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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-08-26-SC-minLEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Meeting Minutes CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOME: 5:08 PM SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Eileen Jay, Chairperson Sara Cuthbertson Sarah Carter Larry Freeman, Vice -Chair, joined during executive session. Kathleen Lenihan joined remotely after executive 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. *N:1401IL71*4*S1Eel01 Ms. Cuthbertson moved that the School Committee enter Executive Session under Exemption 2 - For the purpose of conducting a strategy session for contract negotiations with the Superintendent of Schools, Ms. Carter seconded. Motion passed 3-0. The School Committee re-entered open session at 6:06 PM. CONSENT AGENDA Ms. Carter read the following consent agenda items: • Payroll and Accounts Payable Warrant Approval a. June 13, 2025 - Payroll in the amount of $5,705,489.92 b. June 20, 2025 - BMO Warrant in the amount of $33,643.41 c. June 20, 2025 - AP Warrant in the amount of $3,269,009.99 d. July 11, 2025 - Payroll in the amount of $1,156,815.78 e. July 15, 2025 - AP Warrant in the amount of $571,825.92 f. July 15, 2025 - BMO Warrant in the amount of $9,792.33 g. July 25, 2025 - AP Warrant in the amount of $993,834.38 h. July 25, 2025 - Payroll in the amount of $1,255,556.63 i. August 8, 2025 - AP Warrant in the amount of $1,085,319.15 j. August 8, 2025 - Payroll in the amount of $1,207,654.69 k. August 22, 2025 - BMO Warrant in the amount of $1,047.50 I. August 22, 2025 - AP Warrant in the amount of $1,098,288.80 m. August 22, 2025 - Payroll in the amount of $1,054,547.33 Ms. Cuthbertson read the following consent agenda items: • Minutes a. May 13, 2025 b. June 10, 2025 c. June 17, 2025 Mr. Freeman read the following consent agenda items: • Donations a. Donation of an Easy Stand Evolve Stander to the Lexington Public Schools Ms. Lenihan requested that the field trip portion be removed from the consent agenda for further discussion, and the School Committee agreed. Ms. Cuthbertson moved to approve the entire consent agenda except for the Field Trip section, Ms. Carter seconded. Ms. Jay took a roll call vote, passed 5-0. The committee discussed international field trips and raised concerns about safety, equity, and cost. Some members opposed approving trips due to risks faced by students re-entering the U.S., especially visa or green card holders, making the trips not equally accessible. Others worried about fairness for special education students who don't take foreign languages and therefore miss these opportunities. There were also questions about the cost differences between schools' trips. While some argued these trips are valuable, others stressed unresolved risks and equity issues. The School Committee decided to delay a decision until more information could be reviewed. 14%l:1019]X4191LTil&Ik1014LTA 14iVA1.]4Wil L1ILI1I10[a]AkhIALIk&ie,10IQIe11,7191►1R41•1.1&1 Mr. Freeman did not have anything to announce. Ms. Cuthbertson said that everything she was going to mention was already in the Superintendent's Report. She thanked everyone who worked on yesterday's convocation and wished everyone a great start to the school year. Ms. Carter attended the New Employee Orientation last week. Ms. Lenihan did not have any announcements. Ms. Jay also thanked everyone involved with opening day and wished everyone luck this year. COMMUNITY SPEAK No speakers. The Superintendents report will be reviewed later in the meeting. NEW BUSINESS A. Vote Doreen Crowe as the Director of Student Health Services Dr. Hackett introduced Ms. Crowe. She has been chosen to replace Karen Rufo, who retired, as the new Director of School Health Services. Ms. Crowe has a master's degree in education, a bachelor's in nursing, and over 30 years of nursing experience. Doreen has led school health programs, focuses on student and staff wellness, and is active in professional health organizations. Dr. Hackett praised her expertise, leadership, and dedication and is excited to officially welcome her to the team. Ms. Carter moved to approve the appointment of Doreen Crowe to the Director of Student Health Services, Ms. Cuthbertson seconded. Ms. Jay took a roll call vote, passed 5-0. B. LHS Building Project This agenda presentation included the following items: a. Vote to Approve the Schematic Design Submission to the MSBA b. Presentation of Integrated Building Design Schematic Phase Report c. Update on Preliminary Financial Modeling Ms. Jay is an abutter to the High School property; therefore she recused herself from this agenda item. Mr. Freeman filled in as chair. Michael Cronin and Carolyn Kosnoff from the School Building Committee (SBC), Jamie Meiser from Turner Construction, John Albright from Dore & Whittier (OPM), and Martine Dion, Sarah Sopelak, Erin Prestileo and Lorraine Finnegan from SMMA (designer) joined remotely. Update on Preliminary Financial Modeling Ms. Kosnoff went over the project budget. The total high school project cost is about $547.7 million, with funding help from grants and other sources. The town will bond the part not covered by outside funding, but will later be reimbursed for $4.5 million from Mass Save after the project is complete. The debt will be paid over 30 years, and taxes will rise gradually over 7-10 years before peaking and then slowly declining. A calculator is being developed so residents can estimate their tax impact (hopefully broken down year -by -year). Presentation of Integrated Building Design Schematic Phase Report Ms. Finnegan started the slideshow and explained the schedule. The schematic design will be submitted to the MSBA this week for approval at their October 29 meeting. After approval, the town will sign a funding agreement and move to Town Meeting in November and a debt exclusion vote on December 8. Construction will take about three years, with the new school opening in fall 2029 and the entire project finished by the end of 2030. Ms. Prestileo reviewed the Article 97 & MEPA Schedule. She explained that the new school is being built on open space, so the town must follow Article 97 rules and file documents with the Public Land Preservation Act, scheduled for this Friday. State approval and legislative action are expected in winter or spring. Because of this land swap, the project also triggered a MEPA environmental review; the first major filing was submitted September 15, with public comment underway and a final filing planned for January. These steps cover key regulatory approvals for the project. Ms. Finnegan presented the Building & Site Design Overview. The new high school will be a centrally located, four-story, all -electric, net -zero building built in one phase to minimize disruption. It will replace displaced athletic fields, improve site and pedestrian circulation, and add outdoor learning spaces, including a rooftop terrace. The design emphasizes durability, low -carbon materials, and solar canopies over parking and bleachers. Inside, the layout creates clear "neighborhoods" for different programs, with flexible spaces for both school and community use. The project aims to be welcoming, sustainable, and functional for students and the town. Ms. Dion gave the Integrated Building Design & Construction Policy (IBD&C) update. The project follows an integrated design policy focused on sustainability. It's designed to be net -zero, aiming for LEED Gold certification (with a goal of Platinum), all -electric systems, and extensive solar energy. It includes electric vehicle charging and battery storage to manage energy demand. The team has also tracked embodied carbon in materials, construction options, and HVAC systems to reduce the project's total environmental impact. The expected annual energy savings the new building would generate is estimated to be between $300,000—$500,000 per year. The school could also earn extra revenue from solar power, demand response programs, and selling carbon savings from its heating and cooling systems. The new school is designed to use very little energy and cut carbon emissions by over half. The building materials are also chosen to lower their carbon impact. Ms. Sopelak explained the project's effort to avoid harmful "Red List" chemicals in building materials. They're focusing on materials for floors, walls, and ceilings where people spend the most time, aiming for Red List—free or approved products. So far, they've researched many materials, compared manufacturers, and identified where more research is needed. In the next design phase, they'll keep expanding product choices, write Red List standards into specifications, and work with the contractor to choose healthier materials. Ms. Finnegan gave an update on where the project's budget is. The project's schematic design costs are now about $2.4 million lower than the feasibility estimate, resulting in a total project budget of $659.7 million. Funding includes an anticipated $111 million MSBA grant, Mass Save incentives, and a LABBB contribution. The heating/cooling system is now a hybrid (51% geothermal, 49% air -source heat pumps). The district's share is about $543 million, roughly $10 million less than predicted earlier. School Commitee Questions/Comments: Ms. Carter asked who decides on what materials are used. Mr. Cronin and Ms. Lenihan explained that the final decisions are made by the SBC and the Sustainable Lexington Committee (SLC). Ms. Carter made a statement that it is clear that committee members take their charge seriously to build a school that the community and students need while keeping it cost-effective and responsible. Vote to Approve the Schematic Design Submission to the MSBA Ms. Carter moved to approve the project team to proceed with the schematic design submission, as shared with SBC on August 4, 2025, to the MSBA, with a total project budget of $659,746,834 regarding the Lexington High School project, Ms. Cuthbertson seconded. Mr. Freeman took a roll call vote, passed 4-0. C. LA Budget (for informational purposes only; no presentation) CONSENT AGENDA UPDATE Ms. Gaudet returned to the School Committee with information regarding the International Field trips. She consulted with the Middle School Department Head, Cathy Brooks, who oversees both programs, and was informed that the Diamond trip was moved to February to avoid scheduling conflicts with the Clarke trip. The cost is believed to be higher due to the more expensive February activities. They will try to work with the tour company to choose less costly activities. Equity issues about field trips were mentioned again; this topic will be revisited for a bigger conversation at another meeting for further discussion. The vote on this agenda item was postponed. POLICY READINGS Draft policies: a. Graduation and Com etency Determination Folie- First Reading b. Graduation Requirement Folie - First Reading Dr. Hackett, Ms. Gaudet, and Mr. Baker reviewed the policy memos. Mr. Baker spoke about redefining success, student agency, and choice. They encouraged the School Committee to include flexibility in the policies. The deadline for districts to submit their competency determination and graduation requirement policies to the State had been extended from October 31 to December 31. Ms. Cuthbertson and Mr. Freeman discussed having language in the policy about an "opt -out" option for seniors which is currently available at LHS. Mr. Baker spoke about being asked to waive cluster requirements, mainly for students with significant special education needs or those transferring from schools with different standards. He noted that Lexington's requirements are higher than many other districts and suggested that the School Committee discuss the minimum requirements. Ms. Jay stated that she thinks the broader discussion should include flexibility in our requirements while also balancing the aim of making sure students have everything they need to learn in terms of content, skills, and covering the necessary disciplines. Ms. Lenihan stressed that graduation requirements and flexible options should be clear and transparent to parents and students. She suggested allowing more opt -outs and awarding half-year credits to help students who miss time due to illness or other issues. Ms. Lenihan also added that she is excited that students get to take introductory biology and then take AP biology. Dr. Hackett added that the governor has a task force that sent a survey to superintendents to help get a better sense of what graduation requirements should be. The Policy Subcommittee will do further work on these policies. Ms. Lenihan left the meeting at 8:12 PM. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Dr. Hackett reviewed her Superintendent`s Report with the School Committee. The highlights from her report include: • Successful Convocation • LHS won the 2025 National Envirothon championship • National Speech & Debate Association Award • Woven Seasons: A Lexington Tapestry • Director of Health Services, Doreen Crowe joining our team • High School Building project • Lots of summer work updates; one piece of work is around the Mamoon vs. Taylor Supreme Court decision 101LTA lLTA III L1Ik &I:j:1N No speakers POSSIBLE ACTION ITEMS Items added: • No items were added, and the School Committee will discuss at their upcoming retreat. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Cuthbertson made a motion to adjourn at 8:18 PM, Mr. Freeman seconded, passed 4-0.