Holyoke School Committee Meeting, November 3, 2025

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MEETING NOTICE

SCHOOL COMMITTEE AGENDA

 

DATE: November 3, 2025

TIME: 6:00 PM

LOCATION: Fifield Room, HOLYOKE HIGH DEAN CAMPUS, 1045 MAIN ST, HOLYOKE, MA 01040

 

https://hps-holyoke-ma-us.zoom.us/j/85287777627

Members of the public can access the meeting here:  

(Spanish Interpretation will be available).    

Today, March 29, 2025 Governor Maura Healey signed into law bodies to H.62, as amended by S.2506 (which contains the final form of the bill), entitled “An act Relative to Extending Certain COvid-19 Measures Adopted during the State of Emergency” (“ACT). Of interest to all governmental public bodies in Massachusetts, the Act extends until June, 2027, the authority for meetings of multiple-member bodies to be held in an entirely remote or hybrid format. All public bodies may hold fully remote or hybrid meetings, without the physical presence of a quorum of the public body, as long as “adequate, alternative means” of public access is also provided. 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 28 OF THE ACTS OF 2009, SECTIONS 17-20 (FORMERLY SECTION 23B OF CHAPTER 39) OF THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL LAWS, THAT A REGULAR MEETING OF THE HOLYOKE SCHOOL COMMITTEE WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3, 2025. 

• CALL TO ORDER ~ ROLL CALL ~ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

• Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, s. 20, I am hereby informing all attendees that a video and audio recording is being made of the meeting and the meeting is being live-streamed and run live on the City’s community TV channel. 

• STUDENT SHOWCASE –  HHSN- Students and staff who attended the Aurora Institute Symposium in New Orleans

 

• PUBLIC COMMENT- Members of the public wishing to submit public comments can email ifeliciano@hps.holyoke.ma.us no later than 3:00 p.m. Monday, November 3, 2025. 

• Comments will either be displayed or read during the meeting.

 

4. COMMUNICATION AND REPORTS
5. Student Reports

• HHS North
• HHS Dean Campus

1. Superintendent’s Report

• MOU Donation of Vehicles 
  • City Solicitor email on City Council approval

 

RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee allow the District to move forward with the FUEL program and by approving this partnership we accept any future donations of vehicles from the Hampden District Attorney’s Vehicle Donation Program

 

• Draft Fieldtrip Procedures
  • Per policy IJOA fieldtrip guidelines and procedures should be developed by the Administration and reviewed and approved by the School Committee
    • Changes include athletic events and CTE shops

 

RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee approve the field trip guidelines and procedures in the attached document

 

• Proposal on AI Working Group
  • Background on the need to establish guidance
  • Support in development of an AI Policy

 

RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee allow the District to work with the Collaborative for Education Services to work with the Districts AI Working group to emerge with guidance for staff and students on the use of AI and to work on a draft policy that would come back to the School Committee for adoption

 

• Principal Compensation Model

 

RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee approve the Principal Compensation Guidance attached that will take effect for the School Year 2026-2027 

 

5. NEW BUSINESS 

1. Out of State Field Trips- None 
2. Out of State Travel 

• Purpose and Rationale for Brooklyn Landmark School Visit- The leadership team is requesting permission to travel to Brooklyn Landmark Elementary School for a one-day learning visit. Brooklyn Landmark serves a student population with demographics closely aligned to Morgan and has achieved exceptional results — 80% ELA proficiency and 76% Math proficiency. Our team was personally invited by Dr. T.S. Hoard, my Relay Graduate School of Education coach, who has been coaching me and our leadership team through the HPS partnership with Relay, now in its second consecutive year. Dr. Hoard also serves as the coach for Brooklyn Landmark and identifies it as an exemplary model of effective instructional leadership and student-centered practices. The purpose of this visit is to observe high-impact instructional practices, school-wide systems, and leadership routines that have contributed to Landmark’s consistent success. Throughout the day, our team will engage in classroom observations, structured debriefs with staff, and a “turn-key” planning session to determine how these practices can be adapted and implemented at Morgan. Travel Team: Ideally, the visiting team would include the Principal, Assistant Principal, Math Coach, and ELA Coach. However, the Math Coach cannot attend due to childcare constraints. If the full team (Principal, Assistant Principal, and ELA Coach) is not approved to attend, the Principal and ELA Coach would be the primary participants. This visit represents an important opportunity for professional learning, allowing our leadership team to gain firsthand insight into proven instructional and leadership models, strengthen our coaching and support systems, and accelerate our progress toward Morgan’s school improvement goals.

• Agenda: <Morgan> Agenda for Travel to Brooklyn Landmark Elementary – 12/9-12/10/25
• Travel Forms for Morgan 

o   RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to approve and authorize out-of-state travel for Sacha Garcia-Mailloux, Principal, Julie Griffin-Pluta, ELA Expert Teacher, and Ryan Carrie, Assistant Principal to attend visit to Brooklyn Landmark Elementary School in Brooklyn, NY on December 10, 2025.

1.  Budget Transfers and Reports 

• Grants & Gifts 11.3.25

RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee accept gifts and grants received.

• Budget Transfers 

o   RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee approve the budget transfers in the attached memo. 

• Warrants 

o   RECOMMENDATION:  That the School Committee vote to accept the report of warrants approved as listed above. 

1. Approval of Meeting Minutes

o   RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to accept and approve the meeting minutes of  8.25.25 School Committee Meeting Minutes.

o   RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to accept and approve the meeting minutes of  9.8.25 School Committee Meeting Minutes. 

o   RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to accept and approve the meeting minutes of  9.29.25 School Committee Meeting Minutes.

o   RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to accept and approve the meeting minutes of 10.6.25 School Committee Meeting Minutes. 

o   RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to accept and approve the meeting minutes of 10.14.25 School Committee Meeting Minutes.

1. Updates of Committees 

• Policy and Governance Subcommittee
• Finance and Operations Subcommittee
  • Student Activity Clean Up 2025

o   RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to approve the current list of active student activity clubs and programs included in the attachment. 

• Joint City Council/School Committee
• Local Control Subcommittee
• Leadership, Accountability and Measurement Subcommittee
  •  Memo SY25-26 Proposed Goals 

o   RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to approve the Superintendent Goals as presented in the attached memo.  

6. ONGOING BUSINESS

1. Update on Superintendent Search
   • Glenn Koocher Presentation/ Discussion 
   • Discussion of composition of search committee 
2. Policy updates/ Removal/ Addition 
   • First Read 

• DKC- Expense Reimbursement 
• DK- Payment Procedures
• DJ- Purchasing 
• DBJ- Budget Adoption Procedures

 o   RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to receive recommended changes to above policies and recommend that the Interim Superintendent review recommended changes and post above policies for feedback/comments for two weeks.

• DEC- Federal Funds Supplement not Supplant Policy 

o   RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to approve as a final  reading, and to adopt policies to be effective as of November 3, 2025. 

• Remove Policy 

• DBF- Public Budget Hearing 
• DH- Bonded Employees and Officers 

o   RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to remove policies from the manual effective November 3, 2025. 

1. Delegate Voting 

•  2025 MASC Resolutions 

o   RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee allow the appointed delegation to vote in the best interest of Holyoke Public Schools. 

 

7. ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Nov 5th at 5:30 pm, Lawrence School Cafeteria, Lawrence Presents: PreK Family Event/ Raising a Reader 
• Nov 7th Lawrence Presents: Spirit Day/ Flannel Day
• Nov 7th at 8:50am to 9:30 am Lawrence Presents Grades 3-5, Rally Celebrating Students and from 10:10 am to 10:40 am grades K-2
• Nov 10th from 8am-3pm Lawrence Families Conference.  
• Nov 10th at 6pm, District Parent Advisory Council on Zoom.
  • https://hps-holyoke-ma-us.zoom.us/j/84849886901?pwd=wKYP4mdENWanagg1NP833aoJHYkQNC.1
    Passcode:994341

 

The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.* The Holyoke Public Schools makes available a public discussion period for persons in the audience to address the Committee on specific agenda items. In order to hear as many speakers as possible, the Committee asks individuals to continue their remarks for two (2) minutes. Any person wishing to submit longer testimony should give copies to the Committee Secretary before the meeting so that they may be distributed to Committee members. The speaker can then summarize this testimony at the meeting within the two (2) minute time period. Persons wishing to speak should register with the Committee Secretary immediately before the meeting begins. Individuals who request specific items to be included on the Committee’s agenda should mail a written request fifteen (15) days in advance of a Committee meeting date to Irene Feliciano, 57 Suffolk Street, Holyoke, MA 01040