March Regular Meeting

Note: Transcripts are generated from video auto-captions. While highly accurate, they are non-official and do not meet State Archivist record-keeping requirements.

• 0:02
  Call to Order and Roll Call

  Board Chair DeAngelis calls the meeting to order, followed by the superintendent taking the roll call of board members.
• 0:04
  Chair's Report (Rosemary DeAngelis)

  The chair offers apologies for previous misstatements, discusses DEI terminology, and announces a series of upcoming budget workshops and meeting dates. She also clarifies that the superintendent search interview process will be confidential and conducted solely by the board.
• 0:11
  Recognition of Thomas J. Schmaling

  The board honors retiring crossing guard Thomas J. Schmaling for his years of service. Several individuals speak about his dedication and character before he is presented with a certificate of appreciation.

  • 0:15 Officer Navarro
    Officer Navarro of the traffic unit praises Tom for his reliability, noting he would stand at his post in all weather conditions. He states that Tom has given them big shoes to fill and thanks him for his service.
  • 0:17 Mary
    Tom's daughter, Mary, shares how much her father cherished his job as a crossing guard and the connections he made with students. She notes it was a very important part of his life and his connection to the community.
  • 0:19 Rebecca Stern
    SPMS Principal Rebecca Stern thanks Tom on behalf of all district staff for his work in keeping students and the community safe. She expresses gratitude for his service to the schools.
• 0:22
  Student Representative Report (Alex Davison)

  Student Representative Alex Davison provides updates from each of the district's schools, highlighting recent activities such as literacy events, the 100th day of school celebrations, a unified basketball game, and the high school's Black History Month assembly.
• 0:28
  Superintendent's Report & FY27 Budget Presentation

  Dr. Entwistle gives brief recognitions before Dr. Jo Prince presents the detailed FY27 budget proposal. The proposal aims to close an $8.4M gap with a 3.3% budget increase, requiring the closure of Dyer Elementary and the reduction of 78 staff positions to meet the city's 6% tax increase guidance.
• 1:06
  Board Discussion on Budget Proposal

  Board members ask clarifying questions following the administration's budget presentation. Topics include the process for redrawing attendance zones, the tax impact on homeowners, the possibility of seeking a higher tax increase, and the rationale for closing Dyer Elementary over other schools.

  • 1:06 Daniel Feller
    Mr. Feller summarizes the proposed cuts of 78 roles and expresses his sympathy for those affected. He asks about the process for redrawing attendance zones and whether families could be grandfathered in to avoid splitting siblings between schools.
  • 1:10 Tyler Smith
    Mr. Smith asks for the specific dollar amount impact of the proposed tax increase on an average home, which is stated to be around $257. He encourages the public to contact the City Council to advocate for a higher tax increase to avoid such deep cuts.
  • 1:13 Elyse T. Richardson
    Ms. Richardson echoes the call for a higher tax increase and questions making disruptive changes like a school closure without a permanent superintendent in place. She asks what the budget would look like if no school were closed, which would require finding roughly another million dollars in cuts.
  • 1:26 Claire Holman
    Ms. Holman asks if the proposal to close Dyer is seen as a long-term solution and whether it means reconfiguration is off the table. Dr. Prince responds that it is seen as a phased approach, with reconfiguration being a possibility in future years.
  • 1:29 Michael Dowling
    Mr. Dowling asks whether a potential school closure would be permanent, with the property returned to the city, or if the building would be put in 'hibernation' for possible future use. The administration states they are meeting with the city to clarify these options.
• 1:54
  Public Comment (First Session)

  Dozens of community members, including many teachers and parents, address the board regarding the budget proposal. Major themes include the rushed process, the scale of the staff cuts, the negative impact of closing a neighborhood school, health concerns related to Kaler's proximity to oil tanks, and calls for alternative funding solutions and a more thorough, equitable process.

  • 1:55 Sarah Gay
    As SPTA President, she reiterates the call for the board to request more funding from the city. She questions the pace and transparency of the process and requests the public release of the rubric used to create the administration's decision matrix.
  • 1:58 Abby Anderson
    As SPTA Vice President, she cautions against proposing a higher tax increase than the city council guided, fearing a failed referendum in June would lead to more catastrophic cuts and chaos over the summer.
  • 2:01 Lynne McKeown
    As an educator and parent, she argues that if difficult change is necessary, it should be used to strengthen the system for all students. She supports consolidation or reconfiguration to address the district's achievement gap and create more equitable schools.
  • 2:10 Mitch Ouelette
    As an SPMS Assistant Principal and Dyer parent, he states he does not support the proposal to close Dyer Elementary. He cites concerns with traffic access at Kaler and air quality issues from the nearby petroleum tanks.
  • 2:12 Simone Mikolich
    A parent who asks if there is capacity within the City Council budget to reallocate funds to the school district. She argues a one-time allocation would buy the community valuable time for a more thoughtful, data-driven process.
  • 2:18 Sarah Maxwell
    An educator with experience at multiple elementary schools, she argues that redistricting or reconfiguration could be an opportunity to create more equitable student populations. She believes this would better distribute student needs and supports across the district.
  • 2:35 Alexander Hitchen
    A parent who argues that making permanent structural decisions is shortsighted given the repeated budget crises and upcoming superintendent change. He calls for an independent external audit of the district's budgeting and financial oversight before any closure decision is made.
  • 2:39 Meredith Diamond
    An educator and parent, she criticizes the rushed five-month timeline for a major consolidation, calling it a 'failure of process.' She argues there is not enough time for meaningful stakeholder engagement to do this well.
  • 2:50 Chris Payne
    A parent and marine scientist, he argues strongly against closing Dyer in favor of Kaler, citing the significant health risks from VOC exposure from the adjacent petroleum tanks. He states that closing Kaler would remove children from a high-risk area.
  • 3:10 Julia Edwards
    She asks the board to model the scenario of closing each of the five elementary schools, both with and without reconfiguration, to ensure all options are considered fairly. She believes the community needs to see all the bad choices to make the best one.
  • 3:13 Teresa
    A parent who asks if the district has a plan for the physical space needed to accommodate the influx of three and four-year-old special education students from Child Developmental Services (CDS) in 2028, especially if a school is closed.
• 3:16
  Administration & Board Response to Public Comment

  Chair DeAngelis and Dr. Prince address several questions raised during public comment. They clarify that the city and school budgets draw from the same tax pool, that an independent financial audit is already conducted annually, and that the state mandates the district take over services for 3-4 year old special education students.
• 3:19
  Committee Reports

  Board members provide brief updates from the Finance, Policy, and Buildings & Grounds committees. The B&G report includes a detailed clarification on the state of the heating system at Skillin Elementary, noting the entire system, not just the boiler, is a concern.
• 3:38
  Consent Agenda & New Business Votes

  The board unanimously approves the consent agenda, which includes meeting minutes and a donation. They also pass a first read on a temperature policy, give final approval to the public participation policy, and approve several overnight field trips for student groups.
• 3:42
  Board Comments on Budget

  Board members share their perspectives on the budget proposal. Several members express a desire to postpone major decisions until a new superintendent is in place and discuss asking the City Council for a higher tax increase, while others state their opposition to that idea and support moving forward with difficult choices like reconfiguration to achieve equity.

  • 3:43 Tyler Smith
    Mr. Smith states that it feels head-spinning to make a decision of this magnitude with a new board and no permanent superintendent. He believes it's imperative to have a conversation with the City Council about their willingness to accept a higher tax increase to potentially postpone the decision.
  • 3:45 Daniel Feller
    Mr. Feller states he will not support a tax increase higher than 6% without vocal community support, as he fears the budget would fail. He suggests the alternative of selling the Mahoney building and opposes grade-level reconfiguration this year due to broad parent opposition.
  • 3:49 Michael Risch
    Mr. Risch states his theme is 'cuts not closures.' He suggests digging deeper into administrative cuts to buy time for a new superintendent to lead a process for structural change.
  • 3:56 Elyse T. Richardson
    Ms. Richardson expresses frustration with the short timeline for reviewing proposals and reiterates her desire to postpone major infrastructure decisions. She questions the pre-K expansion in a time of cuts and expresses concern about not knowing the new student-to-teacher ratios.
  • 4:02 Rosemary DeAngelis
    The Chair states she is not willing to go back to the City Council to ask for more money, citing the economic hardship faced by many residents, including those on fixed incomes. She argues the current proposal maintains privilege and does not advance equity, and voices her support for grade-level reconfiguration.
• 4:05
  Public Comment (Second Session)

  A few speakers return to the microphone to offer final thoughts and ask for more transparency.

  • 4:05 Alexander Hitchen
    Mr. Hitchen follows up on his call for an audit, stating that the annual financial audit is not the same as a broader review of budgeting decisions and financial oversight, which he believes is still warranted.
  • 4:07 Jennifer Lessard
    As president of the Service Employees Association (SEA), she criticizes the lack of communication with her union. She raises logistical concerns about needing more bus aides for pre-K students and needing a driver for a new bus while service positions are being cut.
• 4:10
  Board Communications & Adjournment

  Student Representative Alex Davison admonishes a board member for not listening to teachers and students. The meeting is then adjourned.