Agenda for the January 26 Regular Meeting of the Medford School Committee

The Second Regular Meeting of the Medford School Committee

Date/Time

Monday, January 26, 2026

Executive Session: 5:15 p.m.

Regular Session: 6:00 p.m.

Location

Please be advised that there will be a Regular Meeting of the Medford School Committee held in the Alden Memorial Chambers at Medford City Hall and via remote participation.

In the event that Medford Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather this meeting will proceed via remote participation only. Please visit mps02155.org for more information.

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 January 26, 2026 Second Regular Meeting of the Medford School Committee

Zoom Link

https://mps02155-org.zoom.us/j/93374050945?pwd=bimuEDyBU3bdLHzYnqk7b2zuEW5GHS.1

Questions or comments can be submitted during the meeting by emailing: medfordsc@medford.k12.ma.us

Those submitting questions or comments must include the following information:

1. Your first and last name
2. Your Medford street address
3. Your question or comment

Be it resolved that the Medford School Committee will elect its officers for the 2026-2027 term at the next scheduled meeting. Be it further resolved, that until that election, the officers from the term ending December 31, 2025 will continue serving.

Agenda

I. Roll Call of Members and Student Representatives

II. Salute the Flag

III. Executive Session

Executive session pursuant to G.L c. 30A (a) (3): the Medford School Committee will convene in Executive Session to discuss collective bargaining with the Teamsters Local 25 Custodians regarding a grievance from September 5, 2025 and the Chair so declares.

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 multiple bargaining units and pending litigation.

The Medford School Committee will reconvene in public session immediately following the conclusion of the executive session, approximately at 6:00 p.m.

IV. Good of the Order

V. Consent Agenda

• Approval of Bills and Payrolls
  • Budget Transfers
• Approval of Capital Purchases
• Approval of Donations
  • Tufts University $1,000.00 Donation to Center for Citizenship and Social Responsibility
  • National Stuttering Association Conference - $177.00 donation by Elizabeth Gomez for (3) Speech and Language Pathologists
• Approval of Grants
  • Medford Arts Council Grant $3700 -Ellen McGlynn & Jason Campbell
  • Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has awarded $3,549.00 to Medford Public Schools Italian Language Program
• Approval of Field Trips
• Approval of Meeting Minutes
  • Regular Meeting - January 5, 2026

VI. Report of Subcommittees

VII. Report of the Superintendent

1. Mustang Moment (Weather Permitting)
2. Summary of the Youth Behavior Risk Survey (Spring 2025) - Catherine Dhingra, Office of Prevention & Outreach Manager and Dr. Stacey Schulman, Director of Behavior Health and Counseling for Medford Public Schools
3. Proposed Educational Plan for the Medford High School Building Project - Dr. Suzanne B. Galusi, Interim Superintendent and Dr. Kim Talbot, Assistant Superintendent for Academics and Instruction

VIII. Presentations of the Student Advisory Council

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.

IX. Continued Business

1. Interim Superintendent’s Evaluation and Goals Feedback
2. Election of School Committee Officers

X. New Business

2026-2 Offered By Member Ruseau

The Medford School Committee appoints Paul Ruseau as the representative to the Shore Educational Collaborative's board of directors.

Date Submitted December 10, 2025

Date Requested to be on Agenda January 26, 2026

2026-3 Offered By Member Graham 

Recommendation for the formation of the below subcommittee chairs and membership: 

Strategic Planning

• Chair: Jenny Graham
• Members: Erika Reinfeld, Jessica Parks

Facilities & Capital Planning

• Chair: Michael Mastrobuoni
• Members: Paul Ruseau, Jessica Parks

Curriculum & Instruction

• Chair: Erika Reinfeld
• Members: Jessica Parks, Aaron Olapade

Communications & Community Engagement

• Chair: Erika Reinfeld
• Members: Jenny Graham, Mike Mastrobuoni

DEIA

• Chair: Aaron Olapade
• Members: Erika Reinfeld, Mike Mastrobuoni

Rules & Policy

• Chair: Paul Ruseau
• Members: Jenny Graham, Mike Mastrobuoni

Superintendent Evaluation

• Chair: Aaron Olapade
• Members: Paul Ruseau, Jenny Graham

Behavioral Health & Special Education

• Chair: Jessica Parks
• Members: Aaron Olapade, Paul Ruseau

Date Submitted January 13, 2026

Date Requested to be on Agenda January 26, 2026

2026-4 Offered By Member Reinfeld

WHEREAS the Medford School Committee will soon vote on a path forward for permanent leadership within Medford Public Schools (MPS); and

WHEREAS the recently issued strategic planning survey includes questions about the broader MPS community’s priorities for district leadership;

Be it therefore resolved that the chair of the strategic planning subcommittee will compile the responses relevant to this deliberation and share the data with the full school committee.

Be it further resolved that this content be delivered to the committee no later than the February 2 meeting and reviewed by all members prior to the aforementioned vote.

Date Submitted January 21, 2026

Date Requested to be on Agenda: January 26, 2026

2026-5 Offered By Member Graham

WHEREAS, the Medford School Committee recognizes the importance of establishing a thoughtful process for deciding how to appoint a permanent Superintendent on July 1, 2026; and

WHEREAS, the School Committee wishes to ensure opportunities for public input and community engagement as part of this process;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Medford School Committee will determine its approach to appointing a permanent Superintendent at its public meeting on February 2, 2026; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the School Committee invites feedback from the public during this meeting; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that members of the community who are unable to attend the meeting but wish to provide input may submit feedback via email to the Medford School Committee at Medfordsc@medford.k12.ma.us.

Date Submitted January 21, 2025

Date Requested to be on Agenda January 26, 2026

XI. Reports Requested

XII. Condolences

The Members of the Medford School Committee express their sincerest condolences to the family of Beverly Gressinger, Medford Public Schools Payroll Administrative Assistant,  Jennifer Dorrough's grandmother.  

The Members of the Medford School Committee express their sincerest condolences to the family of Robert A. Carbone whose Medford Public Schools career spanned over 25 years as an English teacher and Assistant Principal.

The Members of the Medford School Committee express their sincerest condolences to the family of Pamela Kilbride, McGlynn Middle School teacher Patricia Kilbride's mother-in-law.

The Members of the Medford School Committee express their sincerest condolences to the family of Michelle A. (Andreottola) Pothier who was a graduate of Medford High School and beloved teacher at the Medford Family Network.

XIII. Next Regular Meeting

• February 2, 2026 - Alden Memorial Chambers, Medford City Hall in addition to Zoom

XIV. Adjournment