Everett School Committee
Thursday January 18, 2024
Clickable Transcript Printable Transcript Agenda
The order of items in transcripts appear in the chronological order in which they were taken up. Some Agenda items may have been skipped.
Agenda Item III.
During this segment of a public hearing, the first order of business involved dealing with the records from January 2, 2024. SPEAKER8 initiated the process by preparing to read the records, but SPEAKER9 intervened with a motion to skip the reading and instead accept the records as they are and file them. This motion was seconded, leading SPEAKER1 to put the motion to a vote. The majority voted in favor ("Aye"), with no opposition mentioned, leading to the motion's approval to waive the reading of the records, accept them as accurate, and place them on file.
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Agenda Item IV.
During the public hearing, various speakers provided their opinions on the current educational and administrative challenges facing the Everett Public Schools. Anna Siders, a teacher and resident, voiced concerns over teachers feeling unheard and the high turnover of staff, emphasizing the need for the school committee to listen to all staff members. Kimberly Auger, President of the Everett Teachers Association, shared her experiences working towards resolving issues with the interim superintendent, William Hart, stressing the importance of moving away from politics and focusing on education. Luciana Hurley, another resident, criticized the ambiguous language on the agenda and expressed concerns over the potential cost implications of replacing the superintendent. Several other residents, including Fred Giannino, Peggy Serino, and Shane McNally, expressed support for Mr. Hart and talked about the need for stability and respect within the school system. Vincent Dixon from the NAACP highlighted the importance of due process and suggested avoiding making administrative decisions during the academic year for stability. Various other speakers, including educators, parents, and residents, shared their perspectives on the need for integrity in the superintendent selection process, calling for actions ranging from improving bullying laws to advocating for transparency and accountability in administrative decisions. Some speakers supported reinstating Priya Tahiliani, the previous superintendent placed on administrative leave, while others voiced support for Billy Hart, citing the need for continuity and stability. The hearing reflected a community divided on how best to move forward, with calls for unity, transparency, and a focus on the welfare of the students dominating the discourse.
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Agenda Item V.
During the session, Speaker1 commended Mr. D Diminco on his recent election as a senior high school class president before giving the floor to Salvatore DiDomenico, the student representative. DiDomenico reported on various school sports achievements, including the unified basketball team's victory at the TD Garden, the boys basketball and cheerleading staff appreciation nights, the girls basketball game, track meet successes, and hockey team's current standing. He also mentioned a motivational talk by author Gabby Rivera, outstanding performances by the school's debaters at a Suffolk University tournament, the high school chorus's participation at the Martin Luther King breakfast, recent class elections, the upcoming basketball clinics for young children, and a reminder about yearbook ad purchases. A motion was made and seconded to formally accept and record the student report.
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Agenda Item VI. 1.
William Hart from Everett Public Schools offered an update, highlighting recent events and achievements within the district. He commended the success at the Martin Luther King breakfast attended by school committee members, Mayor Di Maria, and acknowledged a scholarship awarded to Lillian, an Everett High School student with a 4.2 GPA who faced personal challenges yet excelled academically. Hart also celebrated the success of Everett in the Unified basketball tournament, named after Andrew Lawson, and announced the election results for various student class presidents and vice presidents. Additionally, he praised the artistic accomplishment of Joao Pedro Santos, whose photograph was purchased by Senator Sal DiDomenico and displayed at the state house. Hart then informed about graduation signs available for purchase, congratulated senior Christian Zamor for his football achievements, encouraged families to contribute to the military hall of fame at Everett High School, and recognized Bob Goss for over 20 years of service as a custodian. The superintendent's report was motioned to be accepted and filed following his comprehensive update.
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Agenda Item VI. 2.
The discussion focused on a request for approval to close all Everett Public School buildings on March 5, 2024, during the presidential primary, continuing the tradition due to most schools being used as polling places. Concerns were raised about the impact on MCAS preparation, particularly at the high school, which is not a polling site. Suggestions included closing only K-8 schools and consulting the labor union about potential division. Additionally, concerns about increased precinct numbers and security were mentioned. The committee decided to table the discussion, allowing the superintendent to consult with the labor union and security team, and report back at the next meeting.
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Agenda Item VI. 3.
A grant of $6,400 from the state treasurer's financial education innovation fund was awarded to Everett High School to enhance access to financial literacy programming through Credit for Life fairs, a well-established initiative in the Commonwealth. Miss Lambert made a motion for approval, seconded by Miss Guerin, and the adoption of the grant was confirmed following a roll call orchestrated by the clerk.
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Agenda Item VII. 1.
Vice Chairperson Lambert addressed concerns about the effect of mid-year 9C budget cuts on grant-funded programs, given the high number of grants the department receives. Despite concerns, these cuts, authorized by Governor Healy, did not affect Chapter 70 funding or any grants and line items related to the district, as reviewed by Mr. Hart. Hart clarified the purpose and scope of Section 9C under Massachusetts laws, allowing the governor to reduce budgeted funds across the state for fiscal reasons. The motion to address these concerns was introduced by Lambert and seconded by Miss Corniglio, but the district remains unaffected by the cuts unless future 9C reductions are enacted before the fiscal year ends.
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Agenda Item VII. 2.
In this section of a public hearing, Vice Chairperson Lambert proposed an audit of the Everett School Committee's finances by the state auditor's office, emphasizing the committee's fiduciary responsibility and the goal of ensuring financial transparency and best practices. Lambert clarified that the intention was not to misconstrue but to provide a financial overview, subsequently motioning to refer the matter to the finance and negotiations committee for a deeper examination of its suitability. The motion, seconded by Ms. Guerin, was put to a vote and approved, directing the proposal to the specified committee for further investigation.
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Agenda Item VII. 3.
During the discussion on engaging a policy subscription service from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC), Vice Chairperson Lambert proposed to start using the service, mentioning the appointment of a new field director at MASC. Lambert motioned for approval to begin engagement with MASC and to refer the item to the rules, policy, and procedure subcommittee. The motion was made, seconded, and unanimously passed with a vote of 8-0, effectively referring the matter to the relevant subcommittee for further consideration.
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Agenda Item VII. 4.
During the public hearing, Chairperson Cristiano announced an opening for the Everett School Committee representative position on the Shore Collaborative, mentioning a request from Ms. Hurley to serve on this committee. Subsequently, nominations were opened, with a nomination for Sam Hurley being proposed and seconded. Before proceeding to a vote, SPEAKER1 sought any further nominations but received none, leading to a motion to close nominations and proceed to a roll call vote for Ms. Hurley's nomination. The vote concluded with Ms. Hurley successfully nominated and voted in as the Everett School Committee's representative for the Shore Collaborative, with expectations for her to report back on the Collaborative's ongoing activities.
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Agenda Item VII. 5.
During the discussion regarding the potential vote on Superintendent Tahiliani's paid administrative leave status, initiated by Miss Babcock and Miss Guerin, various committee members and the city's mayor expressed their viewpoints. Cristiano highlighted the importance of not discussing complaints publicly due to legal and privacy concerns. Arguments for reinstating Tahiliani centered on her having a valid contract superseding Hart's, widespread community support, and the financial burden of maintaining two superintendent salaries. Babcock emphasized the peculiar nature of Tahiliani's leave and questioned the complaint handling process. Committee members shared their struggles with the decision, highlighting the divided community opinion, the impact on the school's administration depending on the vote's outcome, and concerns over setting precedents. Debate also touched upon legal implications, the ongoing investigation's integrity, and the difficulty of making a decision that satisfies all stakeholders. Ultimately, the committee voted against reinstating Tahiliani, keeping her on paid administrative leave with three ayes and five nays.
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Agenda Item IX.
During the session, Speaker 4 proposed to submit and then pay bills and payrolls totaling $1,505,047.37. Speaker 1 supported the motion, which was also backed by Speaker 2. The decision to proceed with the payment of bills and payrolls was unanimously agreed upon after the motions were made, seconded, and the roll was called by the clerk to validate the proceedings, highlighting a structured approach to handling financial responsibilities.
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Agenda Item X. 1.
In this portion of a public hearing, the focus was on the appointment of subcommittees, specifically the acceptance of committee assignments. Speaker 8 announced the agenda item related to unfinished business concerning the appointment of subcommittees. Speaker 1, acknowledged as the superintendent, informed the attendees that the committee assignments had been distributed and stated that these assignments only needed to be accepted and filed since no vote was necessary. Following this, a motion to accept and file the committee assignments was made, seconded, and then affirmed by a roll call initiated by the clerk, with Miss Babcock and Speaker 2, who referred to themselves as Madam Chair, both confirming the motion.
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Agenda Item XIII. 1.
The section details an executive session conducted by a public body, specifically focusing on discussing strategies related to collective bargaining or litigation, addressing complaints or charges against a public officer, employee, staff member, or individual in relation to open meeting law complaints filed by Storite and Fried. The School Committee aims to discuss these matters privately to avoid any detrimental impacts on their bargaining or litigating position, as announced. Following the executive session, the committee plans to reconvene in an open session to present and respond to the alleged open meeting law violations. Lambert expresses gratitude for patience and announces that the committee has finalized responses to the open meeting law complaints filed on various dates in December 2023 and September 2023. These responses are scheduled to be sent to the complainants and the attorney general, and will be made available for public viewing.
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