Holyoke School Committee Meeting, May 12, 2025
6:00pm - 7:00pm Fifield Room @ William J Dean Technical High School
1045 MAIN ST , Holyoke, Ma 01040
MEETING NOTICE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE AGENDA
DATE: May 12, 2025
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Fifield Room, HOLYOKE HIGH DEAN CAMPUS, 1045 MAIN ST, HOLYOKE, MA 01040
Members of the public can access the meeting here: https://hps-holyoke-ma-us.zoom.us/j/85266232176?pwd=ci9tWEs3cG81SkQxdXZrWW5GenBXQT09
(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 MAY 12, 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 – Kelly School
- 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, May 12, 2025.
- Comments will either be displayed or read during the meeting.
- COMMUNICATION AND REPORTS
- Student Reports
- HHS North
- HHS Dean Campus
- Superintendent’s Report
- Presentation of FY26 Balanced Budget
- Q3 Update on Progress towards Benchmarks / Goals
- Vice Chair Report
- Ratification of the interim superintendent contract
- NEW BUSINESS
- Out of State Field Trips
o RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to accept the out of state field trip to High Meadows, Granby, Connecticut on June 6, 2025.
o RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to accept the out of state field trip to Quassy Amusement and Water Park, Middlebury, Connecticut on June 10, 2025.
o RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to accept the out of state field trip to High Meadows, Grandy, Connecticut on June 2, 2025.
o RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to accept the out of state field trip to Liberty Bank Pavilion, Hartford, Connecticut on May 29, 2025.
o RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to accept the out of state field trip to Connecticut Science Museum, Hartford, Connecticut on May 23, 2025.
o RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to refer budget transfer for review to the Finance and Operations Subcommittee.
- Orders
o Introduced by Committee Member Mr. Whelihan to have the Superintendent and Police Department discuss school resource officers for the new Peck Middle School.
o RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee refer the order to the Joint City/ School Subcommittee.
o Introduced by Committee Member Mr. Whelihan to have
Letter of recognition for Athletic Director Melanie Martin
Letter of recognition for PVETA Award Winners
o RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee draft a letter to send in recognition to Athletic Director Melanie Martin and PVETA Award Winners.
- Approval of Meeting Minutes
o RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to accept and approve the meeting minutes of 2.27.25 Finance and Operations Meeting Minutes
- Updates of Committees
- Policy and Governance Subcommittee
- Finance and Operations Subcommittee
- Joint City Council/School Committee
- Local Control Subcommittee
- Leadership, Accountability and Measurement Subcommittee
- ONGOING BUSINESS
- Legal Counsel RFP update
- The legal services request for proposals was emailed to all attorneys that are members of the Massachusetts Council of School Attorneys except for ones that were departments of municipalities. Proposals are due by May 22, 2025 and will be reviewed by the School Committee or an appointed review committee. The reviewers will select which attorneys they recommend for interviews which are tentatively scheduled for June 9, 2025. The School Committee will then make a final selection.
- RECOMMENDATION: That the Vice Chair appoint a member or members to an AdHoc Committee to review proposals that come in for Legal Counsel
- Receiver Evaluation feedback tool
- ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Here are the Spring Sports Senior Nights:
- Volleyball – 5/7 at 5:00 PM
- Tennis – 5/12 at 4:00 PM
- Track – 5/13 at 4:00 PM
- Baseball – 5/14 at 6:00 PM
- Softball – 5/15 at 6:00 PM
- May 15th, “ROCKET INTO READING” from 5pm-7pm at Holyoke Library
- May 29th, Dean Graduation at 5:30pm, Dean Gym, 2025 Dean Senior Activities
- May 30th, Holyoke High Graduation at 6pm, Robert’s Field, 2025 HHS Senior Activities
MEETING NOTICE of EXECUTIVE SESSION
SCHOOL COMMITTEE AGENDA
DATE: May 12, 2025
TIME: 7:00 PM
LOCATION: Fifield Room, HOLYOKE HIGH DEAN CAMPUS, 1045 MAIN ST, HOLYOKE, MA 01040
- CALL TO ORDER ~ ROLL CALL ~
Not open to the public because an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body for the purpose of the Holyoke Teachers Association contract.
- NEW BUSINESS
- Updates regarding collective bargaining