Agenda for the January 27 Regular Meeting of the Medford School Committee
The Second Regular Meeting of the Medford School Committee
Date/Time
Monday, January 27, 2025
Executive Session: 5:30 p.m.
Regular Meeting: 6:30 p.m.
Location
Please be advised that there will be a Meeting of the Medford School Committee held at the Howard Alden Memorial Chambers, 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 January 27, 2025 Second Regular Meeting of the Medford School Committee
Zoom Link
https://mps02155-org.zoom.us/j/91909632899?pwd=nXVLbvct4cxbJSM1ObzWkKfLXR4orb.1
Complete Agenda
I. Roll Call for Attendance of Members and Student Representatives
II. Salute the Flag
III. Executive Session
Upon a Motion to enter into executive session pursuant to M. G.L. c. 30A §21(a) .
Executive session of the Medford School Committee pursuant to G.L. c. 30A §21(a).
Executive session pursuant to Chapter 30A section 21 (2) to conduct strategy in preparation with nonunion personnel or contract negotiations with nonunion Personnel (Assistant Superintendent of Operations, Enrichment and Innovation, Director of Student Services and Director of Finance).
The Medford School Committee will convene in public session immediately following the conclusion of the executive session, approximately 6:30 p.m.
IV. Consent Agenda
- Approval of Bills and Payrolls
- Approval of Capital Purchases
- Approval of Donations
- Sanofi Pharmaceuticals of Framingham - Biological Safety Cabinet to the CTE Biotechnology Program
- Approval of Grants
- Massachusetts Cultural Council - $5,000
- State Grant for Proficiency-Based Outcomes in Languages Other than English - $10,000
- Approval of Field Trips
- Approval of Meeting Minutes
- Regular Meeting, January 13, 2025
V. Report of Subcommittees
VI. Report of the Superintendent
- Interim Superintendent’s Transition Plan — Dr. Suzanne B. Galusi, Interim Superintendent
- Summer Fun Program - Dr. Peter J. Cushing, Assistant Superintendent
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
VIII. New Business
2025-1 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: January 14, 2025
Date Requested to be on Agenda: January 27, 2025
2025-2 Offered by Member Ruseau, Member Olapade and Member Reinfeld
ACH - IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT POLICY (First Reading)
The Medford Public Schools does not request immigration status as part of its registration process. MPS is committed to serving all children whose principal domicile is in Medford. The district is committed to maintaining a safe and productive learning environment for its students. To provide a public education, regardless of child or family immigration status, absent any applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, ordinance, or court decision, and in the absence of proof of criminal proceedings as determined by a law enforcement agency, the District shall abide by the following practices and procedures:
Discrimination, Harassment, and Bullying
In accordance with the District's Nondiscrimination and Bullying Prevention Policies:
- Any allegations of bullying or harassment of students based on their race, ethnicity, color, national origin, or immigration status shall be promptly investigated and handled in accordance with District policy.
- Student residency determinations will not be based, in whole or in part, on the student's immigration status.
- District personnel will not inquire about a student's immigration status, or require documentation of a student's legal status, such as asking for a green card or citizenship papers, at initial registration or at any other time.
- District personnel will not make unreasonable inquiries of a student or his/her parents/guardians to expose the child’s or his/her family’s immigration status.
- District personnel shall be attentive to school curricula to ensure that it is inclusive and nondiscriminatory. All District curricula shall encourage respect for the civil rights of all individuals regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin or sexual orientation.
- District personnel will not require students to apply for Social Security numbers.
- District personnel shall promptly report any potential or alleged hate crime to the local law enforcement agency.
Access to Records
In accordance with Medford Public Schools Student Record Policy and state laws and regulations (603 CMR 23.00 et seq.):
- Unless directed by the Superintendent and under a signed judicial court order, District personnel shall not share student record information, including immigration status, with any immigration law enforcement official or agent.
- All requests for student records or student record information documents by ICE or INS should be forwarded to the Superintendent, who may consult with the District's legal counsel to determine if the documents can be released.
- Principals may remind families of their right to opt out of disclosure of student directory information, which includes the student’s name, address, and date and place of birth.
Access to School Premises
Because an ICE or INS visit may severely disrupt the educational setting, requests by ICE/INS to visit a school site will be denied unless the Superintendent is presented with a signed judicial court order. The Superintendent's Office will review the order with legal counsel before a decision is made to allow access to the site.
If immigration law enforcement agents arrive at your school building, Principals shall take the following steps:
- Do not allow the agents into the school building until instructed to do so;
- Request identification from the agents and a copy of any judicial warrant;
- Immediately contact the Superintendent's office for further instructions.
Dismissal of Students
- Students may only be dismissed to persons specified by parents/guardians in writing. Principals may remind families to update student emergency contact information to include a robust network of persons who may be called in case of an emergency.
- Parents/guardians may be provided with a Caregiver Affidavit to designate someone to make educational and/or medical decisions for a child temporarily living with someone other than the parents/guardians.
Handling of Students Whose Parents/Guardians Have Been Detained or Taken Into Custody
If the District receives notification that parents/guardians of a student have been detained or taken into custody by immigration law enforcement officials or agents, the District should take the following steps:
- Contact the person(s) listed on the student's emergency card to inform the person(s) of the situation and ask if they can retrieve the student;
- Make arrangements for school counselors to be available to support the student;
- Contact the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families if parents/guardians have not authorized a responsible adult to receive the student.
- Consult with the District's McKinney Vento liaison if the student becomes unhoused due to their parent/guardian's detention.
Policy Information
First Adopted: TBD
Last Amended: N/A
Last Reviewed: N/A
Review Frequency: five (5) years
Next Review: TBD
Version: 1
Policy ID: ACH
Date Submitted: January 22, 2025
Date Requested to by on Agenda: January 27, 2025
IX. Reports Requested
X. Condolences
The Members of the Medford School Committee express their sincerest condolences to the family of John R. Granara, Jr., who served as a member of the Medford School Committee and a number of Superintendent Search Committees. Additionally, he chaired/established The Connors Scholarship for students in Medford pursuing higher education and/or vocational training.
The Members of the Medford School Committee express their sincerest condolences to the family of James E. Merrill, father of Andrea Bell, a reading specialist at the McGlynn Elementary School.
The Members of the Medford School Committee express their sincerest condolences to the family of Marie L. (Cavagnaro) Ward, grandmother of Dr. Suzanne B. Galusi, Interim Superintendent of Schools. She passed away peacefully just days before her 100th birthday.
XI. Next Meeting
February 10, 2025 - held at Alden Memorial Chambers in addition to Zoom.