Meeting Recap: 4/13/26

Last night’s meeting was shorter than I expected, given the topics slated for discussion. I know at least one of them has been a hot button issue so if you’re heading to the comments to share your thoughts, please be respectful. As always, I speak for no one but myself.  

Agenda | Recording | Transcript

1. Mustang Moment featuring winners and honorable mentions from last week’s Science Fair/Exposition at Medford High School (MHS). Congratulations to all—what fun to see their hard work on display and the intersection of science with so many other fields of interest (music, sustainability, baseball, etc.), and thank you to the various sponsors, judges, and project advisors/science teachers! 

2. Chad Fallon, Executive Director of Career & Technical Education (CTE) at MHS presented updates to the lottery/enrollment process for CTE programs based on feedback from DESE. Most of these were clarifications on existing content; the only addition was a passage about follow-up post-enrollment to ensure the placements were working out. Mr. Fallon also shared the results of this year’s lottery: 276 entries for 200 seats, with 90% of students getting one of their top two programs, with construction, electrical, health assisting, and film/video production having the highest wait list. The Mayor asked how many out-of-district students we have enrolled (5, 4 of whom are graduating this year, and no plans to open any of our programs up beyond MHS students. Member Graham asked about potential weighting processes (Medford does not weight as the DESE-recommended weighting factors were around attendance, discipline, and participation in an open house type event designed for regional programs rather than in-district) and how to give students the opportunity to articulate interest and intention to participate. Mr. Fallon shared a few options (one of which, asking students to apply in eighth grade, the committee vigorously opposed as evidenced by the head shaking in the room) and described a new post-rotation week of career-focused explorations to support students in envisioning the path forward for their anticipated top choice programs. I asked about lessons learned from this year’s lottery, communication, and end-of-year pathways for students who opt not to enter the lottery and enroll in a CTE program. This year’s offering—a deeper dive into three of the programs—will likely be replaced by semester-based electives or study periods next year. Ultimately, the revised document was approved.  

3. Dr. Galusi shared her intention to enter conversations with unions and community members to collaboratively revise the school calendar for next year in light of three “pieces of feedback” from this year, namely, placement of PD days, staffing challenges on Good Friday, and snow days. Her presentation included a summary of the constraints the district is working with (including late Labor Day, DESE mandates, and a hard school year stop of June 30) and her next steps: Conversations with the union & a dedicated committee to look carefully at the calendar; Community feedback; Review of protocols around religious absences. Following these actions, she will report back to the school committee. Member Graham spoke about the policy creation process, belonging and being seen, the equity issues around Eid al Adha (Rosh Hashanah falls on a weekend next school year) if Good Friday is “restored” as a no-school day (which Dr. Galusi intends to do) and some proposals she has heard from folks about where these days could be found (Friday before Labor Day, Juneteenth observance, 12/23 early release day, starting earlier in August). She also expressed a desire to bring some of the conversation out in the open, rather than simply behind closed doors with union leadership, and provided some feedback on how we list various holidays and observances on the second page of our public calendar. Member Parks reiterated the importance of avoiding “sudden decisions” and asked Dr. Galusi for a timeline and preferred feedback format (TBD on the latter, but hoping for May for the former). I asked if there were any assurances that could be given about things that were not subject to change, given the planning that families and staff have already done around the start of school and school breaks), urged the committee to project ahead to future years, consider extracurricular schedules (athletics and arts in particular) and to look at what other districts do in the context of their specific community demographics. I also reiterated the need for increased education around how religions are observed, and thanked folks who have already provided feedback on these issues. Medford Teachers Association president Anthony Geehan spoke on behalf of the union to say that there was no directive to staff to take Good Friday off, that they support it being a day off next year, that they are committed to fostering belonging and reducing animosity, and that they look forward to working with Dr. Galusi and others. 

4. We tabled the summary of term objectives from our January retreat. 

5. We reviewed the changes to our school committee rules—mostly cleaning up language and punctuation, but a few changes to the summer schedule (1 meeting each in July and August, to be cancelled if not needed), student representative participation (codifying my resolutions we approved at the end of the last term), timing of materials delivery to school committee members in advance of meetings, and a few tweaks to roles and responsibilities (e.g., changing “Mayor” to “Chair” to reflect the new charter, designating note-takers and contract-signers for various actions). Member Ruseau will bring the updated document to a future meeting for formal adoption. 

6. Adjournment! Next meeting is currently scheduled for April 29 on Zoom, but there are some building committee meetings and community forums before then. We’ll be back in chambers on May 4 (Star Wars Day!).