Meeting Recap: 12/2/24

Agenda | Video

1. Commendations for the Medford rowing team

2. Consent agenda approved

3. Approval of minutes from DEI subcommittee + discussion of the timeline for creating and hiring a school-based DEI director position (to be continued in an upcoming meeting)

4. Approval of minutes from strategic planning subcommittee

5. Superintendent’s update & comments - Thanksgiving, fundraisers & food drives, football victory & season accomplishments, marching band tree & wreath sale, band & orchestra concerts next week, Wednesday half-day, kindergarten registration (opens on January 2)

6. Drive in Control safety course - description of the partnership and its history, the program and some fascinating/alarming statistics

7. Acceptance of donation from Medford Education Foundation for educator grants and thanks to supporters, plus a preview of the next donation coming next meeting. Funded projects include a community read, an author visit, an after school cooking club, and support for student travel.

8. Medford High Bathroom update [this began at 7:34 - about 1 hour into the regular meeting and 2.25 into the recording] - Following some initial commentary about the prevalence of these discussions among principals and administrators across districts,  the presentation included discussion of signage, in-school announcements, bathroom locations including gender neutral and CTE-side (opening next week), zoned security monitors, improvements, cleaning, HALO detectors, challenges (namely, hallway cameras, plumbing, detectors, and staffing) and the use of free cash from 2019. The committee asked questions about custodial staffing/capacity & cleaning standards, opening more bathrooms, opening B building bathrooms, communication and messaging, diversion programs, ADA compliance, and the relationship between flushing vapes and aforementioned plumbing issues. There was public comment about the key availability and crowding. A resolution was offered (and accepted) to approve the spending of remaining free cash for the proposed improvements and acquisitions in the presentation and include the additional staffing needs as one of the options in the forthcoming supplemental budget request. Passing comments were made about installing vape sensors in the middle schools and the potential implications of proposed federal changes to the FDA on vape availability. The discussion lasted just under an hour; here’s the timestamped recording: https://www.youtube.com/live/53d9Rk8X1OU?si=cNQETy-0jTzyj-iI&t=8336

9. First reading of policy ADF-W re: Water Wellness - After some questions about numbers and protocol timing and an update to the policy review frequency, the first reading was approved. 

10. Condolences & adjournment