Agenda for the May 5 Regular Meeting of the Medford School Committee

The Eighth Regular Meeting of the Medford School Committee

Date/Time

Monday, May 5, 2025

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 May 5, 2025 Eighth Regular Meeting of the Medford School Committee

Zoom Link

https://mps02155-org.zoom.us/j/93012062758?pwd=1Gdry4AGBFXIaQUyR2b71F0cs17BTO.1

Complete Agenda

I. Roll Call of Members and Student Representatives

II. Salute the Flag

III. Good of the Order

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 14, 2025

V. Report of the Subcommittees

VI. Report of the Superintendent

1. Recommendation to Approve No School Choice District SY2025-2026- Dr. Suzanne B. Galusi, Interim Superintendent
2. Recommendation to Approve Budget Transfers - Mr. Noel Velez, Director of Finance
3. Approval of SY 2025-2026 School Committee Calendar

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.

VIII. Continued Business

1. MSBA Update - Member Graham

IX. New Business

2025-13 Offered by Member Ruseau

The Medford School Committee may send a delegate and alternate delegate to the Massachusetts Association of School Committees(MASC)/Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (MASS) Annual Joint Conference for the purpose of voting during the delegate assembly on the resolutions of the MASC.

The conference is Wednesday, November 12 through Saturday, November 15, with the delegate assembly being held on Friday, November 14.

Voting is only allowed in person, and thus it is recommended that only members who are able and planning to attend the conference be nominated.

Are there nominations for a delegate?

Are there nominations for an alternate delegate?

Date Submitted: April 13, 2025

Date Requested to be on Agenda: May 5, 2025

2025-14 Offered by Member Ruseau

Resolution in Support of Massachusetts Association of School Committees Resolutions Reaffirmation

Whereas the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) ByLaws Article IX section I requires adopted resolutions of the association to expire three years after adoption;

Whereas the MASC ByLaws Article IX section I requires member School Committees to vote for the readoption of expiring resolutions for consideration at the annual conference; and

Whereas the following resolutions are matters the Medford School Committee has previously supported. Now, therefore, be it:

Resolved, that the Medford School Committee:

1.  Reaffirm support for the following resolutions:
   1. Regarding Sanctuary Laws for Transgender Students
   2. To Increase the Maximum Balance Allowed by the Special Education Reserve Fund
   3. Membership of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education;
2. Requests the Secretary of the Medford School Committee convey to the MASC Resolutions Committee Chair our support for the above resolutions being reaffirmed; and
3. Requests the Secretary of the Medford School Committee engage with the MASC Resolutions Committee and other Massachusetts School Committees as necessary to reaffirm the above resolutions pursuant to the ByLaws of the MASC.

Date Submitted: April 14, 2025

Date Requested to be on Agenda: May 5, 2025

2025-15 Offered by Member Reinfeld

Be it resolved that the Family Engagement & Communication subcommittee will meet to discuss protocols for family-facing communications around after-school enrollment and academic transitions. This meeting will include the Director of Communications as well as relevant program directors and school leaders.

Date Submitted: April 30, 2025

Date Requested to be on Agenda: May 5, 2025

2025-16 Offered by Member Reinfeld

Whereas the federal government’s current approach to taxation and tariffs has the potential to affect supply chains for school supplies; and

Whereas shipping ports are currently experiencing fluctuations in their regular traffic from international goods and shipping;

Be it resolved that the Superintendent shall direct school and department leaders to identify the essential supplies for classroom use in the 2025-26 school year and make student supply lists available to families by June 2.

Be it further resolved that the district make every effort to anticipate internal needs for such materials so that a reserve of necessary supplies will be available throughout the year in the event of product scarcity and/or rising costs, including for students and staff experiencing economic hardship.

Date Submitted: April 30, 2025

Date Requested to be on Agenda: May 5, 2025

2025-17 Offered by Member Intoppa

FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK PROCLAMATION

Whereas, as more than 33 million Americans have food allergies, nearly 6 million are children under the age of 18;

Whereas, research shows that the prevalence of food allergy is increasing among children and adults;

Whereas, nine foods cause the majority of all food allergy reactions in the U.S.: shellfish, fish, milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, wheat, and sesame. Food allergy reactions can range from mild symptoms to severe reactions, such as anaphylaxis;

Whereas, anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death:

Whereas, every 10 seconds, food allergy sends a patient to the emergency room. Reactions typically occur when an individual unknowingly eats a food containing an ingredient to which they are allergic;

Whereas, emergency medical treatment for severe allergic reactions to food has increased by 377 percent in only a decade;

Whereas, childhood food allergies cost U.S. families $34 billion each year;

Whereas now, therefore, be it

Resolved, that the Medford Public Schools and Medford School Committee proclaim May 11-17, 2025: Food Allergy Awareness Week in the Medford Public Schools and encourage the residents of the City of Medford and its associates to increase their understanding and awareness of food allergies and anaphylaxis.

Source: FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life and the health of individuals with food allergies, and to providing them hope through the promise of new treatments.

Date Submitted: April 30, 2025

Date Requested to be on Agenda: May 5, 2025

X. Reports Requested

XI. Condolences

XII. Next Regular Meeting

• May 19, 2025 - Alden Memorial Chambers, Medford City Hall in addition to Zoom

XII. Adjournment