Holyoke School Committee Meeting, September 8,2025

MEETING NOTICE

SCHOOL COMMITTEE AGENDA

 

DATE: September 8, 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 SEPTEMBER 8, 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, September 8, 2025.

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

 

4. COMMUNICATION AND REPORTS
5. Student Reports

• HHS North
  • Heriberto Morales
  • Kiersten St. Laurence
• HHS Dean Campus
  • Joerised Vega

 

1. Superintendent’s Report

• Administrative Councils, Cabinets, Committees, and Work Groups
  • Per Policy CE – The Superintendent may establish such permanent or temporary councils, cabinets, and committees as he/she deems necessary for assuring staff participation in decision making, for implementing policies and regulations and for the improvement of the educational program…. The membership, composition, and responsibilities of administrative councils, cabinets, and committees will be defined by the Superintendent and may be changed at his/her discretion. However, the School Committee wishes to be kept informed of the establishment and dissolution of these groups as well as their membership and their purpose.
• Back To School Update

 

5. NEW BUSINESS 

1.  Budget Transfer and Reports

•  Grants & Gifts Approval

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

• Warrant Approval Report

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

1. Updates of Committees 

• Policy and Governance Subcommittee
• Finance and Operations Subcommittee
• Joint City Council/School Committee
• Local Control Subcommittee
• Leadership, Accountability and Measurement Subcommittee

6. ONGOING BUSINESS

• Superintendent search update: request for information from four firms with expertise in superintendent searches
• Final Draft of Student and Family Handbook
  • Summary of Changes Student and Family Handbook
• Final Draft of Employee Handbook 
• Policies to refer 
  • AC NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY INCLUDING HARASSMENT AND RETALIATION
  • ACA NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEX
  • ACAB SEXUAL HARASSMENT

o   RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to refer above policies to the Policy and Governance Subcommittee for review. 

• Policy for Discussion 
  • ADF Holyoke School District’s Wellness Policies on Physical Activity and Nutrition
  • BBA SCHOOL COMMITTEE POWERS AND DUTIES
• Final Reading 
  • BDD SCHOOL COMMITTEE-SUPERINTENDENT RELATIONSHIP
  • BDE SUBCOMMITTEES OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
  •  BDF ADVISORY COMMITTEES TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE

o   RECOMMENDATION: That the School Committee vote to approve as a final  reading, and to adopt policies to be effective as of September 8, 2025. 

7. ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Sept 23rd, Kelly Elementary School Open House at 4pm-6pm 
• Sept 24th, McMahon Open House at 3:45pm-5pm, McMahon School
• Sept 24th, Peck Middle School Open House at 4pm-5:30pm
• Sept 24th, E.N. White Open House at 5pm-6pm 
• Sept 29th, School Committee Meeting at 6pm-7pm