call this meeting of the Whittier Regional Votech School Committee to order. Can you call the RO please? >> Mr. Early >> here. >> Miss Sullivan >> present. >> Present. >> Mr. Rossi >> here. Miss Carpenter
>> here. >> Mr. Fitzgerald >> here. >> Mr. Murphy, Mr. Paglia, Miss LOL here, >> Mr. Bo, Miss TR >> here, >> Miss Okconor, Mr. Slavoski and the chair >> here. Now 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 indivisibley and justice for all >> right
uh 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, public comment. I believe we have Katie Stanton. >> Start. >> Katie. >> Yes. >> Hiding in the corner. Um, good evening, Chairperson Wood and
the members of the Whittier Regional Vocational Technical School Committee. My name is Katie Stuntton. I live at 520 Lraine Street in West Oxbury, Massachusetts, and I am the president of the Whittier Regional Educators Association. I am here tonight on behalf of our members to formally present a
petition concerning the district's ongoing mishandling of employee health insurance premiums. This issue is not new, nor is it a misunderstanding. Since June 2025, the rea has been engaged in problem solving. We have met with the
school district. We have followed the contract. We have repeatedly requested information that is uh required to negotiate in good faith. Um what we cannot accept is a unilateral action that violates our collective bargaining agreement and Massachusetts law. That is
why we are bringing this matter to you. Um the school committee is the employer of record and has a legal obligation to ensure that the administration complies with our contract and the law and we are asking you um to exercise that responsibility. I am going to submit a petition into the
record on behalf of Whittier Regional Educators Association. Um so the petition says um we the undersigned educators of the Whittier Regional Education Association respectfully ask for your in assistance
in resolving the ongoing problem of the district's handling of our members health insurance premiums. In June 2025, the uh learned that the district had been improperly calculating health insurance premiums for our subscribing members. Um, and we immediately reached
out to Superintendent Maren Lynch and business manager uh Cara Cosmos to identify the root cause and negotiate a fair resolution. Despite the lack of agreement between the union and the employer, the administration has unilaterally and unlawfully subjected
members to additional payroll deductions to account for a mistake they have refused to take uh responsibility for. Repeated attempts by the rea to work collaboratively with the administration have been met with only delay and
continued violations of the con uh collective bargaining agreement and Massachusetts general law. This includes at least two instances of members being assessed additional payments after the first payment came out for all of us um even after the administration agreed to
cease and desist uh with any further action until an agreement was reached. As a result, the rea is no closer to solving this problem now than we were six months ago. Our members are frustrated and angry and not to mention
the anxiety they feel wondering if they're going to be the next employee to be missing hundreds of dollars from their next paycheck. Next week, um, the WREA leadership has a sitdown meeting, um, with Superintendent Lynch and business manager Cosmos to try to
attempt to reach a mutually agreeable solution. To do so, the administration must come prepared with a complete and comprehensive response to our requests for uh information, an understanding of the law that they have cost our members, and a willingness to negotiate in good
faith for a fair and just resolution. In consideration of the above, we hereby call upon the Whittier School Committee to immediately direct the administration to fulfill its obligations under the contract in the law to remove this issue without further delay. I do have a copy.
We were able to get 75 um teacher signatures on it. Um so, as the union, we would like this uh problem to be resolved. Our members deserve stability, fairness, and respect, and we hope that the committee will act promptly to ensure that this happens. Thank you for
your time and your attention to this serious issue. Is it okay if I bring this up to you? Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else for public comment? >> Anyone else for public comment? Did
anyone submit public comment uh by email? >> No. Seeing none. Next item on the agenda, approval of minutes. December 10, 2025 minutes of the regular school committee meeting. Is there a motion?
>> Motion by Mr. Fitzgerald. It was second by Miss Carpenter. 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, Miss Law, >> yes. >> Mr. Bo. >> Yes. >> Miss TR. >> Yes. >> Miss Okconor. >> Yes. >> And the chair. >> Yes. Passes. Payment of bills, financial report, treasures report December for Mr. Mahoney. Is there a motion to approve? >> Motion to approve. >> Motion by Miss True. Seconded by
>> Second. >> Mr. Murphy. Discussion. >> Seeing none. Call the >> Mr. Early. >> Yes. >> Miss Sullivan? >> Yes. >> Mr. Rossi? >> Yes. >> Miss Carpenter. >> That did not sound like Mr. Rossi. Mr. Rossy, what is your vote? Someone.
Okay, >> I jumped the gun. >> Mr. Fitzgerald, >> yes. >> Mr. Murphy, yes. Mr. Paglia, yes. Miss LOL, Mr. Bo, >> yes. >> Miss Tro, yes. Miss Okconor, and the chair. >> Yes. Fastest.
Communications student representative report. Richard Dico. >> Good evening, Mr. Chairman, Superintendent Lynch, and members of the school committee. Our winter sports are going strong. Boys freshman basketball is going well. There are over 20 boys on the team. They bring a positive attitude
to practice and play hard. Girls basketball is off to a great start and are currently first place in the conference. The team is showing strong leadership and we also have a solid group of freshmen. The wrestling team record is four five and one overall. Participation numbers remain strong with
over 70 wrestlers across all teams. The girls team has competed in multiple tournaments and events with more scheduled and is pushing for a division one girls state title. Moving into the clubs, the student government is working on plans for the student faculty basketball game which
will be held on March 10th. We hope to have a large crowd in the gym after school. The past few years have been fantastic. They're also considering a winter spirit week in February. Student government elections for next year will be held in June and we encourage all students interested in running for office to attend meetings regularly. We
meet on Tuesdays in of week two in room 304. The multicultural club sends out a big thank you to the Whittier community for participating in the coats for kids coat drive during December. We collected over 25 coats and jackets which were taken to Anton's Cleaners for donation to local
sites. Whittier Tech's third annual culture night is on Friday, March 20th from 4:30 to 6:30. Volunteers are welcome. The Interact Club participated in communities in community meals at the Haveril Citizen Center and delivered nearly 200 holiday cards to local
nursing homes. Page production is underway for the yearbook club. Winter sports photos will be taken over the next few weeks. The poetry club meets every Thursday. There is a group of seniors who write, share, and critique, as well as a group of freshmen who do the same. Occasionally,
the group meets together. Students are very thoughtful in both their writing and critiques. The environmental club's holiday nature resolution tree was a success. Both teachers and students shared their nature resolutions for 2026 by hanging them on a tree as ornaments. Student participation has been
excellent, and the group continues to show strong motivation and passion for environmental stewardship. The ski and snowboard club had a great trip to Mount Pleasant on January 10th with 50 students in attendance. Our next trip will be on January 30th to Guntock Mountain. Members in the peer-to-peer
club will be creating Valentine's cards for Edinia Care in Newport. The group will also discuss teaming up with the Interact Club to promote heart awareness during the month of February. The drama club has begun rehearsals for their spring musical, The Adams Family. Carpentry students will be building the
set over the next few weeks, while art students will begin painting the set and constructing tombstones for the Adams Family Cemetery. Dance rehearsals begin this week. The art club students have been working on individual projects, including crochet and ceramics. In the coming weeks, it'll be creating props for this
year's school play. The chess club is going strong. Last week, 18 students attended. Our first Blitz tournament is coming up soon, and clocks, timekeeping, and notation will be introduced to give students a taste of formal tournament play. The journalism club is currently working on its third issue of the
Wildcats magazine this school year, scheduled for publication at the end of February. Feedback continues to be positive. The journalism elective begins at the end of this month, so be on the lookout for even more great content. That concludes the student report. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Great 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 school committee members. Uh I have a list of fun things here to to listen to and I
can't believe it's already January 14th. Uh Whittier Sports continue to move forward uh with their seasons. The winter sports our teams are still young and developing. Uh we had over uh 200 249 to be exact uh students uh athletes
that have registered uh and are playing. Um uh there are 27 uh Whittier Amesberry hockey players uh which includes Varsity and JV. So we have 27 kids playing over there in Amesbury. So it's kind of neat and we continue that and most of them
are our kids. Um staff and students are preparing for midterm assessments on Monday. We know we're going to celebrate uh Dr. Martin Luther King Day. Uh and on Friday actually in the morning in our morning show with the kids uh we will also celebrate uh before we take off for
the long weekend Luther King Day. Uh January 20th through the 21st uh midyear assessments week one uh 22 and 23 week two uh grade two quarter two sorry grades are due January 21st midyear
assessments grades are due the 28th. Uh and we also report cards issued uh January 30th. So that's the term two is coming to a close. Um before the holiday break, the staff and administration enjoyed some fun activities. We had a
holiday potluck extravaganza and also during my uh school council. We're always looking for staff to bring some more fun things to the to the table. So we're hoping to um you know plant some more fun activities like that. Uh the holiday fund, if you're curious, the
foundation received over $10,000 in donations uh for this purpose and the holidays. Uh the foundation presented uh gift cards tolling to $18,000 during Thanksgiving and Christmas. So that's great for our our community.
The official shop selection, grade nine selection, uh they received their shop selection forms, uh top three shop choices on Monday, January 12th. Uh and we're letting them know according to the vocational coordinators above permanent
placement on January 28th. So our kids will be settled in their shop areas. The freshman um ski the ski club had their first ski trip uh Pleasant Mountain in Brighton, Maine. A success, knock on wood, no one
got hurt. Uh and all 50 kids that signed up for the trip, they had a ball, had a blast. as well as some teachers that were up there and advisers, but also some teachers went up to help and volunteer for that. So, uh, another fun thing for the for us, our students. During our January school council
meeting that happened yesterday, um, I'm highlighting one of our amazing educators, uh, Tara McDonald, and why I highlight her. She was a former student of ours and now in the Cosmo department. So, a shout out goes to her. So, thank you everyone for listening and any
questions. >> Questions? >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next item is business manager. No business manager report is posted. Moving on. Reports and recommendations of the superintendent. Madam superintendent. >> Good evening, Mr. Chairman, members of
the committee. On Thursday, December 11th, I attended the MASS executive meeting in Malber. At this meeting, the new commissioner of reg ed education discussed upcoming possible graduation requirements. On Monday, December 15th, I attended the school building committee meeting. At this meeting, we dis
discussed enrollment in our district schools as well as enrollment in the state's vocational schools. On Tuesday, December 16th, I attended the Habil City Council meeting. We discussed the unweighted lottery. There were many points of view regarding this change. We did stress that this is our first year
and we'll review the policy again um for next year. On Wednesday, December 17th and January se 7th, I attended the RACK meetings. Angus Jennings is the new chair from West Newberry and Mayor Barrett from Hil is the vice chair. I want to thank Caesar Paglia, Ron
Fitzgerald, Scottwood, and Kurt Sowski for attending those meetings and participating. On Friday, December 19th, I met with Representative Vargas along with Chris Leanes. we were able to update him on the school building project along with our new admissions lottery. On Wednesday, January 7th, I attended the Ipsswitch Tri Board meeting
with Carol Sullivan. I want to thank Carol for the her passion in vocational education um that she displayed during this presentation. I believe most board members felt that they had a much better understanding of the work that is being done at Whittier Tech. Bless you. On Thursday, January 8th, I attended the
MAVA remote meeting. On Thursday, January 8th, I met with Jen Ball and Mike McCarthy from Northern Essics along with Chris Leanes. We continued to discuss the cost of the feasibility feasibility study and how we can continue to collaborate with one another. On January tw 12th, I met with
the chairs of the school building committee, the rack chairs, and the school committee chairs. I think it was a very productive meeting. Um, it's important that all three of these committees are working with each other and understands each other's mission and goals and timelines. On Monday, January 12th, I attended the new statewide
graduation requirements panel remote meeting um with the superintendent organization. I believe we all think there should be high standards for graduation. Um but how we get there is is what we're trying to work through. On Tuesday, January 13th, I attended the Marramac Valley Chamber of Commerce
executive committee meeting in Lawrence. Um I will be attending the mayors and managers breakfast um with the chamber on January 26th um along with Chris Leanas and Cara Cosmus. So, I have two overnight field trip
requests. Um, the first one is a two-day overnight trip to Gillette Stadium um for the Mass Restaurant ProStar competition. Um, we will have six students participating with two um
teacher advisors. >> What's the second one? We'll just take them both together. Uh we have the American Institute of Hair Color um for um Miss Picanso's class and they are going to London, New Hampshire and that
one is on February 2nd and then she's taking her other week on February 9th. >> Is there a motion to approve? >> Motion to approve two overnight trips. >> Motion by Mr. Murphy. Seconded, >> Mr. B. Any discussions? >> Do we have the proper paperwork? >> We will.
>> Thank you. >> They go. Any other discussion? No, please call the role. >> Mr. Early? >> Yes. Yes. >> Miss Sullivan? >> Yes. >> Mr. Rossi? >> Yes. >> 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. >> And the chair? >> Yes. Pass. >> Thank you. Old business. None. New
business, the 2026 standard mile rate, uh, which is 72.5 cents per mile. Is there a motion to set that? >> By Miss Lowel, seconded by Mr. Fitzgerald. Any discussion? >> Question. When does that go in effect? Is that
>> January 1st? >> Any other discussion? Seeing none, >> Mr. Early? >> Yes. >> Miss Sullivan? Yes, >> Mr. Ross. >> Yes, >> Miss Carpenter. >> Yes, >> Mr. Fitzgerald. Yes,
>> Mr. Murphy. Yes, Mr. Paglia. Miss LOL. Yes. Mr. Bo, yes. M. True. Yes. >> Miss Okconor. Yes. And the chair. >> Yes. Passes. Next is rack nominee. Um, so Georgetown did not submit a nominee in the past. So, they are submitting
Orlando Pacico as their um representative. Salsbury is submitting an alternate. Uh Michael Cobburn and Newbury Port is submitting their alternate which is Share Zed. Sharif Zed. Is there a motion to approve?
>> Moved by Mr. Fitzgerald. Seconded. >> Second >> by Mr. Wolf. Any discussion? >> No. Okay. Call >> Mr. Early. >> Yes. >> Miss Sullivan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Barasi. >> Yes. >> Miss Carpenter, >> yes.
>> Mr. Fitzgerald, >> yes. >> Mr. Murphy, >> yes. >> Mr. Paglia, yes. >> Miss Law, >> yes. >> Mr. Bo, yes. >> Miss TR, yes. >> Miss Okconor, >> yes. >> And the chair? >> Yes. Items not reasonably anticipated by the chair. Um, the only thing I I did want to point out um is I want to make
sure that we I know the wall of fame behind us is for over 10. I want to make sure that we honor Mr. Urban um who left. So if we could work on getting that set up and make sure to invite him and his family um for that >> reports of the special committee executive uh no report at this time
instructional non listed plan operations none listed salary and negotiations none listed policy Mr. Fitzgerald >> we're looking for approval second and final reading for policies listed >> motion by Mr. Fitzgerald, seconded by
Miss Lel. Any discussion on the policies? >> Seeing none, call the roll. >> Mr. Early, >> yes. >> Miss Sullivan, >> yes. >> Mr. Rossy, >> yes. >> Miss Carpenter, >> yes. >> Mr. Fitzgerald, >> yes. >> Mr. Murphy, Mr. Paglia. Miss LOL,
>> yes. >> Mr. B, >> yes. >> Miss TR, >> yes. >> Miss Okconor, >> yes. >> And the chair? >> Yes. Passes. Is there a motion to go into executive session to discuss strategy with respect to litigation? because the chair declares an open session may have a detrimental effect on the litigation position of the committee
and we will not return to open session. Is there a motion? >> Motion by Mr. Fitzgerald, seconded by Mr. Murphy. >> Mr. Early, >> yes. >> Miss Sullivan, >> yes. >> Mr. Rossi, >> yes. >> Miss Carpenter, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr.
Murphy, Mr. Pagley, Miss L. Yes. >> Mr. Bow, yes. Miss TR, yes. Miss O' Conor and the chair. >> Yes. >> Yes. Committee will be an executive.