School Committee — June 9, 2026

Superintendent Schwong presented the consent agenda, noting minor changes to the acceptable use of technology policy and detailing several donations for equipment and science centers. No members requested to pull items for individual discussion.

The consent agenda was approved unanimously.

Raima Mahendel, a student at JGMS, presented 'Be Seen, Be Safe,' a 501c3 nonprofit that provides free reflective gear to increase visibility for walkers and bikers. The committee praised the student's leadership and the professional quality of the initiative.

The student requested to incorporate nighttime safety lessons into health and PE classes.

The Superintendent will set up a meeting with the Wellness Director, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, and Principal Hartunian to discuss curriculum integration.

The Superintendent detailed updates to the handbook, including a restorative approach to the code of conduct, updated bullying prevention plans, and new guidelines for e-bike/e-scooter safety. Discussion focused on the committee's purview over the code of conduct versus the Superintendent's authority over other administrative sections.

The committee approved the code of conduct and the bullying prevention and intervention plan.

The Superintendent will provide an annual update on handbook changes to the committee, likely during the penultimate meeting of the year.

The administration addressed concerns regarding unlimited student technology access and inconsistent homework communication. The plan includes a strategic summer collection of Chromebooks, the rollout of the 'Lightspeed' parent portal for remote monitoring, and stricter 'allow-list' website controls. They also proposed standardizing Google Classroom naming conventions and due dates to improve parent oversight. The committee discussed balancing technology access with student focus, setting time limits on homework, using Lightspeed to monitor activity, philosophical debate over parental data access, and YouTube blocking. The board acknowledged the rollout and need for clear parent communication.

The committee discussed the implementation details, including the balance of technology for education versus distraction.

The administration will work on staff training, student digital citizenship instruction, and parent education resources throughout the summer and early fall. The tech team will continue investigating tracking specific time spent on websites; staff will complete a student distractibility survey to establish a baseline.

The Superintendent explained that a deficit in out-of-district contractual services arose due to unknown expenses, such as new students moving into the district with high needs, and the state legislature failing to fully fund circuit breaker transportation reimbursements. The committee discussed whether the cost overrun was driven by increased student needs or rising prices, concluding it was a combination of both. The swings in special education costs can be upwards of a million dollars and the stabilization fund isn't large enough to contain them.

The School Committee voted unanimously to approve the request to transfer up to $250,000.

The request will be transmitted to the Finance Committee for review and then to the Select Board for a vote on Monday the 15th.

The Superintendent provided an update on the structural shift to embedding COLA into salary projections rather than using formal transfers. The plan is to offer a standard 3.25% increase to align with teachers, though adjustments may be needed for market retention or facilities team alignment with the town. Deviations may be necessary in the future to avoid salary collisions; market adjustments are also being considered for certain valued staff.

This was an informational update; no vote was required.

The Superintendent reported on the progress of Year Two of the strategic plan using a red/yellow/green indicator system. Most goals reached 'green' status, though some technology guidelines and high school transition projects were delayed and will carry over to next year. Several 'yellow' items were moved to 'green.' Key discussions included technology guidelines (remained 'yellow' due to incompletion), fourth-grade writing challenges, and the implementation of universal breakfast at Davis School funded by federal reimbursements. Board members queried the data behind fourth-grade performance and transition processes.

The committee received the report.

Action steps for 'yellow' items will be addressed in the next school year.

The Chair presented an aggregated evaluation noting 'proficient' ratings across all categories. The evaluation highlighted strengths in instructional leadership, fiscal stewardship, and community engagement, while noting areas for improvement in communication and staff cohesion. Board members commented on the Superintendent's self-reflection, financial management improvements, and handling of high school transitions.

The School Committee voted unanimously to approve the evaluation.

a speaker reported that the district successfully reduced 18.5 positions through attrition and managed new special education needs. He also shared that Verizon is upgrading a cell tower to resolve Wi-Fi/cell reception issues at Lane School for emergency management. Finally, a lengthy list of retiring staff members was acknowledged.

Information shared; no action required.

The committee held nominations and votes for the positions of Secretary, Vice Chair, and Chair.

New officers were elected for the 2026-2027 term.