School Committee Meeting - January 26, 2026

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by President Davis. The meeting was conducted via Zoom webinar pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2025.

Attendance:

• Present: President Davis, Member Pitone, Member Lippens, Member Eldridge, Member Green, Dr. Stellman, Mayor Wilson, Member Biton, Dr. Ackman.
• Superintendent: Dr. Rubén Carmona.
• Quorum: 9 members present.

Superintendent Carmona provided updates on several district matters:

• MLK Celebration: Reflected on the recent student-led poetry and music celebration at Somerville High School.
• Weather Preparedness: Acknowledged the collaboration with the DPW and Mayor’s office during recent storms and reminded families of winter clothing resources available through the SFLC.
• Visioning Sessions: Reported on the recent coffee hour at the Brown School regarding school facilities and announced an upcoming session at Winter Hill on February 3, 2026.

Educators Steve Stefano, Emma Daniels, and Principal Wall presented a proposal for a 7th and 8th-grade out-of-state field trip to Niagara Falls, NY.

Trip Details:

• Destination: Niagara Falls, NY (USA side).
• Itinerary: Includes Howe Caverns, a Batavia Muck Dogs baseball game, Maid of the Mist boat tour, the National Museum of Play, and the Women's Rights National Historic Park.
• Financials: The cost is $550 per student, covering all transportation, lodging, and meals. The school has already raised $14,000 and projected $10,000 in scholarships to ensure no student is excluded due to cost.
• Participation: 91 students are scheduled to attend.

Official Action:

• Motion: To approve the 2026 Healy 7th/8th grade field trip to Niagara Falls.
• Vote: Approved 9-0 via roll call (Ackman-Yes, Stellman-Yes, Green-Yes, Biton-Yes, Eldridge-Yes, Wilson-Yes, Lippens-Yes, Pitone-Yes, Davis-Yes).

Blair Williams, K-12 Health and PE Supervisor, presented the 'Somerville Strong' initiative.

Key Highlights:

• 3rd Grade Swimming: Reported high proficiency rates (96% at Healy; >50% at East). The program now includes a 'Swim Operations Team' to manage logistics and chemicals.
• High School Rock Wall: Partnering with Project Adventure to bring the climbing wall into compliance by February break.
• Curriculum: Continued partnership with Cambridge Health Alliance for the 'Get Real' middle school sex education curriculum.
• Future Plans: Exploring the introduction of orienteering, biking, rowing, and rugby.

Directors Ildefonso Arellano (Special Education) and Paulina Metropolis (MLE) presented structural changes for the 2026-2027 school year.

AIM Program (Autism Spectrum):

• The program is expanding due to high enrollment. A second K-8 strand (4 classrooms) will be established at the Argenziano School.
• 10 classrooms will remain at the Winter Hill School.
• The K-1 strand at Capuano will be restructured to support these two K-8 strands.

MLE/SEI Program:

• Due to a decline in newcomer enrollment at the Argenziano (only 2 students this year), the Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) strand will be consolidated at the Healy School.
• Current Argenziano SEI students will transition to General Education with increased ESL support.

The Committee reviewed a memo regarding district food services:

• Volume: The district serves nearly 1,000,000 meals annually.
• Facilities: The scratch kitchen at the Argenziano is back in operation.
• Discussion: Members raised questions regarding the provision of Halal and Kosher meals and the clear labeling of pork products. The Superintendent noted that while vegan/vegetarian options are available, specific religious certifications present logistical barriers that are being explored.

The Superintendent announced several notable retirements and resignations:

Retirements:

• Roxana Screma, Kindergarten Teacher, Kennedy School (35 years).
• Nancy McQueenie, Head Clerk, Winter Hill (27 years).
• Regina Bertoldo, Director of Basic Needs and Housing (27 years).
• Joel Villegas, Assistant Principal, Somerville High School (4 years).

Resignations:

• Katerina Vieira (Payroll Coordinator) and Neftali Reacher (Principal Clerk).

The Committee discussed the ongoing MSBA process for the Winter Hill and Brown schools.

• Combined Option: Discussion occurred regarding whether choosing the 'largest school' option (950 seats) necessitates the closure of the Brown School.
• Transparency: Mayor Wilson and President Davis emphasized the need for a clear decision-making timeline for the School Committee.
• Next Steps: A meeting between city and district leadership is scheduled for February to map out specific deliverables and vote requirements for the Committee.

The Committee conducted second readings of several policy sections:

• Section A (Foundations and Basic Commitments): Approved amendments for all items except AD (Mission Statement) and ADF (Wellness Program), which were sent back to the Rules Subcommittee for further refinement.
• Sections B and C: Tabled for the next meeting to allow for more thorough review by members.

High School Diplomas:

• Approved requests for Lorelie Marciano and Larissa Marciano (9-0).

Grants:

• FY26 Mass Cultural Youth Reach: $5,000 for the Healy School.
• Early College Planning Grant: $23,839 for college and career programming.
• Approved 9-0.

Donations:

• Ping pong table ($525 value) for East Somerville Community School.
• Metal fabrication supplies ($3,611.50 value) from Northeast Regional Council of SMART for the CTE program.
• Approved 9-0.