Executive Session & Special 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.

• 0:00
  Call to Order & Roll Call

  Chair DeAngelis calls the meeting to order, and the superintendent conducts a roll call of the board members.
• 0:00
  Vote: Approve Superintendent Contract

  The board unanimously approves the contract for the new superintendent as discussed in a prior executive session.
• 0:01
  Introduction of New Superintendent, Dr. Angela Atkinson Duina

  Chair DeAngelis formally welcomes Dr. Angela Atkinson Duina as the district's new superintendent, praising her as a talented and effective leader.
• 0:01
  Remarks from Dr. Atkinson Duina

  Dr. Atkinson Duina expresses her honor in accepting the position and her excitement to work with the community to create powerful educational experiences for students.
• 0:04
  Vote: Postpone Kaler Modified Schedule Vote

  The board unanimously votes to remove the action item on a modified schedule for Kaler Elementary (Item 6.2) and move it to a special meeting on June 4th to allow for more parent notification and comment.
• 0:06
  Superintendent's Report: Staff Resignations

  The superintendent reads a list of eight staff resignations, including teachers and administrators from various schools and the district office.
• 0:08
  Public Comment (Period 1)

  Citizens address the board regarding transportation issues, the Kaler Elementary student reassignment plan, and a departing teacher.

  • 0:09 Mike Fletcher
    Mr. Fletcher details significant issues with the school transportation department's failure to provide adequate busing for the high school and middle school bands for the Memorial Day parade, a 30-year tradition.
  • 0:12 Doug Von Werssowetz
    As a Kaler parent, he criticizes the proposed student reassignments as shortsighted, arguing they divide neighborhoods and create unnecessary disruption for families without guaranteeing a better long-term solution.
  • 0:14 Corinne Altham
    The Brown School librarian speaks in praise of departing fourth-grade teacher Collin Magarian, highlighting his positive impact on the school community.
  • 0:17 Anna
    A Kaler parent expresses a feeling of betrayal over the reassignment process, stating the proposal is not thoughtful and unfairly divides the Kaler neighborhood for statistical purposes.
• 0:19
  Kaler Student Attendance Proposal Presentation (Jo Prince)

  Assistant Superintendent Jo Prince introduces the proposal for reassigning Kaler students for the 2026-27 school year, acknowledging the pain of the Kaler community and outlining the criteria used for the plan.

  • 0:20 Jo Prince
    Prince begins with remarks acknowledging the difficulty of the decision and the pain felt by Kaler families. She frames the proposal as the first step in a longer transition, guided by the board's resolution to put students' needs first.
  • 0:25 Jo Prince
    She explains the proposed new attendance zones, which divide the former Kaler district into five areas assigned to the four remaining elementary schools. The goal was to move students with known peers and siblings while balancing transportation and capacity.
  • 0:27 Jo Prince
    Prince details the impact on building capacity and class sizes, noting the proposal brings schools closer to equivalent capacity while keeping Skillin at the lowest percentage to maintain smaller classes. She also explains the existing waiver process for families who wish to request a different school.
• 0:32
  Board Questions on Kaler Proposal

  Board members question the administration about the details and implications of the Kaler attendance proposal, focusing on the waiver process and transportation.

  • 0:32 Mr. Smith
    He asks about the potential roadblocks for providing transportation to families who are granted a waiver to attend a school outside their newly assigned zone.
  • 0:35 Mr. Feller
    He questions the waiver process capacity, asking if all waivers from a neighborhood could be honored if space exists. He also asks if any students are being districted to a school further away when another is within walking distance.
  • 0:37 Ms. Holman
    She inquires about the specifics of the waiver form and process, including what happens if too many families request a waiver for the same grade at the same school and whether Kaler families can be prioritized.
  • 0:41 Ms. Richardson
    She asks about the status of the transportation analysis for the new boundaries and whether bus routes have been planned yet.
• 0:49
  Board Discussion on Kaler Proposal

  The board engages in a lengthy, divided debate over the merits and flaws of the Kaler attendance proposal.

  • 0:50 Ms. Richardson
    She states she cannot support the proposal, arguing it shouldn't try to achieve long-term reconfiguration goals at the expense of the Kaler community. She is particularly concerned about splitting the Pleasantdale neighborhood.
  • 0:57 Mr. Feller
    He criticizes the proposal's criteria and its 'patchwork quilt' map, arguing for simpler, more contiguous attendance zones. He suggests that families from other schools should also be moved to share the burden of the transition.
  • 1:01 Mr. Smith
    He supports the proposal as the best available option among bad choices, arguing the board lacks the expertise to draw better boundaries and must trust the administration's complex work to avoid further delays.
  • 1:03 Mr. Risch
    He also voices support for the proposal, agreeing that it seems to make sense and that a robust waiver process for Kaler students is the best path forward.
  • 1:04 Ms. Holman
    She expresses support for the proposal, contingent on a generous waiver process for Kaler families and a commitment to providing bus transportation for them, which she sees as a chief concern.
  • 1:06 Ms. DeAngelis
    The chair expresses her struggle with the proposal, noting the entire burden falls on one school community and that the plan creates a new, stark division within a neighborhood.
• 1:07
  Administrative Perspective on Proposal Complexity (Bethany Connolly)

  Skillin Elementary Principal Bethany Connolly addresses the board to explain the immense complexity of the task. She details how the team plotted each individual Kaler student by grade and address to match them with available classroom space, a process far more complicated than simply moving geographic blocks.
• 1:43
  Continued Board Deliberation and Impasse

  The board continues to debate, with some members reiterating their support to move forward and trust the administration's work, while others remain concerned about the fairness of the plan. The discussion highlights the board's own procedural challenges and the difficulty of reaching consensus.
• 2:01
  Initial Vote on Kaler Proposal Fails (3-3 Tie)

  The motion to adopt the Kaler student attendance proposal fails in a 3-3 tie vote, with members Smith, Holman, and Risch in favor, and DeAngelis, Richardson, and Feller opposed.
• 2:01
  Board Debates New Criteria

  Following the failed vote, the board attempts to establish new criteria to guide the administration. However, they struggle to find a majority agreement on any specific changes, such as excluding a school or requiring contiguous boundaries.
• 2:08
  Motion to Reconsider and Final Vote on Kaler Proposal

  Recognizing the impasse and the urgent need for a decision, Ms. Richardson moves to reconsider the vote. The motion to reconsider passes, and the original motion to approve the proposal is passed 5-1, with Mr. Feller as the sole dissenting vote.
• 2:13
  Chair's Closing Remarks on the Kaler Decision

  Chair DeAngelis directs the administration to ensure Kaler families are notified of the decision and the prioritized waiver process. She emphasizes that transportation for waived students is a critical component that must be addressed.
• 2:14
  Public Comment (Period 2)

  In the final public comment, speakers thank the board for making a decision, offer suggestions for improving communication, and provide the perspective of the Kaler staff.

  • 2:15 Corinne Altham
    She thanks the board for passing the proposal, stating that teachers need to know where they will be working next year so they can begin to plan.
  • 2:17 Eliza Ruel
    She speaks about feeling disconnected from the school board and offers several suggestions to improve communication, such as better signage for meetings and more accessible, timely summaries of board decisions.
  • 2:20 Helen Pelletier
    The interim principal at Kaler echoes the thanks for passing the proposal, explaining the immense emotional toll the uncertainty has taken on her staff. She emphasizes that a decision allows the grieving and planning process to finally move forward.
• 2:25
  Board Response to Public Comment

  Chair DeAngelis acknowledges the communication issues raised by a commenter, agreeing that the board needs to do a better job and promising to follow up.
• 2:26
  Final Board Communications

  Member Feller publicly thanks Chair DeAngelis for her hard work and leadership during the superintendent search process.
• 2:27
  Adjournment

  The meeting is adjourned. The board will reconvene on June 4th to address the Kaler calendar change.