Regular School Committee Meeting - February 23, 2026

• Date: February 23, 2026
• Governing Body: Somerville School Committee
• Meeting Type: Regular School Committee Meeting
• Attendees:
  • President Davis
  • Member Laura Pitone
  • Member Michele Lippens
  • Member Elizabeth Eldridge
  • Member Andre Green
  • Member Emma Stellman
  • Mayor Jake Wilson
  • Member Leiran Biton
  • Member Emily Ackman
• Quorum: 9 members present.

A series of educators and community members addressed the committee, primarily focusing on special education funding and the 2026-2027 school calendar:

• Yen Tu (SHS Special Educator): Expressed support for fully funding the special education department to prevent burnout. Quote: "The joy I experience when I see my students' growth and self-confidence when they learn something new and can do something that is hard... is incredible."
• Jill Downer (SHS Special Education Teacher): Reported missing 4,090 minutes of direct services this year due to scheduling conflicts with meetings and testing.
• Tim Stefaniak (SHS Special Education Teacher): Noted that DESE regulations requiring attendance at all IEP meetings have caused him to miss 17 classes (96 hours of services) this year.
• Casey Mullane (SHS Special Education Teacher): Reported that students with disabilities in her classes have missed over 6,000 minutes of services outlined in their IEPs.
• Samuel Freilich (Parent): Requested the committee maintain a Wednesday start for the 2026-2027 school year rather than the proposed Monday, August 31st start.
• Kelsey La Magdalene (Argenziano Resource Room Teacher): Highlighted that resource room teachers are at or over caseload limits, leading to student regression when services are missed.
• Allison Kangas-Debe Alta (SHS Special Ed Social Studies): Echoed concerns regarding the inclusion model being strained by the volume of meetings and testing requirements.

• Action: Approval of the minutes from the January 26, 2026, School Committee meeting.
• Motion: Member Biton; Second: Member Lippens.
• Vote Outcome: Approved 8-0.
  • In Favor: President Davis, Member Biton, Member Lippens, Member Eldridge, Member Green, Dr. Stellman, Mayor Wilson, Dr. Ackman.

Superintendent Rubén Carmona introduced the School Improvement Plans (SIP) for the district's high schools:

Somerville High School (SHS)

• Principal Alicia Kirsten reported an attendance rate increase to 91.3% (up from 88% in SY22).
• Academic Highlights: 130 students anticipated to earn Bunker Hill Community College credit; 70 students earning Syracuse University credit (SUPA).
• Areas of Need: Implementing iReady for math and ELA in 9th and 10th grades to track achievement; addressing the needs of 200 English Language Learners (ELL) who have not yet tested out of status.

Next Wave Full Circle

• Principal Margaret DiPasquale and AP Jack Haverty presented on the competency-based learning model.
• Highlights: 90% of 9th graders are participating in the CTE program; 9 of 13 seniors are enrolled in dual enrollment at Bunker Hill.
• Data: Reading proficiency at Next Wave improved, with the percentage of students reading three grades below level dropping from 80% to 64.3%.

The committee discussed the start date for the 2026-2027 school year. Dr. Boston-Davis noted that the Somerville Educators Union (SEU) preferred a Monday, August 31, 2026, start date.

• Action: Approval of the 2026-2027 School Calendar with a start date of August 31, 2026.
• Motion: Member Biton; Second: Member Green.
• Vote Outcome: Approved 8-0.
  • In Favor: Member Pitone, Member Lippens, Member Eldridge, Member Green, Dr. Stellman, Mayor Wilson, Member Biton, Dr. Ackman.

Director Rich Raish and Chief of Staff Anisoke provided an update on the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) process for the Winter Hill/Sycamore Street project.

• Key Deadlines: The Educational Program and Space Summary must be submitted to the MSBA by March 31, 2026, to maintain the current timeline.
• Future Milestones: Preferred Schematic Report (PSR) due August 26, 2026; Funding Agreement target February 2027.
• Debt Exclusion: A potential debt exclusion vote is anticipated for late spring or summer of 2027.

The committee took action on several financial and administrative items:

• January Bill Rolls: Approved 8-0.
• Shore Educational Collaborative Appointment: Member Elizabeth Eldridge was appointed as the district representative. Approved 8-0.
• Grants Acceptance: Approved 8-0.
  • State Partnership for Reading Success: $186,500.
  • Early College Planning Grant Increase: $1,161.
  • Austin Institute Private Grant: $3,800.
• Donations: Accepted a donation of equipment from Dale Engineering valued at $3,839.39 for the Advanced Manufacturing CTE program. Approved 8-0.

The committee voted on three field trip requests:

1. SHS Ceramics (Detroit, MI): Two students to the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (March 25-28, 2026). Cost to students: $0. Approved 8-0.
2. Kennedy School 8th Grade (Salem, NH): 45 students to Canobie Lake Park (June 9, 2026). Cost to students: $0. Approved 8-0.
3. Healy School 5th/6th Grade (Groton, MA): 65 students to Outdoor Classroom (May 27-29, 2026). Cost to students: $390 (subsidized by Friends of Healy). Approved 6-0 (Mayor Wilson and Member Green recused).