At the September 17 School Committee Meeting there was a 2024-2025 Opening of School Update, Renovation and Construction Updates, and School Committee Subcommittee Assignments.
School Committee Comments
Welcome Interim Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services Alison Coubrough-Argentieri due to Mary Lammi's absence.
School Committee will be at Needham Fall Harvest Festival on 9/29 to chat with community members
Superintendent Comments
Thank you to Yuxiao from Needham Channel.
Congratulated National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists
High School honored by Special Olympics Massachusetts as a Champion school; only a few in the Commonwealth.
Recognition for students who competed in the National History Day finals in Washington, DC
Broadmeadow had a tough start to the school year; mold and indoor quality issues in classrooms (rooftop unit not operating properly). Thousands of dollars of materials disposed of. Was highly disruptive for faculty. School will continue to monitor and next summer Broadmeadow is slated to get new rooftop units. Issue has been taken seriously, and parents are encouraged to reach out to the school principal or Superintendent with questions.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
2024-2025 Opening of School Update
Superintendent Dan Gutekanst, Asst Superintendent for Finance and Operations Anne Gulati and Transportation Director Shane Marchand gave an update. Detailed presentation and slides about the Update can be found in the packet. Key highlights:
Enrollment Update
Slight decrease in elementary but otherwise increase in Grades 6-8 and High School. Total K-12 is up 1.28% since October 2023. Kindergarten enrollment has grown 4.3% from 376 to 392. Overall enrollment remains stable.
Human Resources Update
Filled 70 positions for the school year; Currently 15 TA vacancies compared with 38 at this same time last year.
Introduced HR Mission
438.3 total Teacher FTEs
90.8% Teacher Retention Rate (State 85.8%)
BIPOC Staff steadily increasing in the last five years; 109 for FY 2024 compared to 90.8 for FY 2023
Between last year and this year, 51 new BIPOC staff
Transportation Update
2172 registered so far this year on 23 buses. Nine routes are at capacity or near capacity but no waitlist at this time.
Two vacant van driver positions
Planning Underway for FY26 Electric Bus Pilot Program
Nutrition Services Program
New Payment system
NPS offers free, nutritious breakfast and lunch to all students regardless of eligibility through funding provided by the state of MA
School Committee asked questions and engaged in a robust discussion.
Renovation and Construction Updates
Hank Haff, Director, Building Design and Construction Department gave an update on current projects.
Emery Grover Building
Major improvements made.
Building will now be handicap accessible
Exterior brick repointed
Windows and slate roof replaced; new slate roof, soffits, copper gutters and downspouts
All interior walls were removed to structural frames
New structure inserted from the basement up
All interior brick walls, rebuilt, repointed and injection grouted
All new mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection
North Portico now enclosed as main entry vestibule
Elevator access to all levels
Move scheduled for early October
Rooftop Unit (RTU) Replacement
Eliot School:
Rationale: Past useful life; refrigerant no longer manufactured; recurring problems in furnaces, motors; first step in transition away from use of Natural Gas
Replaced with new all-electric RTUs and air-sourced heat pumps (ASHP)
One of the RTUs has variable refrigerant flow (VRF) units that can provide both heating and cooling
Removed rooftop natural gas, installed all electric replacements, 4 RTUs installed, 2 ASHPs installed, 6 VRFs installed and reduced carbon footprint
Broadmeadow School (Summer of 2025): will remove rooftop natural gas, install electric replacements, 5 RTUs to be installed, 2 ASHPs to be installed and will reduce carbon footprint
$9M budgeted for both projects
School Committee asked questions and engaged in a robust discussion.
2024-2025 School Committee Subcommittee Assignments
Elizabeth Lee and Michael O’Brien presented
A list of Committee assignments can be found in the packet.
ACTION ITEMS
FY26 Operating Budget Guidelines - Vote Count 6-0-0 to approve
FY25-29 Special Education Transportation Contract with Van Pool - Vote Count 6-0-0 to approve
School Committee Comments
On Saturday Sept 21, the 12th year of the Great Hall Concert Series begins
The next School Committee Meeting will be October 1, 2024 at 6:30pm.
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