Holyoke School Committee Meeting, December 18, 2023

MEETING NOTICE

 

SCHOOL COMMITTEE AGENDA

 

DATE: December 18, 2023

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).    

 

On March 29, 2023, Governor Healey signed into law An Act Relative to Extending Certain State

of Emergency Accommodations, which, among other things, extends the expiration of the

provisions pertaining to the Open Meeting Law to March 31, 2025. Specifically, this extension

allows public bodies to continue holding meetings remotely without a quorum of the public body

physically present at a meeting location, and to provide “adequate, alternative” access to remote

meetings. The Act does not make any new changes to the Open Meeting Law other than

extending the expiration date of the temporary provisions regarding remote meetings from

March 31, 2023, to March 31, 2025. 

 

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 December 18, 2023.

 

• 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 – Opportunity AcademyOpportunity Academy

• PUBLIC COMMENT- Members of the public wishing to submit public comments can email sgubala@hps.holyoke.ma.us no later than 3:00 p.m. Monday, December 18, 2023.

1. 1. 1. Comments will either be displayed or read during the meeting.

• COMMUNICATION & REPORTS:

• STUDENT REPORTS 

1. 1. 1. HHS North Campus
      2. HHS Dean Campus

 

• VICE-CHAIR REPORTS

1. 1. Recognition of School Committee Member
      1. Letter of Appreciation
   2. Swearing in ceremony and Organizational Meeting
   3. Plaque Presentation to Ed Caisse

 

• Superintendent/ Receiver Reports

1. 1. Q1 StepBack
   2. 2025 School Calendar
   3. School Committee Bios

 

• NEW BUSINESS 

1. 225 High Street (Tabled from last meeting)
2. Policies for Review
   1. CHCA- Approval of Handbooks and Directives
   2. CA- Administration Goals
   3. ACAB- Sexual Harassment 
   4. CH Policy Implementation
   5. DA Fiscal Management Goals
   6. DB-Annual Budget
   7. DBC- Budget Deadlines and Schedules (NEW)
   8. DBD- Budget Planning
   9. DBF- Public Budget Planning
   10. DEC- Federal Funds Supplement not Supplant Policy
3. School Committee Packet Question – Receive 24 or 48 business hours before meeting
4. Sub Committee Packets – SubCommittee only or Full Committee

 

• ONGOING BUSINESS 

1. 1. Approval of Meeting Minutes
      1.  11.20.23 Meeting Minutes
   2. Updates from Sub-Committees
      1. Policy
         1. 2.6.2023 Policy Sub Committee Minutes for approval 
         2. 5.8.2023 Policy Sub Committee Minutes for approval
         3. 9.27.2023 Policy Sub Committee Minutes for approval
         4. Admin. Asst Job Description 
         5. Policies Already posted for public viewing on 2/24/23 (For SC recommendations to Receiver to Adopt)
            1. AC AC-R – Non-Discrimination
            2. GCF – Professional Staff Hiring
            3. JBA/JICK – Student-to-Student Harassment / Harassment of Students
            4. JH – Student Absences and Excuses
            5. JICA – Student Dress
            6. CHD – Admin in Policy Absence
      2. Finance Subcommittee

1.10.18.2023 Finance Sub Committee Minutes

1. Joint City Council/School Committee

1. 4.6.23 Joint Committee meeting minutes

1. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Sub-Committee
   1. 9.13.2023 – DEI Sub Comm Minutes
   2. 10.11.2023- DEI Sub Comm Minutes 

1. Attendance/Chronic Absenteeism Update (FYI)
2. Middle school building update (FYI)
3. Staffing Update (FYI – Includes impact on SPED Services)
4. Out-of-State Field Trips (N/A)
5. Student Activity Approval (N/A) 
6. Teacher Retention Working Group Update
7. Referral / Discipline Data (FYI)

 

• ANNOUNCEMENTS 

1. 1. SEPAC Holiday Event – Holyoke Merry Go Round- December 19, 2023 5:30-7:00 pm 
   2. Middle School Building Committee meeting December 21, 2023 at 6:00 pm 
   3. DPAC meeting on January 19, 2024, at 6:00 pm 

 

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 Sam Garcia, in care of the Receiver’s Office, 57 Suffolk Street, Holyoke, MA  01040.