School Committee Meeting - April 6, 2026

The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by President Lance Davis.

Roll Call Attendance:

• President Lance Davis: Present
• Member Leiran Biton: Present
• Member Michele Lippens: Present
• Member Elizabeth Eldridge: Present
• Member Andre Green: Present
• Dr. Emma Stellman: Present
• Mayor Jake Wilson: Present
• Dr. Emily Ackman: Present

A quorum was established. The Committee proceeded with a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Superintendent Rubén Carmona recognized Beatrice Thomas, a history and social studies teacher at Somerville High School (SHS), as a finalist for the Massachusetts Teacher of the Year award.

• Senator Patricia Jehlen presented a citation from the Massachusetts State Senate.
• Ms. Thomas, an SHS graduate, founded the Latinx Student Union and serves on the staff equity team.
• She received a $5,000 award, which will be used to support the transition of K-8 students into the high school.

Student representatives Marlee Thrasher and Peyton Gates provided updates on high school activities:

• Mayor’s Summer Job Program: Applications are open from April 1 to April 30 for teens aged 14-18.
• Graduation Speakers: A new policy allows seniors to apply to be graduation speakers, moving away from the tradition of only the Valedictorian and Salutatorian speaking.
• Multicultural Fair: Scheduled for April 17, featuring over 22 countries represented through food and performances.
• Athletics: The student-staff basketball game resulted in a student victory, 54-50.
• Arts: The school play Lost Girl was performed in late March, and the Chorus raised over $500 during the 'Evening of Song.'

The following individuals provided testimony regarding the upcoming budget and district needs:

• Cesar Uronaga (Teacher/Parent): Urged prioritization of student-facing positions. Noted that Somerville has $23.8 million in free cash and a $50 million stabilization fund. "These rainy day funds, I can tell you... it is pouring and we need to make sure that these students are getting all the services that they deserve."
• Jessica DaSilva (Pre-K Special Education Teacher): Expressed safety concerns in the AIM program due to high student-to-staff ratios and behavioral needs. Requested a minimum of three staff members per classroom.
• Jim Kaplan (Retiree): Urged the committee to pass resolutions against state budget cuts and advocated for a wealth tax.
• Matt Uzenski (8th Grade Math Teacher, Kennedy): Advocated for lower class sizes, noting that projected ratios of 115-140 students per teacher in 7th and 8th grade are unsustainable.
• Delia Hammerslaw (Paraprofessional, Kennedy): Discussed burnout in specialized programs (SCIP, SHIP, AIM) and requested the district reconsider the "209 contract" obligations for these staff members.
• Jane Ritchie (Teacher, Capuano): Requested more paraprofessionals to maintain safety for the city's youngest learners.

The Committee voted to approve the following minutes:

• March 2, 2026, Regular School Committee Meeting.
• March 9, 2026, Special Meeting of the Whole.

Action: Motion by Member Biton, seconded by Member Lippens. Motion passed unanimously.

Superintendent Carmona highlighted several district achievements and upcoming events:

• Autism Acceptance Month: Reaffirmed the district's commitment to neurodiverse students.
• Week of the Young Child: A celebration with pizza and activities is scheduled for April 16 at the high school.
• Scholastic Arts Awards: Student Mateos Unger earned a national gold medal for his ceramic piece, Table Companions. He and teacher Tyler Burns will be honored at Carnegie Hall in June.

Principal Glenda Soto presented the Argenziano School Improvement Plan:

• Accountability Data: The school met or exceeded 88% of its annual targets in 2025, up from 27% in 2023.
• Attendance: Currently at 94.8%.
• Literacy: 65.2% of students are reading at or above core levels mid-year.
• Safety Requests: Principal Soto identified needs for fencing around the school, netting for second-floor balconies, and adjustments to the school bell volume to accommodate students with sensory sensitivities.

Principal Steve Marshall and Assistant Principal Sam Patton presented the Kennedy School Improvement Plan:

• Literacy Growth: 88% of the current second-grade cohort is performing at core levels.
• Achievement Gaps: Noted a significant gap in MCAS performance; 31% of students with disabilities met expectations in ELA compared to 76% of students without disabilities.
• Student Agency: Highlighted the Student Equity Action Team (SEAT) and the 'Tiger Tutors' program where older students mentor younger peers.
• Enrollment: Discussed the 'double bubble' (additional classroom) in the 6th grade and the complexities of middle school scheduling.

The Superintendent announced the following retirements:

• Nancy McSweeney: Head Clerk at Winter Hill Community Innovation School (27 years of service).
• Will Vervis: Special Education Department Coordinator at the Kennedy School.

The Committee held a second reading of the Somerville School Committee Resolution in Support of Senate Bill 2571, An Act Empowering Municipalities and Local Governments.

• The resolution supports giving municipalities more options to increase the local tax base and bond for school construction over 40 years.
• Amendment: Member Biton requested that Senator Jehlen and Representatives Uyterhoeven, Barber, and Connolly be added to the distribution list.

Action: Motion to approve by Member Biton, seconded by Member Lippens. Motion passed unanimously.

February Bill Rolls: Approved (Motion: Green, Second: Pitone).

Field Trips:

1. SkillsUSA (Marlborough, MA): April 30 – May 5, 2026, for 19 SHS CTE students.
2. Mt. Monadnock (NH): May 1, 2026, for 15 Next Wave Full Circle students.
3. Canobie Lake Park (NH): June 4, 2026, for 10 Next Wave students.

• Action: Motion to approve by Member Biton, seconded by Member Pitone. Motion passed unanimously.

Grants:

• Accepted all federal and state continuation grants.
• Accepted a $400,000 grant from the Job Creation Retention Trust (JCRT) for the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program at SCALE.
• Action: Motion to approve by Member Lippens, seconded by Member Pitone. Motion passed unanimously.

Donations:

1. Jackson Lumber: Equipment valued at $3,121.42 for CTE Carpentry.
2. Bosch Tools Corporation: Equipment valued at $9,855.00 for CTE Carpentry.

• Action: Motion to approve by Member Biton, seconded by Member Lippens. Motion passed unanimously.

• Ad Hoc Committee on Student Enrollment: Dr. Ackman announced the formation of this committee to review enrollment and catchment zones. Applications for members will be publicized soon, with work beginning in September.
• School Committee Office Hours: Various sessions scheduled throughout April at the Buzzing Bean, Lincoln Park, Kennedy School, and West Somerville Neighborhood School.
• MLPAC Potluck: April 7, 6:30 p.m. at East Somerville Community School.
• CPAC Business Meeting: April 7, 7:00 p.m. (Virtual).