Agenda for the April 14 Regular Meeting of the Medford School Committee
Agenda for the April 14 Regular Meeting of the Medford School Committee
The Seventh Regular Meeting of the Medford School Committee
Date/Time
Monday, April 14, 2025
Executive Session: 5:15 p.m.
Regular Meeting: 6:00 p.m.
Location
Please be advised that there will be a Regular Meeting of the Medford School Committee held in the Howard Alden Memorial Chambers at Medford City Hall and via remote participation.
This meeting can be viewed live on the Medford Public Schools YouTube channel or via Medford Community Media on your local cable channel (Comcast Channel 9, 8 or 22 and Verizon Channel 43, 45 or 47). Participants can log in by using the link below.
Agenda
Agenda for the April 14, 2025 Seventh Regular Meeting of the Medford School Committee
Zoom Link
https://mps02155-org.zoom.us/j/99718651313?pwd=XTKjMp6zROryYUpeNFtuSZ8r2eDUd2.1
Complete Agenda
I. Roll Call of Members and Student Representatives
II. Salute the Flag
III. Executive Session
Executive session of the Medford School Committee pursuant to G.L. c. 30A §21(a) to conduct a strategy session on the basis that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining positions of the Medford School Committee. Specifically, the Medford School Committee will be discussing ongoing collective bargaining negotiations with the Medford Teachers Association.
Executive session of the Medford School Committee pursuant to G.L. c. 30A §21(a) (4) to discuss deployment of security personnel or devices or strategies with respect thereto.
The Medford School Committee will reconvene in public session immediately following the conclusion of the executive session at approximately 6:00 p.m.
IV. Consent Agenda
- Approval of Bills and Payrolls
- Approval of Capital Purchases
- Approval of Grants
- Approval of Field Trips
- Approval of Meeting Minutes
- Regular Meeting - April 7, 2025
V. Report of the Subcommittees
VI. Report of the Superintendent
- Recommendation to Approve Ratified Contract with the Medford Teachers Association - Dr. Suzanne B. Galusi, Interim Superintendent
- Approval of SY 25-26 School Calendar - Dr. Peter J. Cushing, Assistant Superintendent
- Rate Card (After School, MEEP, Kids Corner) - Dr. Suzanne B. Galusi, Interim Superintendent
- Recommendation to Approve Budget Transfers - Mr. Noel Velez, Director of Finance
Presentations of the Public (not to begin before 7:00 pm)
“Regular Meetings of the School Committee include this ‘Presentations of the Public’ agenda item to give any resident the opportunity to place a presentation before the School Committee. A resident may only present once at any meeting.
These presentations are an opportunity for the public to make a presentation to the Committee but are not opportunities for dialog with the Committee. If one or more members of the Committee wishes to have a conversation about the topic presented, a member may request that the item be added to a subsequent Regular Meeting.
The details for submitting a presentation can be found within the policy BEDH, Public Comment and Presentations of the Public”
Pursuant to policy BEDH, Public Comment and Presentations of the Public - any resident in the audience may be given permission to speak once on any item on the agenda for up to three (3) minutes. The speaker is expected to keep their comments to the item on the agenda. The speaker must begin their comments by providing their full name and full Medford street address where they reside. A welcoming, inclusive community is both a value of the School Committee and an aspirational goal. We ask for your help in achieving this goal and value your perspective. Employees of the Medford Public Schools are exempt from the residency requirement of this policy. The voice of our employees is welcomed on all matters before this body. When a non-Medford-resident employee is participating in public comment or submitting a presentation of the public they will include their home address and identify themselves as an employee of the Medford Public Schools.
VII. Continued Business
Second Reading of IKF Policy as amended at the April 7, 2025 Regular Meeting
IKF - Requirements for Graduation
All MHS students receiving a diploma or certificate of completion1 will participate in graduation. The following outlines the requirements that must be met to receive a diploma, which includes a total of 112 required credits and the completion of Competency Determination criteria.
Further information can be found in the MHS Handbook (https://mhs-mvths.mps02155.org/about/student-handbook) and the Program of Studies (https://mhs-mvths.mps02155.org/academics/program-of-studies catalog).
| Subject | Criteria | Credits |
| English | Four years | Take and Pass |
| Mathematics |
Four years
|
Take and Pass |
| Wellness | Four years | Take and Pass |
| Science | Three years (including Biology and Chemistry) | Take and Pass |
| Social Studies | Three years (including the student led civics-project) | Take and Pass |
| World Language | Two years (if not enrolled in a CTE program)2 | Take and Pass |
| Arts | One course | Take and Pass |
| Community Service3 | Community service enables students to make a difference and fosters civic responsibility. It develops essential life skills like teamwork and leadership, preparing them for future challenges in college and careers while enabling them to discover their strengths and passions. Additionally, it promotes personal growth, self-confidence, and connections with peers and community members. | 60 total hours required |
| Competency Determination |
In addition to meeting the local graduation requirements and community service hours articulated in this School Committee Policy IKF, a student must meet the competency determination articulated in MGL c. 69 sect. 1D and in 603 CMR 30.00-30.05 in order to receive their high school diploma from Medford High School. As defined by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (https://www.doe.mass.edu/commissioner/spec-advisories/2024-1211student-cd-update.html), the "competency determination" shall be based on the academic standards and curriculum frameworks for tenth graders in the areas of mathematics, science and technology, history and social science, foreign languages, and English, and shall represent a determination that a particular student has demonstrated mastery of a common core of skills, competencies, and knowledge in these areas by satisfactorily completing coursework that has been certified by the student's district as showing mastery of the skills, competencies, and knowledge contained in the state academic standards and curriculum frameworks in the areas measured by the MCAS high school tests described in section one administered in 2023, and in any additional areas determined by the board. Students who have previously earned a Competency Determination (CD) through a regular or retest administration of the MCAS (including the November 2024 retest) or through a DESE appeal process have earned their competency determination. MHS Students who have not yet earned their competency determination through previous MCAS administrations can meet the requirements for a competency determination through the following:
|
Meet Requirements |
1Decisions regarding students in our substantially seperate programs are made through the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process.
2Coure requirements differ for students who are enrolled in Career Technical Education. A student's credits should include four years in an approved Career Technical Education (CTE) program.
3Course requirements differ for students who are enrolled in Curtis Tufts High School.
Class of 2025
- Students who have earned their Competency Determination (CD) through the passing of MCAS testing will graduate if they also meet the local graduation requirement as listed above.
- Students who have not earned their CD, must have successfully passed coursework in the above listed criteria for ELA, Math, and Science.
- Medford High School administration will work to identify students needing support to meet the newly updated requirements and graduate with their peers, and will ensure that caregivers are properly updated/informed through ongoing communication.
Transfer Students
- MHS will accept equivalent coursework completed at prior schools following MHS credit transfers and course alignment.
- Department Directors and MHS school leadership will collaboratively decide all equivalent coursework approvals.
English Learners
- Graduation requirements for EL students include the successful completion of appropriate EL level courses and participation in both the MCAS subject matter tests and the ACCESS test.
Out-of-District Students
- For transfer students, MHS will accept equivalent coursework completed at Medford placed in schools out-of-district in accordance with MHS established practices for credit transfer and course alignment.
- Decisions regarding the approval of equivalent coursework will collaboratively be made by Department and MHS leaders in consultation with the Director of Student Services.
Students with Significant Needs
- Decisions regarding students in our substantially separate programs are made through the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process.
Former MHS Students without CD
- For students who did not pass MCAS assessments between the years 2003 and 2024, transcripts and competency determinations will be reviewed by MPS, upon request, to assess eligibility for a diploma under the post-2024 requirements. The process for such requests will be posted on the MPS website at https://www.mps02155.org/
Policy Information
First Adopted: Unknown
Last Amended: TBD, 2025
Last Reviewed: None
Review Frequency: six (6) month
Next Review: October, 2025
Version: 2
Policy ID: IKF
Related Policies: IKFC
Legal References: MGL c. 69 sect. 1D
VIII. New Business
2025-12 Offered by Member Reinfeld
Whereas uneven distribution of students across the city's elementary schools has constrained Medford.Public Schools’ ability to most effectively use physical spaces, provide transportation, and offer specialized services to students, and whereas the City of Medford is undergoing reevaluation of zoning in residential areas, be it resolved that district administration shall undertake a review of potential solutions to alleviate issues of overcrowding and associated inequities.
As such, the administration shall provide, no later than May 19, 2025 a summary of the challenges at hand and recommended next steps.
The report should include the following data:
- Enrollment in general education and specialized programs over the last three years
- Average class sizes and relative proportion of students in general education classes who require specialized support services
- Projected student population growth within the city
- Space and staffing constraints at each school
- Average number of intradistrict approvals by school per year
- Impact of sibling preferences on enrollment and space capacities
- General fluctuation of the above conditions from year to year
- Summary of associated transportation constraints
- A list of potential long-term solutions for consideration
- Next steps may include:
- Feasibility studies for one or more long-term solution(s)
- Meetings with community members and stakeholders
- A proposed action plan for managing overcrowding at the elementary level for the 2025-26 school year
Date Submitted: April 9, 2025
Date Requested to be on Agenda: April 14, 2025
IX. Reports Requested
X. Condolences
The Members of the Medford School Committee express their sincerest condolences to the family of Constance “Candy Grande” A. Sullivan, mother of Brooks Elementary Teacher Camille Fargo, and grandmother of Jared Fargo, former Vocational Electrical Teacher.
The Members of the Medford School Committee express their sincerest condolences to the family of Sophie Mary Santoro who selflessly served as a crossing guard with Medford Police for nearly 30 years, watching out for the children in our community.
XI. Next Regular Meeting
- May 5, 2025 - Alden Memorial Chambers, Medford City Hall in addition to Zoom
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