Holyoke School Committee Meeting, August 25, 2025
MEETING NOTICE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE AGENDA
DATE: August 25, 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 AUGUST 25, 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 – NA
- 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, August 25, 2025.
- Comments will either be displayed or read during the meeting.
- COMMUNICATION AND REPORTS
- Student Reports
- HHS North
- HHS Dean Campus
- Superintendent’s Report
- Student Activity Accounts – SEE MEMO
- Budget Transfer for SPED Contracted Services – SEE Transfer
- Final State Budget FY 26 Adjustment – See Memo
- NEW BUSINESS
- Holyoke Engagement Letter 8.19.25
- Out of State Field Trips
- Aurora Institute Symposium
o RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to accept the out of state field trip for Holyoke High School North Campus attend the Aurora Institute Symposium, in New Orleans, LA on October 25th-October 28th, 2025.
- Out of State Travel
- Attending the ASHA Convention in Washington, DC, this November will provide Holyoke Public Schools with a rare, high-impact opportunity to address one of our most urgent staffing needs—recruiting and retaining qualified speech-language pathologists. This event attracts thousands of practicing professionals, graduate students, and university leaders, enabling us to recruit directly for current vacancies, establish long-term talent pipelines, and promote HPS as an equity-focused, student-centered employer. Participation will also keep us informed of licensure updates, policy changes, and best practices that directly affect candidate eligibility and retention strategies. By attending, we will not only expand our pool of high-quality candidates but also strengthen the support that keeps them in our schools—improving outcomes for the students we serve.
o RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to approve and authorize out-of-state travel for Christie Elman, Director of Recruitment to attend American Speech Language Association Convention in Washington D.C. from November 19th-22nd, 2025.
- Budget Transfer and Reports
o RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to approve the budget transfer of $67,250 for transfer of funds from contingency to contracted services to pay for security and coordination improvements between HPS and the Holyoke Police Department and for $639,928 for the transfer funds from vacant positions for (3 FTE) speech language pathologist and psychologists to contracted services to acquire services from outside vendors.
o RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee accept gifts and grants received.
o RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to receive the warrants as listed above.
- 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
Student Handbook Legal Review SY25-26 Family Handbook-Draft
- ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Aug 27th, Morgan Back to School Family Event at 3:30pm-4:30pm
- Sept 2nd, Peck Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 4:15pm at Peck Middle School, 1916 Northampton St, Tours will be available at 5pm that same day.
- Sept 8th, School Committee Meeting at 6pm, Fifield Room, Dean Campus
- Sept 23rd, Kelly Elementary School Open House at 4pm-6pm
- Sept 24th, McMahon Open House at 3:45pm-5pm, McMahon School
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