. Um, I will say though that the new DESIE guidelines do not give us the ability to give staff members preference. We checked with legal counsel. I had the superintendent
check with legal counsel. There is no wiggle room for us. There is no local discretion to do that. Um, it so it wasn't something that we said we we didn't want to do. with something that we're told that we cannot do under
the the guidelines that um Desessie gave. So, I I certainly wanted to to clarify that that that wasn't as much of a local decision as we were told and and we asked for a legal opinion on that and that's what the guidelines that we were
given with that. So, I I feel for all of you. I know the two individuals that are here. I I know how hard you work and um and I certainly apologize that it that it ended up this way. I I I know how hard each of you works here and I
apologize. >> Mr. Chairman, >> may I? >> Yes. >> So, I am the biggest proponent of the lottery of a blind lottery. Um,
and the sad fact is is that reality is is that we don't have enough seats to take all the students that want to come. And this is a public school. People don't earn their way into public schools.
Public schools are there for everybody. Um, and unfortunately we have a situation where we can't give the seats to everybody. I guess I'd ask for clarification about charters being able to make um,
uh, you know, having appeals and allowing students to go in because the Massachusetts state law, not DESIE, requires charters to have a blind lottery. So the suggestion that we are acting in
a inhumane manner I I you know I I certainly understand the frustrations and understand um how people feel but the unfairness is
the fact we don't have enough seats and the unfairness is is that this board had to make tough decisions. The state had to make tough decisions. And as Maren knows, I have a long history on this. The Massachusetts Association of
Vocational Administrators have fought any kind of admissions reform for years and years, not Whittier, but other voca vocational schools in Massachusetts
have terrible, terrible outcomes with this selective system where it was clearly inequitable and that certainly the kids who were needing to get into those schools were not getting in.
And again, I I can't defend blind lotteryies versus weighted lotteryies versus but but I but I I can oppose criteria that private schools put in
place of grades and interviews. We're not a private school. We are a public school. And let's not forget that. And there are many students that would be able to tell the same story in the
past about not getting in, about how much they wanted to get into a technical career, but they didn't have the grades for it. But now they've got a chance for that. And I know we might have taken away the chance of other kids,
but that's the reality of it. So blame me. Any other members of the school committee? >> Mr. Early, >> I've been on the board 25 plus years.
Seen a lot. Helped a lot of kids do paperwork to get in here. I didn't get them in. I just guided them with the paperwork. I'm glad, Mr. Chair, you clarified that. It was brought up to the subcommittee
that I was on for this lottery coming in for this year. We talked about it. I had heard and I talked to a lot of people. I had heard that we couldn't do it and I'm glad you did clarify it and I was going to call
somebody about it because I'm getting a lot of calls on it, but we're just gonna have to play the cards with doubt right now and hopefully things are going to get better, you know. Well, >> I don't agree on it. >> No, I don't agree on it. >> Mr. Early, are you done? And then we'll
go to Miss Sullivan. >> Um, >> I don't agree on it. No question about it. We're going to get through this right now in the next week or two or next month or two, and we're going to see what's next. What
I would like to know is, and it and it bothers me that kids apply here that don't come. Now, I know that they were all applying to Central, all these other schools, not knowing if they were going to get in here. And there's an example, and I know it, and I
believe everybody that works here knows it. Somebody that did get in that works here, their son or daughter didn't go. That bothers me more than anything in the past where kids were applying here knowing they weren't coming here. So, we
are freeing up some seats. I don't know if it's one. I don't know if it's a 100. Hopefully, it gets a little better. Um, Hville has a certain percentage. All the towns have certain percentage, but we're going to try to get through this the best we can right now. I personally
don't agree on it. Um, and I can just leave it at that because I'm pretty sad about it myself. >> Miss Sullivan, >> I do think that my understanding is this is a one-year trial and I I believe that we have to really evaluate I worked in a
vocational school for 34 years and did a lot of interviews and it wasn't just on grades. It's on it was on grades. It was on attendance. It was on the interview process. So, there was a whole host of different character criteria that went into play. But I do I think it's
terrible. It does. It sends the message that if you work hard and you go to school every day and you do what you're supposed to do, well, too bad. Life's not fair. And life isn't fair. But unfortunately, I feel I' I've been totally against this from when they
started talking about it years ago, but I do think that we really have to revisit this next and change it for hopefully next year. >> Thank you, Miss. Anyone else? It's true. >> As a parent of twins, I can't even imagine what hanging around with waiting
for the lottery to be over, you know, what that would have been like. Um, so my my sons went through the interview process. They started preparing in fifth grade. And so when I hear these stories, I know what they're talking about. I remember how hard they worked. Fifth,
sixth, seventh, eighth. Finally, they both got in and it felt like a miracle. Um, but it was it worked. And I understand that that process was working well. It just didn't maybe work in other
vocational schools. >> And it it worked for us. It worked, I think, pretty well for us. Um, >> anyway, so that's all I have to say, >> Miss Lope. >> Um, I think as far as the trial period, it's
every year we have to review the policy, but our hands are really tied >> within the within the Department of Ed regulations around what we can do. Um, my concern is more and
speaking to your input is around we are a public school but we're also a program school and people don't necessarily understand the difference between a public K12 district versus a program school which is specifically designed
for a certain level of education and training and preparation that does require a certain level of uh preparation to attend and go through. I
went through meetings over the years with students who did get in who met all the criteria. But when we were looking at their educational program, it wasn't necessarily the right program for them
and we wanted the best program for them. And then we had to make hard decisions with parents and students and teachers around what was the best program for them. And fortunately that only happened a handful of times. But now I really am
very concerned >> that moving forward we're going to have many more of those kinds of situations because students aren't necessarily getting accepted based on a minimal level of preparation for a program
school versus a general education program that has multiple programs available to them and levels of programing that are not is not the same as a chapter 74 program school. So I
think there's our hands are tied. We're going to have to do our the best we can within the system. Um, but I I worry about the future of students who are coming in
with a certain expectation of what their educational experience is going to be in a program school versus a 9 through 12 high school program with different programming.
And you don't have to um provide a program for one in a chapter 74 program where you're you're focused on different chapter 74 programs and then maybe there's one student that doesn't
necessarily meet the uh preparation to meet to meet those goals. So, um there's a lot of questions to be answered in the future of as this rolls out over the next few years and I hope
that um in the process that students and families can can learn more about chapter 74 programming and understand that it's it's uh we're not a private school. We're a school to train
people in the workforce and that if they want to come here, that's what they should be coming for. And we've heard of students who tonight who that's what they wanted and they weren't unfortunately able to get in. But hopefully down the road people will
learn more about what Chapter 74 programming is for so that we can continue to do the work we've done in the past, the good work done in the past. Thank you, Miss Lope. Anyone else? See none. Thank you.
Next, there's uh no one that submitted u comments uh through email. Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you. Next item on the agenda is approval of minutes January 14, 2026, minutes of the regular school committee meeting. Is there a motion to approve? >> Motion by Mr. Fitzgerald, second by Mr.
Murphy. Any discussion? Seeing none, please call the role. >> Mr. Early, >> yes. >> Miss Sullivan, >> yes. >> Mr. Rossi. >> Yes. >> Miss Carpenter. Yes. Mr. Fitzgerald. Yes. >> Mr. Murphy. Mr. Paglia. >> Yes. >> Miss LOL. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bow. >> Yes. >> Miss True. >> Yes.
>> Miss Okconor. >> Yes. >> Mr. Slovski. >> And the chair. >> Yes. Pass. Next item on the agenda. January 14, 2026. Minutes of the executive session. Is there a motion for approval?
>> Mr. Fitzgerald. Did I hear a motion approved? Is there a second? M >> true. >> Any discussion? Seeing none, please call the role. >> Mr. Early, >> yes. >> Miss Sullivan, >> yes. >> Mr. Rossi, >> yes. >> Miss Carpenter, >> yes. >> Mr. Fitzgerald, >> yes. >> Mr. Murphy, >> yes.
>> Mr. Paglia, >> yes. >> Miss LOL, >> yes. >> Mr. Bow, >> yes. >> Miss TR, >> yes. >> Miss Okconor, >> yes. >> Mr. Slovski, >> abstain. >> And the chair? >> Yes. Passes. Payments of bills. Treasurers report January. Is there a
motion to approve the treasur's report? >> Motion to approve. >> Motion by Mr. True. >> Seconded by Mr. Fitzgerald. Any discussion? >> Seeing none, please call the role. >> Mr. Early, >> yes. >> Miss Sullivan, >> yes. >> Mr. Rossy, >> yes. >> Miss Carpenter, >> yes. >> Mr. Fitzgerald,
>> yes. >> Mr. Murphy, yes. Mr. Paglia, Miss LOL, >> yes. >> Mr. Bo, yes. >> Miss TR, >> yes. >> Miss Okconor, >> yes. >> Mr. Sloski, >> I will stay >> in the chair. >> Yes. passes. Next item on the agenda is
the student representative report, Richard Dico. >> Good evening, Mr. Chairman, superintendent Lynch, and all members of the school committee. Our winter athletic teams continue to represent Whiry with pride. Boys basketball has completed its season and will return all varsity players next year, which
positions them for continued growth. Girls basketball is having an outstanding season with a 14-3 varsity record and a 14-2 JV record. They will compete in the MIAA state tournament on February 27th. Wrestling finished 128 and one overall,
crowned one girls division one state champion, and has seven wrestlers advancing to the All State tournament. Ice hockey is competing in the first round of the MIAA state tournament tonight. In student activities, our student
government hosted a successful student faculty basketball game on February 13th and continues supporting class fundraisers across all grade levels. The multicultural club is hosting the third annual culture night on March 20th from 4:30 to 6:30. Skills USA has 178
students registered for the district qualifying exam on March 12th. Students earning gold or silver will advance to the state conference in Marboro on April 30th to May 1st. Our American Spirit Award team is hosting
Champion Your Future on March 21 to 21st to promote career and technical education to seventh graders. The drama club is preparing for the Adams family with act one fully blocked and act two underway supported by multiple departments across the school. The
yearbook club remains on track for its March deadline and the journalism club will part publish its next Wildcats issue by the end of this month with two more issues planned this year. Across all clubs and activities, our students continue to demonstrate leadership, service, collaboration, and school
pride. That's the student report. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Good job as always. Next item on the agenda is the principal assistant superintendent report. Mr. Leanus. Good evening, Mr. Chairman, Superintendent Lynch, rest of the the
school committee members, uh have the principal report. Uh Whittier Sports, as you just heard, uh the wrestling team, uh they did have to cancel, uh go figure for snow, the the Travis Yell tourney, so unfortunately they missed that, but we went off to the uh division one state
wrestling tournament and Olivia Leone uh took first place of girls state champion. So, that was pretty amazing. Uh the boys placed 21st overall in that same tournament that you heard from Ricky. Girls basketball, I got a little bit of update through uh Mr. Bradley.
They finished up our AD. They finished up 17 and3 record. Uh they were ranked 23 in the state in division three. Then on Friday, uh it was a five o'clock game and now it's a two o'clock game. It's going to be on Saturday at Old Rochester
High School at 2 pm on Saturday. So, this turn tournament. I don't know how close that is. Doesn't sound very close. Uh, boys hockey. Um, and I don't know if uh Mr. Bradley, our ad is texting uh Miss Lynch right now. He hasn't text us, but he's over there at Bill Ricker right
now. They're playing the the hockey game as Whittier. So, we'll see how they're doing. Uh, Whittier Techch Winter Sports Bank will be held March 12th at 6 PM. Also, all students have completed the midterm assessments January 20th to the
23rd, and we're well on our way uh through quarter three. Progress reports will be available uh for viewing uh March 13th, and our new last day of school currently lands on Thursday, June 18th. So, we used up five days, snow
days, and I don't know what mother nature's going to bring us. So, we'll see. Uh freshmen selected their shops, as we know. uh February 4th, um the week 2 crew jumped in the shops and the week one crew jumped in on February 11th. And
also congratulations goes out to our guidance team uh for the great work they do every single day beyond with our students. We celebrate and honor them during counselors week February 2nd through the 6th. Uh it is important to take time to recognize these
professionals for their compassion, tireless work. And here they are, the amazing crew. Joe Krakowitz, Deb Costello, Andy Alup, Michelle Cina, Andy Bonafasio, Heather Sweeney, Rachel Rossi, Lillian Lec, Dr. Whitney, and Lee
Gastigway. And the amazing crew and as uh Superintendent Lynch knows because that's her background, uh how good they really are. Freshman orientation is going to be Saturday. Um, Miss Jetson, my associate, uh, has scheduled it for
March 14th for the class of 2030. Wow. Uh, and, uh, for 360 students that are coming in off the lottery. When your uh, winter vacation, I should say, was uh, extended two days due to the most recent snowstorm. students had their scheduled
vacation Monday obviously February 16th through the 20th with two additional snow days like we said on the Monday Tuesday which added those days and we filled up those five like I had said earlier tech drama club please pencil in as you heard from Ricky uh Adam's family
and if you want to go uh March 20th on Friday the 21st uh on Saturday that's 7 pm and on Sunday March 22nd and that's going to a 2:00 performance. And lastly, uh which is an awesome night on Friday,
uh the Whittier Tech Culture Night, uh is also will be held the the 20th here at Whittier in the lobby from 4:30 to 6:30 prior to the first spring performance of the Adams family. And that's uh shows our real diverse population that we have here. And it's
absolutely amazing. If you like to dance and eat different types of foods from all over the the world, come on down. >> That's all I got. >> Any questions? >> See none. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Next item is business manager, Miss Cosmos. No reports posted. Uh reports and recommendations of the superintendent calendar event. Madam superintendent. >> Good evening, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. Uh on Thursday, January 15th, we attended the school building committee tour. I want to thank Bob
Hardy uh for a great tour showing our school building committee um our school building and the systems that need attention over the next few years. On Friday, January 16th, uh I had an MSBA check-in. We are having monthly check-ins with MSBA just to make sure that we're on track with our eligibility
period and making sure all the deliverables are completed on time. On Wednesday, January 21st, I attended the MASS executive meeting in Malber. Um, as I've said before, I represent the round table for the Northshore and the Marramac Valley roundt.
Um, and at this meeting, we discussed possible graduation requirements. Um, new graduation requirements have been put out um, through the Secretary of Education and we're working through those um, and to see how we implement um, those requirements. On Thursday, January 22nd, I attended the MASS
mid-inter meeting in Malbar. We had a great speaker um the former education secretary Miguel Cardona. Um interestingly he was a vocational student auto tech student in Connecticut. So of course I loved that. Um on Friday January 23rd I attended the
Northshore um superintendent roundt meeting in Danvers at Danvers High School. On Monday, February 2nd, I attended the Marramac Valley Chamber Mayors and Managers meeting in Andover along with Cara Cosmus and Chris Leanus. This was an opportunity for us to hear from all the towns um and basically a
state of the union kind of address about where they're all at. On Monday, February 2nd, I had another MSBA monthly meeting. Our next one is March 2nd. On Wednesday, February 4th, I attended the RACK meeting at Northern Essex Community College. I want to thank all the leaders
for their hard work and volunteering their time to work on this regional agreement. On Wednesday, February 4th, I attended the Marramac Finance Committee meeting along with Cara Cosmos. On Thursday, February 5th, I attended the MAVA remote meeting. On Monday, February 9th, I met with the
chairs of the school building committee and the rack. Um, I was at the National Superintendent Conference in Nashville from February 11th through the 14th. I was a panelist on the last day of the conference discussing leadership, sustaining trust in the community, and putting our students and staff first. It
was a great conference, and I love learning from others across the country. Um, as you know, we've completed our first lottery for the incoming freshman class. Um, we had 771 applicants. We're up 17.4% but 125 applications.
Um, while the process was implemented with integrity, it was not it has not resolved the fundamental issues we face. There are far more interesting qualified applica applicants than there are available seats. We have heard from many disappointed students and families. What makes this
particularly difficult is that the random nature of the lottery does not account for a student's dedication, preparation, or long-standing goal of attending a vocational school. Many students have worked hard throughout their middle school with a hope of earning admission. It's incredibly
challenging to explain to them that despite their effort and commitment, the out the outcome ultimately comes down to chance. I'm also concerned about the limited discretion afforded to the superintendent in this process. reviewing appeals. The only determination I am permitted to make is
whether the lottery was conducted correctly. There are students I know would thrive at Whittier Tech, students who need the opportunities in the structure we provide. Yet, I have no authority to act in what I believe is in the best interest. Placement is determined solely by a student's position on the lottery
list, and that does not always align with what is best for kids. As we move forward, we must continue to examine our admissions policy carefully. I believe it's important that we work collaboratively with our legislative delegation to explore whether adjustments can be made to develop a
system that is equitable, transparent, and truly serves students. Our goal should be to create an admissions process that maintains fairness while also recognizing student effort, interest, and need. This is difficult work, but it's necessary work.
Our students deserve nothing less. before you tonight. I have a few field trips. I have Do you want me to do them all together? >> Yeah, let's take them all together. >> Okay. So, I have potential overnight field trip for the All-State Wrestling Tournament in Springfield, Mass. Um on
March 2nd, I have an out ofstate field trip for the New England Wrestling Tournament March 7th and 8th in Providence, Rhode Island. Again, potential overnight depending on um the March 7th outcome. And then I have an out ofstate field trip ski club. It's a
a reschedule to Tenny Mountain in Plymouth, New Hampshire. >> Is there a motion to approval? >> Motion to approve the three field trips. >> Motion by Mr. Murphy. >> Second. >> Seconded by Scopinger. Mr. Early, I
wonder what you're going to >> Madam Superintendent. Do we have the correct paperwork? >> We will have the right correct paperwork in place if they go. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? question >> on the field trips. >> Was there a time when you once did not have the right paperwork?
>> If not for 20 years, >> it only takes one. >> On it. >> Any other questions? >> Call the roll. >> Mr. Early? >> Yes. >> Miss Sullivan? Yes. Mr. Rossy? Yes. Miss Carpenter? Mr. Fitzgerald? Yes. Mr.
Murphy? Mr. Paglia? Miss L? Yes. >> Mr. Bo? Yes. Miss TR? Yes. Miss Okconor? Yes, >> Mr. Sloski. >> Yes. >> In the chair. >> Yes. Passes. That it madam superintendent. >> That is it. Thank you so much.
>> Thank you. Old business. No old business posted. Uh new business. No new business posted. Uh reports of the special committee's executive subcommittee. There's um for your approval the minutes of the January 14th, 2025 uh executive subcommittee meeting. Is there a motion
on that? >> January 2025. Probably should be 2026. >> I'm assuming for a while. >> It's definitely 26. >> We forgot. >> 2026. >> Motion to approve.
>> Motion by M. Lol. Seconded by Mr. Bo. Any discussion on those minutes? >> Seeing none, please call the RO. >> Mr. Early. >> Ian. >> Miss Sullivan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Rossi. Yes. Miss Carpenter. Yes. Mr. Fitzgerald. Yes.
>> Mr. Murphy. Yes. Mr. Paglia. Miss LOL. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bow, >> yes. >> Miss TR, >> yes. >> Miss Okconor, >> yes. >> Mr. Savoski, >> stay. >> And the chair, >> yes. Passes. Uh, instruction personnel,
nothing posted. Uh, plan operations, nothing posted. Salary negotiations, nothing posted. And policy subcommittee, nothing posted. Um and just to update the committee, we did um post the business manager position. Um appointed
a subcommittee that will meet next week to review those um applicants and bring them to the uh full school committee um for interviews. Uh so the subcommittee will consist of Miss Sullivan, M. Paloga, Mr. Early, and myself as well as
Mr. Leanus and Miss Lynch. Uh, executive session. None posted. Is there a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Motion by Mr. Fger Gerald, seconded by Mr. Murphy. All in favor of enjourment. >> Anybody opposed? >> All right. One opposed. We're ajourned.