School Committee Meeting - February 2, 2026

School Committee
February 2, 2026
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AI Disclaimer: Summaries and transcripts above were created by various AI tools. By their nature, these tools will produce mistakes and inaccuraies. Links to the official meeting recordings are provided for verification. If you find an error, please report it to somervillecivicpulse at gmail dot com.

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Executive Summary

The Somerville School Committee met on February 2, 2026, to address several key items, including a first reading of the 2026-2027 school year calendar, a comprehensive presentation on the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, and an update on the School Improvement Planning (SIP) process. The Committee approved the December 17 Finance and Facilities Subcommittee report and the November and December bill rolls, while tabling the January 14 Finance Subcommittee report for further review. Significant discussion focused on the 66% enrollment rate in the CTE program and the structural barriers, specifically the high school schedule, that limit student participation in off-site cooperative education and internships.

I. Call to Order and Roll Call

  • Meeting Date: February 02, 2026
  • Governing Body: Somerville School Committee
  • Meeting Type: Regular Meeting (Hybrid Participation)
  • Attendees:
    • Dr. Emily Ackman, Chair
    • Laura Pitone
    • Michele Lippens
    • Elizabeth Eldridge
    • Andre Green
    • Dr. Emma Stellman
    • Mayor Jake Wilson
    • Leiran Biton
    • Absent: Katherine Garavaglia (Clerk)
  • Quorum: Established with eight members present and one absent.

II. Approval of Minutes

  • Action: The Committee voted to approve the minutes of the January 12, 2026, meeting.
  • Motion: Moved by Member Biton, seconded by Mayor Wilson.
  • Vote Outcome: Approved unanimously by all members present.

III. Report of Subcommittees

  • Finance and Facilities Subcommittee (December 17, 2025):
    • Action: The Committee voted to approve the report.
    • Motion: Moved by Member Green, seconded by Member Pitone.
    • Vote Outcome: Approved unanimously.
  • Finance Subcommittee (January 14, 2026):
    • Action: Tabled at the request of Member Pitone to allow for further review of the recently submitted report.

IV. Bill Rolls

  • Action: The Committee voted to approve the bill rolls for November and December 2025.
  • Motion: Moved by Member Green, seconded by Member Lippens.
  • Vote Outcome: Approved unanimously.

V. 2026-2027 School Year Calendar (First Reading)

  • Presentation: Dr. Boston-Davis presented a draft of the 2026-2027 school year calendar.
  • Key Proposal: To avoid the last day of school falling on a Monday after a three-day weekend, the district is exploring starting school on Monday, August 31, 2026.
  • Discussion Points:
    • The current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Somerville Education Union (SEU) specifies school starts the Wednesday and Thursday prior to Labor Day.
    • Member Green raised a procedural question regarding whether discussions about union negotiations on the calendar should occur in Executive Session. Chair Ackman noted that Executive Session is a privilege, not a mandate.
    • Potential inclusion of Good Friday or Election Day as holidays was discussed as an alternative to front-loading the start date.
  • Outcome: The calendar will be presented for a second reading at the next meeting following the February break.

VI. District Report: Facility Safety and SEU Update

  • Update: Superintendent Carmona discussed the partnership with the SEU to maintain safe and healthy facilities.
  • Key Highlights:
    • Focus on air quality, resiliency, and energy efficiency in school buildings.
    • AHERA Reports: The district confirmed that regular asbestos management reports and corrections are in place following previous incidents at Winter Hill.
    • The Superintendent noted: "After the incident that happened at the Winter Hill, we determined that those reports needed to be in place on a regular basis and those corrections have been in place."

VII. Student Committee Advisory Report

  • Updates: Bhavika reported on upcoming prom and semi-formal ticket sales and the success of the Class Cup Challenge.
  • Club Highlight: The ACLU Club at Somerville High School was recognized for partnering with middle schools to run interactive sessions on civil rights and global issues through a mini Model UN format.
  • Student Initiative: Member Biton praised the 2027 and 2028 class officers for their initiative in bringing back the semi-formal dance after several years.

VIII. Superintendent's Report: CTE Program Presentation

  • CTE Overview: Director Jim Hatchie and General Advisory Chair Tom Bent presented on the Career and Technical Education program.
  • Financials and Grants:
    • Clean Energy Center Grant: $307,000 awarded for HVAC training equipment and staff.
    • Brunt Workwear Donation: Over $100,000 worth of boots (700 pairs) donated to the district.
    • Jobs Trust: Awarded funding for the Facilities Maintenance Program.
  • Enrollment: CTE students now comprise 66% of the total Somerville High School enrollment.
  • Cooperative Education (Co-op):
    • 52 out of 147 seniors (35%) are currently in active co-op placements.
    • Barriers: Director McDevitt identified the high school schedule as the primary barrier to expanding co-op participation, stating: "The major issue that we run into with industry partners is unfortunately the schedule."
  • Student Testimony: Student Eden Nguyen shared experiences working with the DPW in the electrical field, noting the value of learning directly from journeymen.

IX. School Improvement Planning (SIP) Process Update

  • Presentation: Sam Elagin, Director of Data, Assessment, and Accountability, outlined the shift to a three-year SIP cycle aligned with the District Strategic Plan.
  • Process Components:
    • Root cause analysis using protocols like the "Five Whys."
    • Development of SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant, Timely).
    • Use of the "Open Architects" data platform for nightly data refreshes from Aspen.
  • Discussion: Member Lippens emphasized the need to explicitly name "school culture and student sense of belonging" within the SIP indicators. Director Elagin noted these are currently captured under the "Wellness and Joy" priority area via the Conditions for Learning survey.

X. Unfinished Business: MSBA Update

  • Update: Chair Ackman is meeting with Director Raesch to outline required votes for the MSBA process.
  • Mayor's Comment: Mayor Wilson stressed the importance of School Committee buy-in on programmatic decisions to ensure the School Building Committee (SBC) is not "out on a limb."
  • Community Engagement: A coffee hour regarding the Winter Hill/Brown school project is scheduled for February 3 at 8:30 AM at the Edgerly.

XI. New Business and Announcements

  • Student Health Survey: A youth-led presentation on survey outcomes will be held February 12 at the Armory (6:00 PM – 7:30 PM).
  • Legal Update: Mayor Wilson noted a federal judge blocked attempts to rescind Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians.
  • Ward 5 Coffee Hour: Scheduled for March 14 at 10:00 AM at Zaruma Cafe.
  • Last Day of School: Due to snow days, the current last day of school is June 16, 2026.

Last updated: Feb 14, 2026

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