School Committee — May 18, 2026

The chair read commendations for the two students, highlighting Tommy's leadership in the art club and academic excellence, and Lucas's involvement in baseball and biochemistry studies.

The students were formally recognized before the committee.

Kakalia discussed her initiative to add AAPI history to existing 10th-grade US history units (immigration and civil rights). She noted the low 5% Asian population at SHS and her desire to prevent students from feeling invisible.

Committee members expressed support for student-led initiatives and the importance of the work.

Kakalia intends to continue working with the history department to potentially propose a dedicated Asian-American history elective.

Speakers argued that current 'level service' is insufficient for vulnerable students. Concerns were raised about the implementation of the special education review, the need for more specialists (interventionists, reading specialists), and the expansion of the co-teaching model.

Public testimony was recorded; no immediate committee vote was taken on funding.

Parents requested a public implementation plan tied to the special education review with specific deadlines and budget needs.

Speakers cited historical harm, disproportionate impacts on students of color and those with disabilities, and the potential for escalation. They argued for investing in social workers, restorative justice, and community engagement specialists instead of armed police. Kelsey Clark argued that SROs erode student belonging and disproportionately impact students of color and those with disabilities. John Link supported this by citing research linking SROs to increased arrests and suspensions, suggesting social workers and mental health providers as better alternatives.

The community members urged the committee to uphold the 2023 decision to remove SROs. The committee heard the testimonies during the public comment period.

Wagota highlighted the risk of school police interactions escalating into ICE involvement and deportation, citing specific cases of wrongful labeling in gang databases.

Testimony provided context on the systemic links between policing and immigration enforcement.

The Chair sought approval for the April 6 minutes.

The minutes were approved following a motion by member Green and a second by member Lipinss.

Dr. Boston Davis and Amy Kandalura explained the three-tier model (universal, targeted, and intensive supports) and the role of Child Study Teams. They discussed the partnership with Boston Children's Hospital, the use of behavioral screeners, and the need to move from policy to consistent practice across all schools. Committee members questioned the budget implications of staffing and how to ensure equitable engagement with families. Members questioned the decision to have the Director of Equity oversee MTSS work instead of a dedicated MTSS Director. The Superintendent explained that the goal is to align equity with student outcomes and that the work will be reinforced through administrative capacity within student services. There was also a discussion on improving school-to-school learning and the use of a 'cohort model' for mentorship.

The presentation concluded with a Q&A session addressing implementation consistency and resource allocation. The Superintendent clarified that the district is rethinking how to strengthen investment by focusing on alignment between equity and student service roles rather than just a single position.

The district will implement a second and third cohort for the Child Study Team model next year and choose a districtwide behavior screener. Implementation of a mentorship model where Cohort 1 leaders mentor Cohort 2 leaders next year; development of a district-wide MTSS handbook/playbook.

The APPLE team presented initiatives to demystify special education, including a 'Massachusetts IEP Quick Start Guide' and a plain-language knowledge base translated into Spanish, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole. They also introduced an anonymous post-meeting survey to gather feedback from families on their IEP meeting experiences.

The board expressed strong support for the tangible resources created and the use of data-driven feedback loops to improve family engagement.

The team will continue meeting monthly to analyze survey data and refine the survey questions; CPAC next meeting is May 27th.

The review found that while Somerville has a strong foundation in inclusion (77% of students with disabilities in full inclusion settings), there is significant variability in instructional consistency and access to grade-level content. Achievement gaps remain wide, specifically in MCAS math and ELA proficiency for students with disabilities. The district received an LEA determination of 'meets requirements' with an 83% score.

The district identified the need to focus on strengthening Tier 1 instruction through Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and professional development.

The district committed to developing a sequenced professional learning plan by June 2027; implementation of aligned professional learning and embedded coaching via Empowered Ed.

The administration discussed using data markers to ensure student growth and the importance of 'shared responsibility' between general and special education staff. Members raised concerns about the need for accountability, the effectiveness of professional development (noting only 4.5 hours of district-wide PD), and how to ensure students with IEPs are making meaningful progress in inclusive classrooms. The administration noted that while the number of special education students remains steady at 19%, the intensity of required services has increased. They emphasized a shift toward lesson internalization and working with the Barn Foundation to improve instructional design.

The district plans to continue working on specialized design instruction and inclusive practices, with a focus on using high-quality instructional materials.

The report included celebrating long-term employees retiring, such as Christy Savage (33 years) and Linda Murray Walsh (30 years), while also noting recent resignations and new hires across various school roles.

The committee acknowledged the service of retirees and welcomed new staff members.

The Superintendent shared updates on design planning forums regarding sustainability and community use of facilities. There was a discussion regarding the upcoming August 28 deadline for the Module 3 preliminary design and the need for a meeting in mid-August.

The committee expressed openness to holding an additional meeting in mid-August to avoid overloading a single meeting during the busy back-to-school season.

A meeting is tentatively penciled in for August 17th to discuss the MSBA process.

Member Okay inquired about an upcoming presentation on SROs, emphasizing that the discussion should not be isolated from previous recommendations made by the policing subcommittee that were not implemented.

The administration confirmed the presentation would take place at a future meeting.

High school administration to present at an upcoming meeting.