May 15, 2025 Meeting

Weymouth School Committee Meeting

MJL Humanities Center | Weymouth High School | 1 Wildcat Way, Weymouth
May 15, 2025 | 7:00 p.m.

Chair: Ms. Tracey Nardone  Vice Chair: Dr. Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw   Secretary: Ms. Mary-Ellen Devine

Ms. Kathy Curran    Ms. Danielle Graziano    Mr. Dana Scott    Mayor Robert Hedlund

Agenda

Pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2025, this meeting will be conducted in person and, as a courtesy, via remote means in accordance with applicable law, extending the provisions originally outlined in Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023. Remote means will include the WETC8 live feed (https://weymouth.tv/video-on-demand/) and the Zoom link below.  Please note that while an option for remote attendance is being provided as a courtesy, the meeting/hearing will not be suspended or terminated if technological problems interrupt the virtual broadcast unless required by law.

To join the meeting via Zoom by computer or internet-enabled phone: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85077389945

I. Call to Order, Pledge of Allegiance, Moment of Silence    7:00 pm

II. Consent Agenda

A. Confirmation of Warrants:   46-2025  Date: 5/12/25  Amount: $700,622.79

B. Approval of Minutes:          Regular Meeting: 5/1/25
                                           Budget Subcommittee Meeting: 5/7/25

III. Student Senate Presentation

IV. Report of Superintendent - Superintendent Melanie Curtin

A. WHS SCRAP Robotics Team

B. Update on Modular Classrooms

V. Subcommittee Reports

A. Budget Sub-Committee - Ms. Danielle Graziano

B. Collective Bargaining Sub-Committee  - Dr. Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw 

C. Policy Sub-Committee - Mr. Dana Scott

D. Athletics Committee - Ms. Mary-Ellen Devine & Dr. Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw

E. Wellness Committee - Dr. Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw

F. SEPAC - Ms. Danielle Graziano 

VI.  Old Business

A. WHS Student Handbook: Second Reading - Ms. Karen Monahan, Ms. Karen Bonner

B. Policy BEDH - Public Comments at School Committee Meetings: Second Reading

C. Superintendent’s Goals & Focus Indicators (Action Requested)

VII. New Business

A. FY26 Fees/Substitute, ESY, and Athletic Event Coverage Rates (Action Requested)

B. Non-Union Benefits (Action Requested)

C. Report: WEA/WPS Health & Safety JLMC - Assistant Superintendent Brian Smith, Ms. Tina Conte,  Mr. Jeremy Burm

VIII. Public Comment         
Public Comment shall be in accordance with Policy BEDH

IX. Announcements

A. Upcoming meetings:

1. Weymouth Annual Town Meeting: May 19, 2025, at 7:30 p.m., Council Chambers, Weymouth Town Hall
2. SEPAC: May 20, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., Zoom
3. Town-Wide Parent Council: May 20, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., Weymouth High School
4. Budget Subcommittee Meeting: June 4, 2025, at 6 p.m., Adams Library
5. Athletics Subcommittee Meeting: June 16, 2025, at 3 p.m., Adams Library

B. Upcoming events: 

1. Weymouth Evening High School Graduation: May 19, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., Weymouth High School
2. Weymouth High School Spring Concert & Art Show, May 21, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., Weymouth High School
3. Memorial Garden Ceremony, May 29, 2025, at 3:45 p.m., Chapman Middle School
4. “Kindergarten, Here I Come,” May 29, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., Weymouth Early Childhood Center
5. Graduation of the Class of 2025, June 7, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., Weymouth High School

X. Adjournment

Next Meeting of the Weymouth School Committee: 
Thursday, June 5, 2025 - 7:00 p.m. School Committee Meeting

 

Meeting Minutes

• Payment of Bills:
  • Confirmation of Warrant: 46-2025 Date: 5/12/25 Amount: $700,622,79
• Approval of Minutes:
  • Regular Meeting: 5/1/25
  • Budget Subcommittee: 5/7/25

Motion by Mrs. Curran to accept the consent agenda. Seconded by Ms. Graziano. Motion unanimously passed.

STUDENT SENATE:

Students Manton Du, Thomas Pham, Avery Galvin, and Tamia Alves-Cardoso gave an update (attached to these minutes) of events, activities, and clubs at WHS.

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT:

Celebration kudos were shared for post grad students who participated in a DECA Life Skills event at Scituate HS. The post grad team performed a skit demonstrating employment etiquette, workplace manners as well as self advocacy. The group was awarded ‘best stage performance’.

-WHS SCRAP Robotics Team
Superintendent Curtin on behalf of Mayor Hedlund honored Robotics Team members and mentors with Mayor’s citations for receiving the New England All Star Rookie Award at the New England Robotics Championship. Citations presented to: Advisor Ryan Despres, Shannon Murphy, Paige Patz, Cameron Moore, Nicolas Kearney, Michael Lincoln, Sean Murphy, Max Nantel, Benson Phan, Yu-Ning Yang, Jasraj Bassra, Lincoln Clark, Amaya Cleversau, and Meya Gavin.

The Robotics Team has been invited to the State House by Representative Murphy on June 5, 2025.

Students demonstrated the aquatic robot that they built from scrap, recycled, and donated materials.

The committee congratulated and thanked the students for attending and their exhibit.

-Modular Classrooms
As discussed in a previous budget sub meeting, Assistant Superintendent Smith shared that the Town has appropriated ~$4.5M for 7 modular classrooms; Hamilton (3), Nash (2), and Wessagusset (2) for 5th grade classes. Projected cost of the project is ~$4.3M (remaining funds for contingencies). Site work has begun. Aries Building Systems has been awarded the contract. Classrooms are being constructed, will be placed in July, and move-in will be in August. Modular classrooms will be connected to buildings via a canopy, while Wessagusset will also have fencing and a security camera.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT

Members attend other meetings outside of school committee days. Updates of other committees:

a. Budget Sub-Committee - Danielle Graziano
Topics covered at the 5/7 meeting: modular classrooms, contracts/procurement, FY26 budget planning, fees, and non union benefits. Next meeting will be 6/4/25.

b. Collective Bargaining Sub-Committee - Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw
Negotiations with SEIU cafeteria workers will begin 5/21/25.

c. Policy Sub-Committee - Dana Scott
2nd reading of Policy BEDH will be later on the agenda

d. Athletics Sub-Committee - Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw & Mary-Ellen Devine
Next meeting 6/16/25 @ 3:00 pm Adams Library

e. Wellness Committee - Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw
No updates at this time

f. SEPAC - Danielle Graziano
Annual elections will be held 5/20 via zoom. A sensory friendly table will be available at the 8th grade dance on June 15, 2025.

OLD BUSINESS

a. WHS Student Handbook-Second Reading-Ms. Monahan & Ms. Bonner
Principals Monahan and Bonner apologized for the manner in which the attendance buyback was rolled out.

Buyback data analysis (attached to these minutes) was reviewed and discussed at length. Concern was expressed for accountability and students taking advantage of the program. Opinion was shared that students have many offense opportunities available before the buyback option (which does not buy the lesson back) and that students and teachers need to be present in the classroom. The committee conveyed mixed support for the buyback program and requested more data, survey responses, and feedback from a parent or student. The chair expressed possible support for a pilot program for the 2025-26 school year. The WHS handbook will be moved to a third reading.

b. Policy BEDH-Public Comment at School Committee Meetings-Second Reading
Mr. Scott read the policy into the record:

BEDH - PUBLIC COMMENT AT SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETINGS

All regular and special meetings of the School Committee shall be open to the public. Executive sessions will be held only as prescribed by the Statutes of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The School Committee desires individuals to attend its meetings so that they may become better acquainted with the operations and the programs of our local public schools. In addition, the Committee would like the opportunity to hear public comment.

Public comment is an individual's opportunity to express an opinion on issues within the School Committee's jurisdiction. All remarks will be addressed through the Chairperson and nothing prohibits the Chair from responding to any statements made during public comment.

To ensure the ability of the School Committee to conduct the District's business in an orderly manner, the following rules and procedures are adopted:

1. Speakers will be allowed up to three (3) minutes to present their material and must begin their comments by stating their name and city/town. The presiding Chair may permit extension of this time limit, in extenuating circumstances.

2. Comments and complaints regarding specific school personnel (apart from the Superintendent) or students are prohibited.

3. All speakers are encouraged to present their remarks in a respectful manner. The Chair of the meeting, after a warning, reserves the right to terminate speech which is not constitutionally protected because it constitutes true threats that are likely to provoke a violent reaction and cause a breach of the peace, or incitement to imminent lawless conduct.

4. Written comments longer than three (3) minutes may be presented to the presiding Chair before or after the meeting. All remarks will be addressed through the Chair of the meeting. Comments made during the public comment portion of the meeting do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Weymouth School Committee.

5. As this is a public business meeting of the School Committee, the Chairperson is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the policies of the School Committee are being followed during public meetings and that the Committee is following the agenda.

Discussion was had regarding #2 and ‘specific’ school personnel or students. Worry was expressed that identities could inadvertently be revealed in certain populations.

Policy BEDH will be moved to a 3rd reading.

Public comment was opened for WHS handbook and Policy BEDH.

-Kim Ferreira, 105 Charles Diersch
Shared her opinion that policy language (#2) could be tightened up regarding school and student personnel.

-Ashley Dickerman, 846 Pleasant St. Suggested bringing the attendance buyback to WHS school council as well as collecting attendance data prior to the pilot program. She confirmed that Hamilton, Nash, and Wessagusset families have been communicated with and are aware of modular classrooms.

c. Superintendent Goals & Focus Indicators (action requested)
The word ‘balanced’ has been replaced with ‘sustained’ regarding the budget.

Motion by Mr. Scott to approve the Superintendent goals and focus indicators. Seconded by Ms. Graziano. Motion passed unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS

a. FY26 Fees/Substitute, ESY, and athletic game coverage rates (action requested)
Presented at previous budget sub committee meetings, fee’s (except for athletics and WHS dues) will be increased 5% netting ~$100K to help balance the budget. ESY rates will have an increase of 2.5%. Athletic game worker rates have existed however not been memorialized till now.

Motion by Mr. Scott and seconded by Ms. Graziano to approve the FY26 Fees, substitute rates, ESY, and athletic event coverage rates for the 2025-26 school year. Motion carried unanimously.

b. Non-Union Benefits (action requested)
With roles added to the Unit D CBA, the non union contract had to be updated as well as language aligned to CBAs.

Motion by Mr. Scott to approve the Non-Union benefits. Motion seconded by Ms. Graziano, and passed unanimously.

c. Report: WEA/WPS Health & Safety JLMC-Assistant Superintendent Smith, Ms. Conte, and Mr. Burm
Mr. Smith, Ms. Conte, and Mr. Burm expressed their thanks for the collaboration of administrators and WEA members for the important work done. The annual health and safety report (attached to these minutes) was reviewed. Update of action items, staff safety, training and PD was given.

Request was made for SEPAC to see the calming spaces at Hamilton & Wessagusset.

PUBLIC COMMENT

In accordance with Policy BEDH.

There was none.

Suggestion was made to share with Principal Monahan the public comment of bringing the attendance buyback to the school council.

Announcements:

A. Upcoming meetings:

1. Weymouth Annual Town Meeting: May 19, 2025, at 730 p.m., Council Chambers, Weymouth Town Hall
2. SEPAC: May 20, 2025, at 700 p.m., Zoom
3. Town-Wide Parent Council: May 20, 2025, at 700 p.m., Weymouth High School
4. Budget Subcommittee Meeting: June 4, 2025, at 6 p.m., Adams Library
5. Athletics Subcommittee Meeting: June 16, 2025, at 3 p.m., Adams Library

B. Upcoming events:

1. Weymouth Evening High School Graduation: May 19, 2025, at 630 p.m., Weymouth High School
2. Weymouth High School Spring Concert & Art Show, May 21, 2025, at 630 p.m., Weymouth High School
3. Memorial Garden Ceremony, May 29, 2025, at 345 p.m., Chapman Middle School
4. “Kindergarten, Here I Come,” May 29, 2025, at 500 p.m., Weymouth Early Childhood Center
5. Graduation of the Class of 2025, June 7, 2025, at 1000 a.m., Weymouth High School

Next School Committee Meeting:
Regular Meeting: Thursday, June 5, 2025 - 7:00pm

The Meeting adjourned at 8:44pm on the motion by Ms. Graziano and seconded by Mr. Scott. Motion passed unanimously.

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Meeting MateriaLS

• Print-friendly Agenda
• Student Senate Presentation
• WHS Handbook Changes
• WHS Attendance Buyback Data Analysis
• Policy BEDH: Proposed Language & Legal Recommendations with Changes Tracked
• Superintendent's Goals & Focus Indicators
• WPS Proposed School Fees FY26
• Draft FY26 Substitute Pay Rates
• Draft Extended School Year (ESY) Hourly Rates
• Athletics Game Workers FY26 Pay Grid
• Non-Union Employee Personnel Benefits FY26
• WEA/WPS Health & Safety JLMC Report