Agenda for the June 15 Regular Meeting of the Medford School Committee

The Thirteenth Regular Meeting of the Medford School Committee

Date/Time

Monday, June 15, 2026

Executive Session: 5:00 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 at the Howard Alden Memorial Chambers, Medford City Hall and via remote participation. This meeting is being recorded.

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 June 15, 2026 Thirteenth Regular Meeting of the Medford School Committee

Zoom Link

https://mps02155-org.zoom.us/j/95599913874?pwd=i3dk8oKH45GVcov2Gi5Kh5mI3FfXF0.1

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

Agenda

I. Roll Call of Members and Student Representatives

II. Salute the Flag

III. Executive Session

Upon a Motion to enter into executive session pursuant to Massachusetts 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, specifically but not limited to the Assistant Superintendent of Academics and Instruction, Chief Operations Officer, the Director of Student Services and Assistant Superintendent of Special Education & Student Services, and the Director of Human Resources.

Executive session pursuant to G.L c. 30A (a) (3) 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 convene in executive session to discuss collective bargaining with Massachusetts Teacher’s Association (MTA) regarding a teacher grievance 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 SEIU 888 Carpenters Union and the Chair so declares. 

The Medford School Committee will reconvene in public session following the Executive Session at approximately 6:00 pm.

IV. Consent Agenda

• Approval of Bills and Payrolls
• Approval of Budget Transfers
  • Journal Entry: 20937- $114,448.94
• Approval of Meeting Minutes
  • Regular Meeting - June 1, 2026
  • Regular Meeting - June 8, 2026

V. Report of Subcommittees

VI. Report of the Superintendent

A performance by the Middle School String Ensemble who recently won the Gold Medal at the Statewide MICCA

1. Mustang Moment
2. Roberts Elementary School HVAC Project Update and Recommendation to Approve - RFS Engineering and Mr. Ken Lord, Chief Operations Officer 
3. Recommendation to Approve Updated Medford Public Schools Handbooks - Dr. Suzanne B. Galusi, Superintendent 
4. Budget Update and Approval - Gerry McCue, Budget Analyst and Noel Velez, Director of Finance

VII. 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.

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.

VIII. Continued Business

1. MSBA Project - Update on PSR - Jenny Graham, Chair of the Medford High Comprehensive School Building Committee (MHCSBC
   1. Recommendation to Approve Changes to the Educational Plan

2026-12   Offered by Member Reinfeld & Member Ruseau

Update to Policy JJH Student Travel

[changes: addition of "out-of-state" to first sentence; addition of extenuating circumstances protocol (", except in extenuating circumstances" through end of second paragraph)]

All student trips which include out-of-state, late night, or overnight travel must have prior approval of the School Committee. Initial approval by the School Committee is required before engaging students in fundraising activities. The School Committee will also consider the educational value of the trip in relation to the cost prior to granting initial approval. Overnight trips should offer significant educational benefits to students that clearly justify the time and expense of the trip. Such trips should be appropriate for the grade level.

Final approval will not be granted until all preparations for the trip have been completed including, but not limited to, all logistical details involving transportation, accommodation arrangements and fundraising efforts. The School Committee requires that final approval be sought no less than 30 days prior to the scheduled trip dates, except in extenuating circumstances. In these instances, such as a sports team qualifying for a higher level competition or showcase occurring less than 30 days from the qualifying event, the Superintendent may approve the trip subject to the procedure described herein.

When timely approval cannot be granted through the established means of a regular school committee meeting, the Superintendent will share details with the committee over email and request that the travel be approved. To comply with Open Meeting Law, the committee will not discuss the matter over email but each member shall relay a single “yes” or “no” opinion to the Superintendent. If all opinions are in favor, the Superintendent shall have the ability to approve the trip, contingent upon receipt of required paperwork, and enter the approval on record at the next regular meeting of the committee. If opinions are not unanimous, the Superintendent will work with the Chair to convene a virtual meeting to formally vote on the matter.

Teachers and other school staff are prohibited from soliciting for privately run trips through the school system and in the schools. The School Committee will only review for approval of school-sanctioned trips. The School Committee will not review or approve trips that are privately organized and run without school sanctioning.

Date Submitted May 24, 2026

Date Requested to be on Agenda June 1, 2026

IX. New Business

2026-14     Offered by Member Reinfeld

Resolution to amend the AI guidance in the handbook and Policy IJND-AI as follows:

Current language: Educators use of genAI should be as a tool to support the teaching and learning environment, but is not to be solely relied upon in place of educator review and judgement.

New language: Educators' use of GenAI should be as a tool to support the teaching and learning environment, but is not to be solely relied upon in place of educator review and judgement.

This is particularly true when assessing student essays and other qualitative work. Educators should not use AI tools to provide feedback or assign grades to students.

Date Submitted June 3, 2026

Date Requested to be on Agenda June 15, 2026

2026-15   Offered by Member Reinfeld

Whereas the Superintendent appointment has been approved on a July 1 to June 30 schedule;

Whereas the educator and administrative review cycle in Medford is aligned with the school year;

Whereas other districts align their superintendent evaluation with their educator and administrative staff reviews, now, therefore be it

Resolved, that the Superintendent will provide a draft of her annual goals over the summer to the school committee, and that they will be presented and discussed publicly in September.

Be it further resolved that the official evaluation of the Superintendent will happen between May 1 and June 30 each year, with any mid-year revision to goals occurring in January or February as needed.

Date Submitted June 11, 2026

Date Requested to be on Agenda June 15, 2026

 

2026-16    Offered by Member Parks and Member Reinfeld

Resolution to Collaborate on Space Alternatives Study with the City of Medford

Whereas the Medford Public Schools District is responsible for district strategy and direction for the future of public education and related districtwide services in the City of Medford;

Whereas the Medford School Committee has approved the Educational Plan that guides the Medford Comprehensive High School Building project;

Whereas the Medford High School Building Committee (MHSBC) is a mandated body charged with the authority to evaluate, narrow and recommend design options for the Medford Comprehensive High School Building project; 

Whereas the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has asked the MCHSBC to carefully evaluate the scope of the project with respect to the continued presence of certain community-facing services currently housed in the high school building, such as central administration, the welcome center, Kids Corner, and the Medford Family Network (MFN); 

Whereas understanding alternative locations and associated relocation/capital costs for these spaces is essential for the School Committee and the City of Medford to make informed decisions that align with the Educational Plan and optimize the use of school and community resources; 

Whereas the High School Design team will be finalizing the project design in October 2026 with the guidance of the MCHSBC, and all decisions related to the project scope including, but not limited to programming, design, systems, and execution must be made prior to that time; 

Whereas it is in the best interest of the Medford Public Schools District to have this analysis completed and presented to the School Committee for consideration and confirmation of alignment with the Educational Plan and other ongoing district-wide studies, prior to proceeding to the MCHSBC for consideration; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, that the Medford School Committee:

1. Requests that the City of Medford share the results of the space study that examines possible alternative locations and associated costs to relocate central administration, the welcome center, Kids Corner, and the Medford Family Network (MFN) with the School Committee in a timeframe that aligns with the schematic design development;  
2. Requires the Medford School Committee to issue a formal response to any findings and recommendations from such a study prior to submission to the Medford High School Building Committee; and
3. Requires the Medford School District to update the Educational Plan to reflect any proposed changes, as applicable, and present this updated plan to the School Committee for formal and timely approval.

Date Submitted June 11, 2026

Date Requested to be on Agenda June 15, 2026

X. Reports Requested

XI. Next Regular Meeting

• Summer Meeting Dates - July 20, 2026 and August 24, 2026 via Zoom only.
• September 14, 2026 - Alden Memorial Chambers, Medford City Hall in addition to Zoom

XII. Adjournment