Everett

Everett School Committee

Monday November 6, 2023

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The order of items in transcripts is the chronological order in which they were taken up. Some Agenda items may have been skipped.

Section 1

The Everett School Committee held a regular meeting on November 6, 2023. The meeting included a roll call and a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. The superintendent was sworn in and the first item on the agenda was the reading of the records from a previous meeting. Public comment was then opened and a resident addressed the committee about the upcoming election and their concerns about the influence of one person on the committee. Another resident spoke about their appreciation for the superintendent and the positive impact she had on the Spanish debate team.

Section 2

The speaker expresses concerns about the timing of the Malden Transportation contract extension and the superintendent search process. They also mention the positive performance of Superintendent Tahiliani and question why she is being placed on leave.

Section 3

Mangan mentioned that there was a search for a superintendent in Lawrence, but that information was incorrect. Last week, DESE confirmed that they have not yet selected a company for Lawrence and that there are no upfront payments for the search. However, the search for a superintendent in Boston, which has a population of 50,000 students, is only costing $75,000, while the search for a superintendent in Everett, with a population of less than 8,000 students, is costing $86,000. The speaker believes that this is a bad decision and that taxpayers will ultimately end up paying for it. They also attended a meeting where the search committee discussed the desired qualities for a superintendent, but the speaker felt that important factors such as prioritizing the education and well-being of students were not mentioned. Instead, they believe the committee is looking for a candidate similar to the previous superintendent, who had a history of scandals and lawsuits. The speaker also brought up the recent controversy surrounding the placement of the superintendent on leave, and criticized the committee and mayor for their handling of the situation. They also expressed concerns about the city's human resources department and their treatment of employees, including discrimination and retaliation. Another speaker also expressed their disapproval of the superintendent's placement on leave and criticized the actions of the committee and the mayor. They also brought up other issues in the city, including the use of Pope John as a school and the upcoming elections. The mayor interrupted to respond to some of the comments, and the meeting ended with tensions between the speakers and the mayor.

Section 4

The speaker gives a brief introduction and thanks those in attendance for their comments. They mention the importance of honoring our veterans and announce an upcoming event. The first item on the agenda is a request to extend the district's contract with Malden Transportation.

Section 5

The superintendent is requesting an extension of the district's contract with Malden Transportation for two more years, with an increase in rates. The district reached out to other transportation companies for comparative quotes, but Malden was the only one able to provide services for all required routes. One committee member has been working on a proposal for school bus electrification and requests more time to present it before making a decision. Another committee member suggests moving the proposal to the finance committee for further discussion and analysis of available funds. A vote is called for, with 4 in favor and 5 against.

Section 6

The school committee discusses a contract with Modern Transportation, with speakers expressing concerns about possibly changing vendors and the potential impact on students. Miss Lambert proposes exploring alternative solutions for energy efficiency. A motion is made to extend the discussion to the first meeting in December.

Section 7

The meeting began with the speaker calling roll and confirming attendance of various members. They then proceeded to discuss and approve various grants, including an earmark to support the Everett High School marching band. Next, they discussed and approved a request for the district's medication delegation form, which allows non-nurse personnel to administer certain medications to students. They also approved the rental of the Lafayette School Gymnasium to a local youth soccer organization. During the privilege portion, one member, Miss Sarni, expressed her concerns about the superintendent's evaluation and requested that it be put on the agenda for the next meeting. The superintendent then read off the bills and payrolls for the district, which were approved for submission and payment. An unforeseen item was then added to the agenda to authorize the interim superintendent, Mr. Hart, as one of the district's authorized signatories. This was passed with favorable action. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, which was approved with a roll call vote.