School Committee — June 9, 2026

a speaker shared news of the passing of Jamie McCarthy, a long-time district custodian. The committee highlighted his contribution to the district and noted his family's deep ties to the community.

A moment of silence was observed.

Dr. Hackett recognized numerous retirees both in person and via Zoom, including Lisa Rhodes, Deirdre, Kerry Shear Boucher, Emmett O'Brien, and Jane Day. She also read names of colleagues who were unable to attend.

Retirees were presented with gifts and celebrated for their service.

The committee recognized Julie Fenn (Maple Award), Barbara Hamilton (Metco Leadership Award), and Heidi Simmons (MASBO President's Award). Discussions highlighted their contributions to physical education, leadership, and special education finance.

Honorees were formally recognized during the meeting.

Updates included a request for Lex250 volunteer hours, an announcement regarding the SED district review, and the launch of a new 'Education Forum' to engage families. The Chair also proposed structural changes to meetings, such as rescheduling Community Speak and implementing a reflection period.

Information was shared; structural changes to future agendas were proposed.

First Education Forum on June 17th at 7:00 PM.

The consent agenda was approved with field trips removed for separate consideration. Members discussed the costs of substitutes for trips and expressed general concerns regarding the geopolitical challenges of international travel.

The consent agenda was approved. Specific field trips for Diamond Middle School (Quebec) and Clarke Middle School (Puerto Rico) were approved.

The foundation reported awarding 31 grants totaling over $190,000. They highlighted various projects ranging from teacher professional development to school murals and multicultural events.

The committee expressed appreciation for the foundation's support of the district.

The presentation covered meal participation rates (noting a rise to 63%), menu variety (including halal and meatless options), high school dining options (deli, grill, salad bar), the 'Red's Best' fish program, and the use of hydroponic gardens for fresh produce. Discussion also touched on catering services, the partnership with the LAB program for student employment, the transition from compostable to reusable items to manage costs, protein levels in vegetarian meals, and the availability of kosher/halal options.

The committee received an overview of the current lunch program operations and expressed support for the innovation and nutritional quality of the program.

The nutrition department will look into ways to potentially bring back pre-ordering deli sandwiches for students to alleviate time constraints.

The committee discussed the structure of a forthcoming community forum, which will feature breakout groups focused on Finance, Curriculum, and Technology. Members debated group assignments for facilitators and discussed the need for 'group norms' to ensure productive conversation rather than just airing grievances.

The committee agreed on a tentative plan for facilitator assignments and the inclusion of guiding questions to direct the conversation.

The event is scheduled for June 17th at the High School Library; a speaker will draft group norms for the session.

Updates included the upcoming administrators' retreat (Aug 3-5) to discuss AI, homework, and grading; a status update on staff placement following recent reductions; and clarification on enrollment trends regarding English language learners. The report also touched on the high school building project and recent community feedback regarding bathroom designs.

The report was presented for information; no formal votes were required.

Representatives from Alpha School presented their mastery-based, AI-augmented educational model. School Committee members questioned the qualifications of their 'guides' (noting a lack of formal teaching certification requirements), their criteria for 'age-appropriate' books, how they use AI to personalize instruction, the definition of 'curriculum' vs 'standards', teacher qualifications, the adequacy of student self-regulation, screen time, social-emotional development, and how student mastery is assessed beyond the software. The school representative clarified that AI determines the pace of learning based on human-designed scope and sequence, while teachers provide 1:6 coaching.

The application was presented for committee review under state law mandates regarding compulsory education standards. The School Committee decided to table the decision regarding approval.

The committee intends to explore a site visit, conduct further research, and request documentation regarding building and safety protocols.

The advisory clarified that the School Committee has sole authority to approve private schools and that decisions are not appealable to DESE. It noted that student learning time regulations do not strictly apply to private schools and that the committee's liability is minimal if acting in good faith. A private school that disputes the School Committee's decision may ask the School Committee to review the matter.

The committee received the legal briefing for informational purposes.

The committee reviewed the proposed calendar for the 2027-2028 school year.

The calendar was approved by a 5-0 vote.

The policy is being updated to comply with new state regulations. Discussion touched on the implications for special education and the potential for 'hands-off' mandates to inadvertently lead to more intense restraint situations if students become dysregulated.

The policy received its first reading.

A second reading and potential vote are scheduled for the next meeting on the 16th.

Members debated whether subcommittee meetings should be held immediately before regular committee meetings or at other times. There was a conflict between the desire to have staff present (often requiring daytime/early evening meetings) and the need for accessibility for working parents.

The committee agreed to explore a more consistent and varied schedule.

The committee will consider alternating meeting times (mornings and evenings) to better accommodate different stakeholders.

A parent advocated for the Alpha school model, noting its benefits for personalized learning and social skills. The LEA President raised concerns about the upcoming 2027-2028 budget deficits and the need for realistic funding for staff and operations. Another community member asked for follow-up information regarding school building designs and dining services. Lisa Sullivan highlighted a 'perfect storm' of fiscal challenges including inflation, rising special education tuition, and transportation costs, arguing that additional funding is necessary to retain staff, provide living wages, and cover healthcare costs without increasing class sizes. Zeshun Chang inquired about administrator participation in the June 17th community discussion, suggested a presentation-then-dialogue format, raised questions regarding the School Building Committee's process for revising bathroom designs following public feedback, and asked if student/family feedback would be gathered regarding dining services.

Public comments were heard and recorded.

The 2027-2028 budget summit is scheduled to begin the following night. The School Building Committee has a forum scheduled for June 27th.

The speaker inquired about administrator participation in the June 17th community discussion and suggested a presentation-then-dialogue format. They also raised questions regarding the School Building Committee's process for revising bathroom designs following public feedback and asked if student/family feedback would be gathered regarding dining services. The speaker expressed appreciation for efforts to make subcommittee meetings more accessible to the public.

Information was shared.

The School Building Committee has a forum scheduled for June 27th; the speaker requested clarification on when design updates will be presented for summer review.