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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-26-SC-min LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING Tuesday, March 26, 2024 Meeting Minutes AGENDA: CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOME: 5:33 PM SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Sara Cuthbertson, Chairperson Kathleen Lenihan, Clerk Eileen Jay Larry Freeman (joined in Open Session) SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS PRESENT Dr. Julie Hackett, Superintendent The minutes were taken by Julie Kaye, School Committee Meeting Recording Secretary. The School Committee convened at the School Committee Meeting Room at Central Office and remotely. Members of the public can view and participate in person or in the meeting webinar from their computer or tablet by clicking on the link provided with the meeting agenda. Please note that this meeting is being recorded and that attendees are participating by video conference. This evening's meeting is being broadcast live and also taped by LexMedia for future on-demand viewing. All supporting materials that have been provided to members of this body are available on the Town's website unless otherwise noted. EXECUTIVE SESSION Ms. Lenihan moved that the School Committee enter Executive Session under Exemption 3-For the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to collective bargaining, as a Chair so declares an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of a School Committee, Ms.Jay seconded. Ms. Cuthbertson took a roll call vote, passed 3-0. OPEN SESSION The School Committee re-entered open session at 6:09 PM. Mr. Freeman joined the meeting. CONSENT AGENDA Ms. Lenihan read the following consent agenda items: • Payroll and Accounts Payable Warrant Approval a. March 22, 2024 - Payroll in the amount of$4,826,760.97 JK 03/26/24-DRAFT b. March 29, 2024 -AP Warrant in the amount of$2,086,664.84 Ms.Jay read the following consent agenda items: • Field Trips a. LHS Field Trip to Rome, Italy, from February 13, 2025 to February 21, 2025 Mr. Freeman moved to approve the entire consent agenda, Ms.Jay seconded. Ms. Cuthbertson took a roll call vote,passed 4-0. SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS AND LIAISON REPORTS Mr. Freeman does not have any announcements. Ms. Lenihan thanked the LHS parent group on Thursday morning for having her as a guest at their last meeting to discuss the high school building project. Ms. Jay announced that on April 6th Cary Library Foundation will be having a gala to support renovations to the children's room. Ms. Cuthbertson attended the Clarke vs. Diamond basketball game last Thursday. COMMUNITY SPEAK Ruthu Hanchinamani - 7 Wyman Rd (in person): She is a second grader at Estabrook who is here to speak about Diwali. "Diwali is a five-day festival in late October. The word Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word "rows of lights"... This day means a lot to my family, and I hope to spend the day with them...And I hope we can come together on this beautiful holiday. I request that the School Committee declare a holiday for Diwali. Thank you" Aditya Wadhwa - (in person): "I go to Bowman school, and I'm in grade five. I want Diwali to be a holiday because I think if we had a holiday on Diwali, it would be easy to do all the celebrations and follow the rituals. One of my favorite things to do on Diwali is eat and make sweets with my mom, which is a family tradition. I also like talking to my relatives on the phone. This is hard for me because I have to wake up really early to talk to them. And I also need to get ready for school. Another thing I do on Diwali is make rangoli, which is unique to my culture. I like making rangoli because it's very fun and a good way to show artwork. An important thing I do on Diwali is recite Sanskrit verses. I'm currently trying to memorize a prayer called Vishnu Sahasranama which is one hour long and is proven to enhance memory and brain power. One more fun thing to do on Diwali is send and receive gifts. This is my favorite part because I love surprises and gifts. My friend, also named Aditya will continue... Aditya Hanchinamani - (5th Grader at Estabrook, in person): "It would be great if the Asian community got more school holidays. This request has been implemented in many different towns in Massachusetts including Acton, Hopkinton, Westborough, Holston, and finally Littleton. The Indian holiday Diwali signifies the moral good over evil. The Chinese New Year JK 03/26/24-DRAFT symbolizes the start of a new year and a fresh beginning. There are also many important holidays the community would like to add. 47.8% of students in Lexington are Asian, including Indians. But guess how many school holidays there are for this community? None, the Asian community has received no school holidays from Lexington despite being such a large group of individuals. But why give a school holiday? If Lexington gives an official school holiday, students will be able to spend time with family and friends. Lexington stated in the We All Belong Act that they would recognize all perspectives if they have not officially done a proper and complete job of doing so. All they have really done is just say they would eventually add. The consequences, or the sad truth of these actions, is that it's caused students to start to lose their belief and acknowledgement of the holidays and festivals because they had no time to learn or recognize that it even exists. In flux, if the Lexington School Committee organized more school holidays based on religion, religious holidays, and festivals, the students across Lexington would have a deeper connection with the religion and culture, which is all the better. Thank you." Shreyas Hanchinamani - (in person): "I am currently attending LHS, grade 9. 46.1% of our school is Asian, and 7% of our school is multi-racial/non-Hispanic. The majority representation of people who clearly want to celebrate Diwali, Lunar New Year and Eid. Diwali is one of my favorite festivals because it celebrates good over evil and light over darkness. Lexington High School and middle school teams are represented by many Asian and South Asian students and athletes who celebrate these holidays and represent Lexington at the highest level. A huge portion of the academic teams, along with the athletic teams, accomplish a lot of great things at the national level for Lexington schools, including the Science Olympiad team and track team, which I've been a part of. Even though there is recognition for athletic and academic achievements, there's a lack of recognition for emotional needs. Our holidays and emotional needs are overlooked because there's a lack of representation and awareness of our culture and festivals. We are expected to maintain high academic and athletic standards with no mental break to celebrate the holidays that we value. A part of this is the lack of recognition and lack of awareness in the community. Even though Diwali was on a weekend last year, I was called to service by my sports team because they weren't very aware of the festival. So I couldn't celebrate Diwali with my family, me and my family were heartbroken. If the school can program this into the system, then there will be greater recognition and a break for all the hard-working Asian and South Asian athletes and students. Because we're children of immigrants, it is natural for us to work hard without skipping days of school for festivals. It would be extremely helpful and beneficial for the communities to have recognition for their festivals so we can truly celebrate them. This will also be beneficial for the student's mental health because sometimes we have difficulty keeping up with our identities. I thank the School Committee and School Calendar Committee for making this an official recommendation to recognize Diwali, Lunar New Year, and Eid as a holiday. I request a vote in favor. Thank you." Tiffany Payne - 241 Grove Street (in person): "I'd like to express my appreciation to Miss Hagen and Miss Hamilton for their ongoing discussion concerning myself and the concerns of ABCL members and myself regarding the METCO reorganization. Although this email predates that communication, I still want to convey my gratitude for our collaborative friendship. So this is the email: Dear Concern Party, I hope this message finds you well. My family and I relocated to Lexington in 2021, and oureducational journey began here in 2022. 1 was immediately struck by JK 03/26/24-DRAFT the diversity within Estabrook School, where my daughter is now enrolled in first grade. Witnessing the presence of numerous black and brown students, both local and from METCO, was heartening. Well, initially, my daughter faced challenges of forging friendships; she eventually found our place within the school community, forming bonds with peers of diverse backgrounds. Therefore, it deeply saddened me to learn of METCO's decision to sever ties with Estabrook School, seemingly without adequate dialogue and consideration for the impact on students, particularly those of color. Diversity and inclusion are crucial for all children, especially in affluent districts like Lexington. By separating black and brown students, valuable connections are lost, depriving students of the benefits of a diverse perspective. It is concerning that this decision was made without input from Lexington residents with children in these schools. As I conclude, I'm troubled by the prospect of my daughter becoming one of the few black and brown children remaining at Estabrook, potentially affecting her sense of belonging. I urge you to reconsider this decision and be mindful of this implication on children of color in Lexington, thank you for your attention to this matter." Mamata Banerjee -4 Wyman Rd (in person): "I have been a classroom teacher for more than two decades. Although currently, I serve as an SIA at Clarke Middle School since 2021. Tonight, I advocate for the inclusion of Diwali, Eid, and Lunar New Year as school holidays within our academic calendar. Clarke is a diverse school with a significant AAPI population. As a Hindu special education teacher at Clarke, I hesitate to take time off for my religious holidays, knowing it may impact my students. This dilemma forces a choice between professional duties and religious observances. Declaring Diwali, Eid, and Lunar New Year as school holidays reflects our commitment to inclusivity and would align these celebrations with Jewish and Christian holidays. It is particularly relevant considering the substantial AAPI student population at LIPS. Numerous Clarke AAPI students have expressed their backing for this adjustment, citing its affirmation of their cultures and identities, including their religious beliefs. I want to address the community suggestion that individuals observing holidays should stay home and make up the work later. This is not feasible for many, especially special education students. For those who may not know, we have many AAPI special education students who require support and explicit instruction, making it challenging for them to catch up when they miss school for any reason. Choosing between faith and school is not a choice for them. And it is neither a choice we should ask of them. Adding these school holidays, cultural heritage and fosters belonging for all of us. Embracing diversity enriches the education we provide at LIDS and our town's overall inclusivity. I urge you to consider including Diwali, Eid, and Lunar New Year as school holidays. This acknowledges our school's cultural diversity and demonstrates our commitment to LPS's core value of We All Belong. Thank you again for your time and all the hard work from the calendar committee that has gone into this matter. Thank you." Vignesh Krishnan - 7 Fifer Ln (in person): "Diwali is a special holiday for all dharmic religions, Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs. I wanted to say that my daughter Akshara goes to LCP, and last year was the first time she got to celebrate Diwali. We took a trip to New Hampshire, and she enjoyed the day a lot. I want her to feel part of the community and be able to celebrate the festival. As part of a school holiday last year, she had to take a day off to go celebrate it. So this year, I asked her what she thought about Diwali, and she decided to draw this picture. She drew this picture, and what she said here is, "I love Diwali" and she has a plate here with a lot of JK 03/26/24-DRAFT ladoos and another plate here with thattai. So this is how she feels about Diwali, and hoping that the School Committee will make this a holiday. Thank you." UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. METCO Reorecranization 24-25 Barbara Hamilton, director of METCO, presented the above slideshow on the reorganization of the METCO program. Johnny Cole, Director of Equity and Student Supports, also spoke about the plan to consolidate elementary METCO students and staff into three schools. School Committee Questions/Comments: Ms. Lenihan asked if elementary students would have to switch schools. Miss Hamilton replied that she has given parents the opportunity to choose to keep their child/children at their current schools and to find their own transportation or to transition to another school. " I can say that two have already responded and want their kids to transition." Mr. Freeman expressed his disagreement with this reorganization plan: "For every advantage, I see a disadvantage." Miss Hamiton explained that it is her job to do what is best for students. They discussed the advantages and disadvantages. Mr. Freeman ended by saying, "I think you and I do share one very important thing, and that's the end goal. That's for all students to thrive. So, how we get there may not be on the same path, but that end goal is really all that matters. And as long as we get there, I'll be happy." Ms. Jay appreciates Miss Hamilton's work. She asked if METCO students would be grouped or clustered into certain classes or distributed across classes. Miss Hamilton replied, "If we have six students in third grade, I'm just saying, for example, we would have three in one classroom and three in another class." Ms. Jay also asked how the mentoring piece would work, Miss Hamilton responded, "Every teacher has a responsibility to affirm every student in their identity. And as a school district, we have to provide more opportunities to bring communities together. We still operate in our silos: white students, Asian students, African American students. We need to provide a greater opportunity where we can come together as communities to learn from one another culturally." Ms. Cuthbertson commented on Miss Hamilton's always saying, "We'll make it work" She came up with this plan because things aren't working. B. LS Concussion anae ent Protocols Update Dr. Hackett spoke about the LPS Concussion Management Protocol Overview PowerPoint. On slide 12, she addressed the return-to-school protocol. SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS AND LIAISON REPORTS (continued) The Student Representative announced that at the last Student/Faculty Senate meeting, Dr. JK 03/26/24-DRAFT Hackett attended and they spoke about the incident at the last School Committee meeting. They are also working on updating their constitution to better represent our values. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Hackett reviewed her Superintendent's Report with the School Committee. The highlights from her report include: 1. Superintendent Shoutouts! • It's a Full House for Middle School Unified Basketball! • LHS Chamber Orchestra Places Second in the NATION! • 2 Bits and a Byte Win the Prestigious Inspire Award at FIRST Tech Challenge State Championships! • LPS Earns First and Second Place at the MA State Middle School Science Olympiad! 2. We All Belong • Student Leadership Conference • LHS Multicultural Festival • Upcoming Holidays & Observances 3. Updates on the Lexington High School Project 4. Welcome Aboard! A New LHS Associate Principal & LHS Dean • Mr. Dan Melia has been selected as the permanent Associate Principal of Lexington High School. Mr. Patrick Larkin has been selected as the permanent Lexington High School Dean. 5. "Rise and Shine" -A New METCO Program at Bowman Elementary • "Rise and Shine" is a new before-school program designed to give METCO students an added boost three mornings a week. 6. Upcoming Events • A Total Solar Eclipse • LPS Core Value Celebration on May 14, 2024. SCHOOL CALENDAR WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS Discussion & Possible Vote Ms. Lehihan reviewed the different versions that were considered: 1. Our current calendar, which includes school closures for the two fall Jewish holidays and Good Friday, allows for flexible school closures around the December break. 2. A calendar that only closed schools for legal holidays. 3. A calendar that closed schools on three new observances (Lunar New Year, Diwali, and Eid). 4. A calendar that closed schools for a maximum of one school day per year per religious/cultural group. The School Committee, student representatives, and Mr. Cole discussed the options. It was made clear that our students missing school for religious reasons are excused. Mr. Freeman JK 03/26/24-DRAFT added that the School Committee has to vote on the calendar every year, so if something isn't working, it can be changed. The other general sentiment is that there is no perfect calendar and that change is hard. The Calendar Working Group is recommending option 1. Mr. Freeman moved to approve calendar recommendation#1, three new school closure holidays:Diwali, Lunar New Year, and Eid;Ms. Lenihan seconded. The motion passed 4-0. NEW BUSINESS A. Vote on School Choice Dr. Hackett recommends that we do not enroll in the School Choice Program because there are not enough empty seats. Mr. Freeman moved that Lexington Public Schools will not participate in the School Choice Program for the 2024-2025 school year, and Ms. Lenihan seconded. The motion passed 4-0. COMMUNITY SPEAK Jia Sodhi (student, in person): "All I would like to say since it has already been decided is that I'm glad that you chose to include all three events and vacations. It will be very helpful and very inclusive for all religions and cultures to get to celebrate. Thank you." Vinaya Vijay (student, in person): "I am extremely thankful that Diwali, Eid, and Lunar New Year have been decided as holidays because it's really inclusive for all of us and we can spend time with our family and friends which is really what these holidays are about. Thank you." LHS Freshman (in person): "I would like to say thank you on behalf of IAL's Education Committee. As the 2024 representative, I would just like to say to people who are opposed, I encourage everyone to engage and appreciate the profound meaning of these traditions, as recognizing these holidays affirms our commitment to diversity and unity, weaving together the threads of cultural harmony within our school community and beyond." A parent in the School Committee Meeting Room asked about outplacement for SPED students. This will be addressed at the next meeting. Amber Iqbal -49 Courtyard PI (virtual): "I just wanted to thank Kathleen for putting together this committee (the Calendar Working Group). And without her hard work of getting us all together every month, it would not have been possible. So thank you, Kathleen. Johnny Cole, you did an amazing job too! And putting all those slides and everything and all the people in the team, we worked together so hard, and we are seeing the fruits of our labor. And this day is so amazing. I'm literally tearing up right now because this is amazing for all our communities; Diwali, Lunar JK 03/26/24-DRAFT New Year, Eid, everybody, I'm sure, is rejoicing right now. And this is a step forward in our what Lexington School stands for, you know, inclusivity and quality for everybody. So thank you, thank you so much." Nikhil Shah (student, in person): "I want to thank everyone on the Calendar Committee and everyone who made this decision possible. I started this project in 4th grade (he's in 6th now), so in March of 2022, and I started speaking in February of 2023 with that long presentation. I'm really happy. I want to thank Miss Lamore, she has helped me through this whole journey especially from start to finish, about getting into meetings and giving me good advice. Thank you. Myra L. (student, virtual): "I just wanted to thank you and everyone on the calendar committee for making it possible." There were some audio issues. Raj Heda - 325 Lincoln St (in person): "I have lived in Lexington for the past 20 years or so now. I'm always very, very impressed in terms of how everything gets conducted in the school. I think we are very fortunate to be part of this amazing school system and the amazing community. So thank you so much. And really thank you for also not only including one but all. That shows the inclusivity, that shows the thought process that we have, and how we want to bring everyone together. So thank you for doing that. I know many of you actually have spent countless hours working on the calendar committee, to put all this together in terms of hours and with everything you have on your plate. I don't know how you guys juggle so many balls. But thank you for doing it. And we greatly appreciate what you're doing for all of us. So thank you. Myra L. (student, virtual): "Hi again, I just wanted to say thank you to the calendar committee for making these three very important events possible and for helping these cultures feel more included in this very diverse district. Thank you" Possible Action Items will be addressed at the next meeting. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Lenihan made a motion to adjourn at 8:24 p.m, Mr. Freeman seconded. Passed 4-0. JK 03/26/24-DRAFT