Salem School Committee Meeting - January 26th, 2026

001All right, it is 7 o'clock um and we have a quorum. So, we will go ahead and get started. I'll call to order the meeting of the Salem School Committee of January 26, 2026. This meeting is taking place via Zoom. The meeting link can be found in the meeting agenda posted online. Uh all meeting all votes of this meeting will be taken by roll call vote. Uh our first item on the agenda is approval of the agenda. >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> Under discussion. Seeing none, roll call vote. Member Cornell. >> Yes. >> Member Sto. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Member bias. Yes, >> I don't believe member Miranda has joined us yet. Uh, yes, for me. Member Manning is also not with us. So, the agenda is approved. Public comment. The Salem School

002Committee would like to hear from the public on issues that affect the school district and are within the scope of the committee's responsibilities. Spanish interpretation is available for anyone who needs it. The members of the school committee would like to remind the public that Salem public school students regularly attend school committee meetings. We encourage all meeting participants to model respectful and productive public discourse for our young learners. Uh if you wish to provide comment, please use the raise hand function and uh someone will unmute you. >> Yes. Uh Adam, >> how you doing? Thank you. Can you hear me? >> Yep, we can hear you. >> Great. >> Um, uh, I just want to speak for a second uh, for myself as an educator, a parent, and the PTO president of Salt and Saw kind

003of with a brief comment about the renaming of the merge, the new merged K-35 school. Um, I want to offer a perspective about how a school name lives beyond a vote or document. I've also done some branding work, so I tend to think about how names and identities translate into everyday use for families and kids. I'm speaking tonight because the name you ch you choose isn't just a label on a building. It becomes part of a child's identity. It's what they say in the first day of kindergarten and what they wear in a sweatshirt, what they carry with them for years. I just kind of want to share a different lens real quickly. For a few for a few months each year, I help out in downtown in Salem's tourism industry. And through that work,

004I'm reminded of something again and again. Millions of people visit Salem every year, but most of them never see the Salem our kids live in. When I take visitors to places like Pioneer Village or Max and Danny's house, I often breathe them through the Point neighborhood. That short stretch only a few blocks from downtown is one of the places where Salem changes, where it stops being of being a postcard and becomes the community. I talk about the neighborhoods, the murals, the families, and the diversity that defines the city beyond a single narrative. When we pass salt and salt, I'll often say proudly, "That's where my kids go." And talk about our public schools and the diversity that exists within them. And the reaction is always the same. A pause, a real real surprise, and then

005wait, really? Or, "I had no idea. I've been coming here for years." It's one of those moments where people realize Salem is bigger than the version they came for. With that experience is why I'm drawn to the name Forton Point Elementary School, or close derivative. is grounded in place and reflects a neighborhood that deserves to be valued and seen. It also works in a very human way for young children. The word fort carries an instinctive sense of safety, belonging, and support. A place where you're protected and cared for. That's exactly what we want an elementary school to feel like when a child says it name out loud. Shan Ford's connection to Salem is rooted in education and learning, and that legacy fits naturally within a school setting. More broadly, a name like Fortune Point quietly

006tells a fuller story about the city. One that includes neighborhoods, families, and opportunity. What whatever name is chosen, my hope is simply that a perspective is part that this perspective is part of this conversation. Our name will feel the children how it reflects the community they're growing up in and what it teaches others about sale beyond what's most visible. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Any further public comment, please use the raise hand function. Seeing no additional comment, uh we'll move to the next item on our agenda, which is approval of the consent agenda. These are the minutes of the special school committee meeting of January 5th and the regular school committee meeting of January 5th and approval of the warrants of December uh December 31st and January 15th. Motion to approve. >> Second.

007>> Under discussion. Seeing none, a roll call vote. Member Sto. >> Yes. Can you hear me? Okay. >> Yep. We can hear you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Member Hoffman. >> Yes. >> Miranda. >> Yes. >> Member Bayas. >> Yes. >> Member Cornell. >> Yes. and myself. Yes. Our next item on the agenda is the student representatives report. Cindy, >> good evening everybody. Um, my report for this week is going to be very quick considering that Salem High School was doing midterms last week. So, everybody's been pretty busy studying and taking all their tests. So, we haven't really had the time to meet with the student advisory group yet for this month other than when we met with Dr. Reich. But our work has been progressing a lot. We've had the chance to communicate with

008email and we will be having our meeting when we get back to school. It was supposed to be tomorrow, but there is no school tomorrow. So, it was pushed a little bit. Um, we have met with students that are newcomers at the school to get a more diverse perspective on our project and to sort of focus our direction and to sort of create a pathway for how we're going to go about the program. And we have uncovered a lot of issues and possible help that the newcomer students might need. And we feel very confident with the project. And I'll definitely have a lot more updates to give you guys once we all meet with everybody and I have the chance to get some more voices and some more opinions out. Thank you. >> That's great.

009Thank you, Cindy. Any questions from committee members? >> All right, seeing none, our next item is the superintendent's report. Good evening everybody. Um, I know how disappointed our students are that they have a second snow day tomorrow. Um, after we have gotten the most snow we've seen in a long time uh in Salem. Um, we we obviously think it's the best decision to ensure safety for everyone tomorrow after uh the amount of snow we received. Then we're trying to coordinate with the city and um and our custodial crews to u to ensure that students can get to and from school safely on buses and walking and in cars. But I do want to just shout out our custodial crews. This is a really hard storm to um to address and they've been working hard all

010day uh multiple shifts um and the snow has just kept coming, right? It it continued to snow today. So, I'm just want to express my gratitude to our buildings and grounds crew um who um have done an outstanding job. Um you know, if we we uh it's not because of them that this that we're not able to open schools, it really is going to be because of them that we'll be able to be back in school on Wednesday. So, just want to call them out and if you get a chance, please thank um the crews that have worked so hard um around this storm. Um, obviously it was uh at least a little bit of uh solace that we had a Patriots victory that helped everyone get through on Sunday night. So, um I'm also

011grateful to all I think we had over 50 entries to the snow day challenge um of unbelievable baked goods and different dishes that people made. So, check them out on our Facebook page. I want to really appreciate the creativity of our students and our staff who um who took the time to uh enter the challenge and uh and kept busy during the um the last 24 hours. So, we'll have another challenge for uh tomorrow. Um that people can enter. So, uh thank you again. Um and hopefully we'll be back in school on Wednesday. Um, I do want to start with I think I want to start with the um the school calendar um for the upcoming school year. And so I don't know if Mark uh you can put up the presentation there. Thank you.

012All right. Um, so just um before we get into this um I I probably should have noted this earlier, but um people we now know in Salem when the first day of school will be annually. Um and because parents do ask me about that and I we should reiterate that that since the last contract was um approved with the STU. Uh the earliest that school can start for students is the Thursday before Labor Day. Um, and I think that's generally what we intend to do, um, is to to, uh, start the Thursday before Labor Day, and that will be no different, uh, for this, uh, for this year. Um, Mark, if you want to go to the next slide. Um, so, a couple of things on the proposed calendar in your packet. I believe you

013have the district calendar um for the majority of schools and then Salem High and Salem Prep have just a slight wrinkle um with their early release um uh days on their calendars. Um the only calendar you do not have is the calendar for uh New Liberty and for uh the merge uh Carlton and Salt and Stall schools. uh they wanted to wait to see to have this calendar approved or um you know by the or further along uh by the school committee and then they will s they will work with their staff as innovation schools. Both of them uh both New Liberty and the merged uh Carlton and Sultan schools are um innovation schools so they have the ability for staff to set their calendar. Uh generally it's very similar but they will come back

014to the committee with their um with their proposed calendar. But for the rest of the district the first day of school would be um uh for staff would be August 31st. First day for students in grades 1 to 8 would be on September 3rd which is the Thursday before Labor Day. It also avoids the election, the September election, which I think is important because that I believe is on September 1st and the first day for preK and kindergarten would be on September 10th. Um there Halloween um is on a Saturday this year. So the calendar proposed calendar does not have an adjustment um for Halloween. There was a suggestion to move the October 21st early release day to Friday, October 30th, but uh as of right now, the proposed calendar has October 21st uh sorry,

015October 30th is a full day of school and um because Halloween is on a Saturday. Um again, you will see that there's back-toback uh PD days, a full day followed by half day PD uh in March. Uh that's similar to this year. Obviously, we haven't um gone through that yet. Uh this the intention is to use it for studentled conferences which we are piloting across the district this March. Um if um if it if we think we need to make adjustments on how that time is used so that it's more professional learning time um and that people you know don't receive the student led conferences well then we will make that adjustment. But it is still our intention for the 2627 school year to have studentled conferences p you know with the hope that it

016goes very well this March um and we get positive feedback. Collins did pilot it um earlier this year and we got some generally positive feedback but we also got some some input uh and some adjustments we can make but directionally people appreciate the student led conferences. Uh next slide Mark. Um, a couple of other other reflections on the calendar. Um, we chose to make December 23rd a um, a full day off. People appreciated having a day before the holiday rush of um, you know, uh, of the 24th and the 25th. Um, and so we now have May the 23rd in this proposed calendar a full day off from school. if um so that was that came from feedback from the staff um who had a chance to weigh in. Um again the primary election is

017September 1st which is a non-school day for students. It is a staff professional day but it is a non-school day for students. Junth this year falls on a Saturday. So the guidance from the department of education is that uh the observance of that day would be a Saturday. So there's does not need to be a no school day on Junth. Um and um the one thing that I've heard from staff as well on the prek kindergarten kindergarten schedule, educators do wonder why the year is not longer. We do have a shortened day for uh sorry a shortened year for prek and kindergarten. Um and the reason we do that um is and just want to be clear with the public is we start later because really because of busing. We don't want um the kindergarteners

018in the mix on the first day of school with all the challenges we have with bus routes. We prefer to let the roots settle a bit before kindergarten starts. It does give our kindergarten and pre-K teachers more time to prepare as well. And then we end the year earlier for both training and screening for um the next group of prekinder and kindergarten students. Uh so we do have a slightly shorter year for uh kindergarten and pre kindergarten because there is no um uh there is no requirement of 180 days for both pre kindergarten and kindergarten. Uh next slide. So the final thoughts uh the school committee can vote uh tonight or wait until the next meeting if you just want to put the calendar on the table. Um parents I mean have asked about the

019calendar. They do know that the first day is the third. Uh even though Bentley um is an innovation school, it does plan to follow the Salem public schools calendar. Um and um the school committee has uh copies of the calendars as I mentioned before. Um and then once um the calendars approved, Carlton/Saltinstall will submit a calendar for approval and then I should have added here New Liberty will as well. So that's just a brief update on the uh calendar for this year. Um, we did get input from staff. Um, the union weighed in as well, the STU. Um, and, um, I feel this is not as complicated as other calendars. Um, and, uh, it does help that we have more guidance in our contract for what the earliest school can start for staff is. So,

020um, I'll pause there and see if there's any questions from the committee. >> Yeah. Member Cornell. to start. >> Uh Dr. Z, I'm just wondering um what kinds of conversations you've had with the Salts Carlton leadership around getting closer to the district calendar. >> Um yeah, we we have uh had those conversations with them. Ultimately, they do have the the staff has the ability to uh to select the calendar uh for next year, and the idea was that the Salt Install um and Carlton staff would get to do that together this year. Um you know, I at the at the end of the day that they do have that autonomy as part of the innovation plan. Um, and so the and you know I I think there you know we've expressed the interest to try

021to get it more aligned with the district calendar but they still have that autonomy with the current plan. >> Member Scott. >> Thank you. So, so I had a similar question around the Colton Carlton Salt schedule, but also curious if you have an idea of timing. Like I know we need to give more time to do that schedule, but what are we thinking? How long will that be? And then my second question was pretty quick. It was about the October days. To me, that seems like an easy switch, the 21st to the 30th. So, I'm wondering why there's hesitation around that. >> Um, okay, let me answer the Carlton Salt and Salt question first. Um I think um I would hope that I would like it to happen uh for the next school committee that

022they can bring a proposed calendar. I know in in the past Lauren Principal Weaver has wanted to wait until the district calendar was set um or close to set. Um but it doesn't take much it doesn't take long after that. They they present three different options to the staff the faculty to select from. Um and um while I think it's gotten closer to the district calendar over the years, it's not exactly um aligned to the district calendar. To your second question, um I think the reason was we have to go virtual if we did that. In fair, I we would uh I don't love having Friday early releasees is really the answer because I worry about um how many kids will actually have in school. Um and then if it's on the 30th uh itself

023on a Friday um I that that would be my pause is how many kids will actually come to school uh given that Halloween is the next day. Now, if but if the committee uh feels strongly that for uh purposes of like traffic and and uh you know, I can I can understand that that would be a day that people would want an early release, but I do worry about attendance on October 30th. >> Member Miranda. >> Yep. I just had a question about um the Carlton salt and stall calendar as well and wondering if there's an idea of what the benefits um and I know this is something that may come up later on when we when we talk about the plan um that I think is expiring in 2026. Um but what are the

024benefits and what are the costs to having those separate calendars? Yeah, there is definitely a cost um of running buses on some days that we don't run buses for other schools. Um I think that's probably the biggest cost is the um the busing. Elizabeth, I don't know if you have any other thoughts and weighing in on that, but um I think mostly it's a transporta would there's extra transportation costs. Uh there isn't ex there is not extra staffing costs because we run the same number of days. Um the primary reason they they look for the the uh a different calendar is they is is for the purposes of planning by trimesters. And we are I think we're still trying to sort out what the innovation plan is going to look like. Um, and to your

025point, Miss uh, counselor, not counselor, sorry, school committee member Miranda, um, the, um, you know, I think 2026 would be the the time to re to reook at the those aspects of the, uh, innovation plan. Um, but, um, it's because they've wanted to have the different trimester breaks so they can plan for student movement um, appropriately. And so, um, we'll see what they, you know, I really do want to give a voice to the teachers and staff now. Um, and then I think those are questions that we should continue to ask moving forward. I I do know from the perspective of the district, it would be a lot easier if everybody was on the same calendar. Not even just from a cost uh, but from a communication and organization standpoint. Um, you know, I just

026worry that we're going to forget one day that Carlton's in school and everybody else is not in school or and vice versa. And so, um, I, you know, I, it's I've gotten used, we've gotten used to it now, but, um, I think it's, it's a worthy question to ask moving forward. >> Uh, Cindy, >> um, I really just wanted to add a suggestion for the half day in October. While I do understand your concerns about it being, you know, a Friday and a half day and concerns about attendance, I do feel that it's very imperative to think about the students um like the traffic as well. I know you mentioned it too as a possible concern. There's a lot of students at the school that have to drive themselves and a lot of students that

027also like rely on transportation. And at least based on my experience with transportation, I feel like there has been a lot of traffic sometimes and I have not been able to get home until very like lateish hours because of the traffic of the day before Halloween. So, while it is obviously a very big concern to worry about attendance rates on the day before Halloween, it's also very important to consider the times that students get home considering that a lot of us also have after school activities or just things that we need to do after school like work or any of that really. And it's as you are very well aware all of you, the traffic is very bad the day before Halloween. Uh yeah, no, thank you Cindy for your comments and you know I

028certainly uh understand that that might be a decision the school committee will make and I'm I would certainly support support that and you can make that uh this well city you're not technically have the vote but I think your suggestion is well taken by others and so you can certainly ask for um that amendment to be made to the calendar as part of the vote. I can to I so I can totally understand that that might be an adjustment that the committee will want to make. Cornell. >> Thanks. I have two questions. Um the first one, uh Dr. Drake, is is Carlton's I just this is just about their their autonomy. Is is that autonomy unique to their innovation plan or is that common for innovation plans more broadly or is that just something we've

029agreed to? >> Kate, correct? Kate, correct me if I'm wrong. I think that's uh uh tr part of their specific innovation um their specific innovation. I'm not I'm not entirely sure that it's true about every innovation plan, but Kate, I'll let you weigh in on that. Uh I I don't know either in terms of like I haven't studied other um innovation plans broadly but what I can say is that um as part of the innovation plan process that one of the autonomies is the school calendar and it can be you know for um students in this case we're talking about the student calendar but it can also be um the educator calendar. So, I know in the past um with Bentley and Carlton in previous versions of their um innovation plans, they've had like extra

030days in the summer that teachers would agree to come to so we extend the day and it would be a change in working conditions, etc. So it is not um an autonomy that every innovation school must avail themselves of, but it is one that they can um choose to uh incorporate into their innovation plan as it um as needed. >> Thank you. And my my other question uh Dr. Zrike is what is the STU's perspective on the 30th? Um well I I think I would just say that I have a better perspective my teacher advisory group which is members of um you know they are members of the STU. I think uh their perspective is they were mixed either you know on that. I think there are issue there are people agree that there would

031be attendance issues for kids but to Cindy's point that people are also worried about how much traffic um there would be and getting people are worried about getting home um on time or not on time but getting home period in a reasonable fashion on on that on 30th. We would probably, if it was an early release that day, it would be a virtual um professional learning for teachers once they returned home, which is what we've done the last few years um for for the 30 uh for the 31st for the 31st this year. And um so I think it's it's it it mixed. I think um it's just odd, you know, it's it's just odd that it falls on a sat not odd, but it the Saturday is what creates a difference. Normally we would

032just have an early release on the 31st. >> I agree with Cindy. I think that there is little difference. Um folks are going to be coming to town on the 31st. So I I I would I would be in favor of >> um the the same way that we handled this last year. Um folks come here for the weekend and I just think it's really hard on our staff and really hard on our kids. >> Sure. Member Scott. Thanks. Yeah, I was just going to say I also agree. I think, you know, attendance is definitely an important factor, but I think on the flip side, a lot of people might choose to miss that day just with it being a full day as well. So, there might be attendance problems really on either side, but

033might have more of a chance sending because, oh, I have a better chance of getting home with the half day. So, it kind of has both arguments pretty equal level. So, with just the traffic and and the wanting to get, you know, kids home and and safe earlier, I would be in support of switching those. >> I will say I did have one teacher say, uh, hey, Steve, kids are not going to want to miss Halloween. So, they're coming in to school no matter what on the 30th. So, that is a perspective I heard from one of my teacher teacher advisory group members. So, I I I I'm would accept I certainly can accept that. Um, and obviously that's the purview of the committee, but I that is a to me would be a thoughtful

034adjustment. >> All right. So, we have this under motions and resolutions later in the agenda for a vote. Uh, if folks are comfortable with it or any amendments and then a vote. There's anything else on the calendar? >> Nope. >> All right. I think maybe Kate, can we go to the professional development? Uh, so we're going to skip to number three. Uh, which is, uh, professional development, self- selected professional development. >> Yeah. Uh, so Mark, if you can, thank you. Pull up the I just have two quick slides. So, this is a a quick update. Um, good evening everyone. Hopefully some some good news uh on the snow day. And what I'm going to present aligns to our empower educators um priority in our strategic plan. So just um by means of context, we received

035an extra part of our donation. We receive an annual grant from the Norman H um Reed Trust and this year they gave us an additional um $20,000 in our budget and they wanted that to support um educator uh training. And so we were thinking about a way that we could um you know we we offer a lot of professional development on our release days and as part of our um annual professional development plans, but we wanted to leverage these resources as an opportunity to um encourage educators um to seek out training that really um aligned to their personal goals in their um in their um annual plans um their evaluation plans um for the year, their growth plans. And so we put out um a uh an application for educators either individually or in teams

036to apply um for these funds. We received uh 21 applications and we um you know put some parameters around it. So um each educator could apply for up to um $1,250. And we wanted people to think big. Um, and this was really an opportunity to take courses um to attend uh conferences um workshops um that they ordinarily wouldn't necessarily have out-of- pocket funds to support. Um and as I said, we received 21 applications. We did have one withdrawal, so it was really 20 applications. And some of these were um team applications. And if you go to the next slide, Mark, here's just an overview of the types of things um that our educators applied for. So I tried to categorize them across um departments. So we had a number that fell in the area of

037supporting um students with disabilities and our multilingual learners, which was really great to see because those are um you know priorities for us. I'll just note a couple. Um, so we are going to be sending three um, educators from the Bentley School to attend the um, California Association for Bilingual um, education conference. They're really excited about that really informing um, their work around dual language with some cutting access to some cutting edge um, information um, at that conference. So there'll be three of them attending uh that. Um we have two school psychologists going to the National Association um for school psychologists conventions and you can see a variety of um teachers who will be um accessing courses um in those two areas as well. In terms of student supports, we have a nurse who requested

038to um access CPR instructor certification course, which is great. She'll become a certified um instructor and then we'll be able to offer that, which we have done in the past, um to other educators um in the district. We have two nurses who are going to go up to Vermont to attend the New England School Nurse Conference, and they'll be doing that together. Um and uh we did have uh we have three of our leaders from the um Collins school, Collins Middle School that will be attending uh the Equity Imperative Institute which will be held in Chicago. Um and um the keynote speaker there uh is um um Zoretta Hammond who is really just like a national icon around um culturally responsive practices. So, um I've gotten we've sent out the notifications to our educators that

039their um applications were received. In some cases, we had to ask for additional information. And I did um uh employ a crossf functional team uh to help me review the applications. I didn't do that myself. I had someone um from each department um participate with me to do that. We've sent out notification to the educators and um it's you know uh just to share that lots of people have been writing back like, "Oh my gosh, I'm so excited. Um this is something I've been wanting to do for a long time." Um and just you know, really positive um responses to it. So, I wanted to share that as a um you know, positive news story that um you know, in a way that we've um attempted to um encourage our teachers to think out of

040the box and to empower them to um pursue um training and um experiences that align uh with their growth priorities. So, that is that. Any questions? Oh yeah. >> Yeah. Can I I just would add that this is something uh our focus with uh the teacher advisory group this year has been around uh in our strategic plan the priority of like enhancing professional development in the district and one of the places that and we've been reading articles and podcast listening to podcasts and um and uh you know focused on this topic. One of the things I've heard repeatedly from the staff on the or the teachers on the advisory group is the importance of teachers having choice and autonomy over professional learning and um obviously this requires resources but uh is but it is very

041important from the staff perspective because there are a lot of different functions that people perform. They have specialized expertise. They want to be able to access not only learning within the district but some of the the uh you know the the best learning that most cutting edge learning around the country and this ability to do that I know is in line with the feedback I'm getting from the teacher advisory group. We're going to put together some guidelines for district leaders around like you know principles and other staff that design professional learning for educators uh that um you know takes into account their feedback. But this weighs very I think large for uh for staff is that they have some choice and autonomy and the ability to pursue some of these experiences outside of the district

042as well. So uh you know this is uh exciting. I just want hope hope we we're able to continue this uh as resources are always a challenge but this is very much wellreceived by our the faculty in the Salem public schools. I can move on mayor. >> Yeah. No questions from the committee. Great. Let's move on. >> All right. Um, I also, uh, up for consideration this evening is also the enrollment targets for the upcoming school year. Um, and so I'm not going to project this. You have this in your packet. It's in the packet. It was in uh, Friday's information. Um, I just I just want to touch on a few things with the targets for this coming school year. Um, as you know, the superintendent is charged with setting annual enrollment targets for

043each individual elementary school. Uh as a district, we have valued integrated and diverse schools and we've used socioeconomic um data uh to set goals for schools that are within five percentage points of the district average. Um the targets are always set based on um the percentage of lowincome students as determined by our October one um state data. Um and it includes uh and it's based on the percentage of low-income and non-l low-income students. Um and we assign um these targets for students entering kindergarten and pre kindergarten. Um so if you look um in the chart below, you can see the historical uh percentages um in school uh by school over the last five years. Uh percent low income by school. Um and then the chart below that uh shows you >> we have a slide

044up. >> Is there a is is there a presentation? >> No, no, this is this is just in it's a it's in the in people's packet. There isn't a slide. >> Yep. Um unless you can project it, but >> I think this is something that we've gotten emails from the community about before, so I think it's worth projecting. Let's project >> so that folks can see it. Sure. Mark, is there any way you can project that? >> Yeah, I'm just looking forward to me. One second. >> Sure. Yep. >> Or I guess I can share my screen. >> Can you all see that? >> Yes. >> Okay, let me just make this bigger here. Okay. So, um you can see uh I'll just we'll go to this chart. You can see the percentage of low-income

045students um across our elementary schools over the last five years. Um, this year I added a column for the Carlton Salt and Stall merger. So you can see what the lowinccome percentage is in the merge school by looking at the October one enrollment data for both Carlton and Salt and Stall. Um so scrolling down here um the what's different this year is for the first time every school um we'll get to Bentley in a second but every elementary school is within um the district within five percentage points of the district average uh lowinccome or the district lowincome number which is 57.1% of the district um is lowincome um that is lower than what it has been. Um I attribute that to the fact that um this year we haven't received as many newcomers in the

046district. Um and so the percentage of low-income students is lower than it's been in a while, but each of our elementary schools uh is within five percentage points of that number. And so I am recommending that the target be set at 50% uh lowincome 50% non-lowinccome for all the elementary schools. Now if you remember last year with Bentley the decision was made by this committee not to set targets for Bentley that there would be no targets. Uh there is two buckets for Bentley. There is the English there is a Spanish language bucket for students that have proficiency in Spanish. And so in order to uh 50% of the students uh need to be Spanish dominant um in in their enrollment or lang Spanish language dominant and the other 50% um are are non- Spanish dominant

047students. Uh it was recommended by this committee that we uh that it was not necessary that we wanted to promote as many um uh that that that should be open to as many students as possible. in fact that many uh that it's a program that would benefit many of our lowest income students. So they did not want to set uh targets for uh the fif the other 50% of the bucket uh for Bentley school. And so again this year there is no target for Bentley school um in terms of income. Uh I will note that their low in percentage of low-income students has declined from the year before. it was at 71% and now it's at 65.7% um low income in in October of 2025. Um and the that the that percentage or the um

048the no target again only applies to bucket two which is for the non Spanish speakaking students at Bentley. I know there's a lot of information here. Um, and I encourage both the committee and the public to read uh through this. Um I will say again the other thing I will note to uh um as um about these targets for this year is that um I just want to go down here for kind pre kindergarten we have continued to set the targets at 6535 and the reason for that uh 65% low-income and 35% not low-income is because our current low-income population is much lower in pre kindergarten It is at 38.4% which is slightly higher than last year but it is well below the district I mean the average of kindergarten through 12th grade low-income students

049across the district. Um and so uh the the committee uh a number of years ago when we expanded prek asked us to set the targets at 6535. There was some discussion at the time at setting them at 7030, 70% low income, 30% not low income, but we settled at 6535 and we've continued to do that since we expanded prek uh 5 years ago. Um and so I'm going to stop there. There's a lot of information I'll put I'll have the chart back up for people to see. Um and so the recommendation is that we set all schools at 50/50 lowinccome non-l low-inccome except for Bentley which uh again we would um maintain uh like we did last year no target for uh kindergarten enrollment. Questions from the committee? Folks want to raise hands if they

050have any questions. or comments. >> Yep. Remember Miranda, >> in terms of the um expanded prek and the uh lower percentage there, I'm assuming some of that has to do with the shorter day. Um, but I know that we've made efforts to have um, uh, providers fill in some of the gaps. So, just wondering uh, is there anything that we can do there uh, to engage and promote this to lower income folks? >> I see that Deputy Superintendent Carboni has her hand raised. So, I might >> I I would just say that I think one big factor is the the fact that we do not offer transportation. >> Yeah. So that that's something to consider. We have we do offer the afterchool support. Um we've even uh expanded uh vacationmies to um prek which were

051well attended last year and we're um continuing that this year. I do think the the biggest factor is the fact that we do not offer transportation and that is a a differentiator. But to your point, uh, member Miranda, we the other we do have partner programs that do offer that um, you know, the transportation, the longer day. Um, so there is there are places for people, it's just not within the Salem public schools. Um, and and I, you know, we do worry about the transportation piece of it with, uh, little ones. Um, but to to Kate's point, I do think that is the biggest barrier for families because we have expanded the day. We've tried to make it accessible with after school care, but it it's not as much um it's not as much of

052a wraparound service as the other programs. And the transportation is a huge piece for families. >> And we in addition to that, we don't offer summer >> which is another another component. So it's not a full year. >> Um I mean it is full year but you doesn't include the summer. >> Okay. Thank you. Mayor, can I ask something else about that? >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Um, at some point would love to see some of the data around um kids that are in with our partners um or with other uh providers and then what kids are kind of like falling through the gaps there. Um because obviously with like free public prek um it would be amazing to to kind of be able to provide that high quality um education ear super early education. Hey,

053did you want to say >> No, I was just gonna say I'd be happy to huddle up with you to sort of get your questions and then we can certainly come back with you to you uh with data around um prek services. >> Amber Cornell, >> um I think this is for you Kate. This might be a dumb question, but I was just sort of thinking about my own experience with my my kids when they were little and there was no, you know, there was a very limited uh prek program in Salem public schools at the time, but as you know, folks who worked in the summertime, I wouldn't have I I my fear was I couldn't lose my seat at the Y. You know, I didn't want my children to give up that spot.

054So, I'm wondering if we have any partnership agreements with some of our other providers that would I know it's tricky for them because, you know, they have limited resources, but if we have if it's possible to have a partnership agreement so that our kids who are, you know, doing a year of preschool have can be guaranteed some space there and maybe not lose that continuity and not lose the care that parents need. Um because I'd hate for kids to lose out because, you know, on and what we're doing in Salem public schools because parents just can't parent kids can't do it >> right. I think that's and that's part of what we're trying to achieve with the mixed delivery model is there's something that for every family um and that there's a variety and that

055we're working together to um ensure that there's quality across all a similar level of quality across all those programs based on our shared resources um using similar curriculum share you know coaching PD and what have you um but that there's um and that there's good communication across the program so that we are um if if we don't have a seat that matches the family's needs, we're referring them to a program that does. Um so I think that's part of the benefit of the prek partnership is that we're trying to like tighten up on that and make sure that there's a seat for everyone um that meets their needs. Um but it's still a work in progress. Yeah, it's, you know, I think the system is sort of um, you know, we're I think we're doing

056the best that we can with the the funding that we have. So my understanding is that most of that funding >> goes to our partners like to support those those initiatives which is great but you can sort of see how this creates this kind of tiered delivery system and an inequitable system you know because we just have families who have different different means um and different um you know parental availability or maybe you've got a grandparent who can take your child all summer. So, I would um I think I'm just repeating member Miranda's question about really wanting to dig in on that data. >> To me, it would be a good topic for a committee of the whole meeting to really dig in to some of this data. Um I I I think you're asking

057really good questions. I will say that the purposes the of the CPPI grant, the Commonwealth preschool initiative, is that the that there's an equally high bar and standard across all the m the programs because the ide the idea is that we wouldn't necessarily have all the kids, but that the that we would have a very high bar across the city of Salem for what kids would get. So when they came to us to kindergarten, right, there wouldn't be major inequities in terms of, you know, from what program they came from. The good news is now we're working with what is it now, Kate? Four or five different providers, right? Five. Right. And so, um, the hope, you know, over time, and I think it it has gotten there, we're not quite where we want to

058be, uh, that there's a high bar regardless of whether you go to a private provider or whether you come to the Salem public schools. Um and uh with with you know consistent coaching with more you know consistent curriculum and materials that we and with resources to help them supplement teacher salaries and things like that that the quality of the programming will be you know high across the board. I I we have data on that which we can share and um we're we're getting there. We're not quite there consistently across all the programs. >> Right. and we we're able to pinpoint where there is need for additional support because we do have good data systems now um and we're able to target coaching in those locations and and so forth. So um we are trying to

059do exactly what um you're pointing out is that no matter where the child attends that they're getting an equally high experience. That's the fundamental goal of the CPPI um program. I think that loophole is sort of like that we put such a high premium on socioeconomic balance um in our you know in the K to K to 12 uh or you know K to five what we can control and so uh that one just seems like a it seems like a tough barrier there >> Hoffman I think too like I think parents mostly are worried about losing their child care in the summer because all these places have very long wait list because they don't only take Salem public schools they take or from Salem community they're taking from other communities that may work in

060Salem. So, it's tricky to ask them to hold a spot when um there's already a wait list uh because of the shortage of of um of care. Um that I think sometimes it that tops what people feel about what type of education their child is getting and they're just looking for the best care for their child. And I think unless we figure out something to like going forward, how to fill that gap for like summertime with like how we do summer school activities. Um it might be something worth looking into. Further questions or comments on this topic for the superintendent or the deputy superintendent? All right, moving on. Um, just I have two more items before I pass it off to Elizabeth. Um, we I just on my evaluation, I just want to note that

061I'm almost done. I've used the snow day to catch up. Uh my plan is to email you all my self-appraisal and then we'll put it up for the public to see uh as well at the same time so that they can see what I've uh how I've assessed myself. Um and so uh my goal is to get it to you by the end of this week. Um and then we can schedule a later time for the discussion of my uh performance. Um, in terms of the building committee, um, you have in your packet an update about, uh, or the building project. Uh, things are moving along quickly. I just want to point out two big developments. Uh, that the project is going to be moving from feasibility and sk schematic design phase to the design

062development phase, which uh, gets more into the weeds and the specifics of the design with the board meeting with the MSBA on February 25th. um we have to go in front of the board um and they will hopefully move us into that next phase which is another big milestone for the project. Um the mayor may want to talk more about this, but the members of the school building committee um including myself and the mayor and the the the uh chair people from the committee presented to the city council. Uh actually member Cornell was there as well. Um and members uh Scott, we presented to the administration and finance committee of the city council regarding the project bond order and debt exclusion election and we're grateful for the city council for moving it forward and u

063placing it on the ballot for um a vote in on May 5th if I'm correct mayor um for a special election. Um and then I'll just note that there are upcoming meetings. The next meeting is this Thursday, which is a public meeting in the school committee chambers of the building committee. Um, and I believe that member Scott will now be representing the school committee on that building committee moving forward. Mayor, I don't know if you want to add anything to that. >> I think you summarized it pretty well. Um, >> okay. Um, if there's no questions there, I'll I have one more comment and then I'll move it over to uh Assistant Superintendent Paulie. I just want to um express my uh um a shout out, I guess, a recognition to uh Miss Evie Aquendo

064who will had her number retired on Friday night in a wonderful ceremony. as always uh she spoke uh beautifully and eloquently about all the people that uh have you know touched her along the way many of them associated with the Salem public schools and coaches and teachers um and while she was an amazing basketball player uh she had the she you know touches uh each one of our kids in uh meaningful ways in her role as a phys teacher um and her legacy is felt every day in our schools and will be felt for a long time. just want to congratulate her. It's very deserving. Uh and it took way too long for this that to happen. I hope that the next number of a woman of color um in the Salem public schools did

065not take as long as this did. But I'm I'm very um very happy for her and I I know it was great to see so many of her colleagues in the audience as well who um uh who you know she spreads a lot of joy in the Salem public school. So congratulations to EIE. With that, I'll turn it over to um Assistant Superintendent Paulie who has an update on our capital uh request for the um FY27. >> Yes. Thank you, Superintendent Reich. And I'm actually going to invite member Bayas if as the chair of the buildings and ground subcommittee if you want to set up tonight's presentation on our FY27 request with any comments. Happy to invite you to do so and then we'll dive in. We do have a few slides for you this

066evening. >> Yes. Um so Elizabeth Enzy will present um the capital pri priority overview um and the priorities are just input from the different schools parents regular walkthroughs and facilities about the safety of the school accessibilities um and upgrades um and like the play spaces and things that need upgrades. So I'll just bring it back to Elizabeth and Z for their presentation. >> Great. And um uh Z, our director of facilities, was planning to join me and then he um he texted me just before this meeting started to say he needed to visit a few schools and get eyes on the parking lots and also check the roof of Salem High School. So I believe he is as we speak on the roof of Salem High School and not be joining us. Um so I

067will um share just a few slides uh that are FY27 capital requests for Salem public schools. So as the committee will recall in January we bring you a set of requests that we plan to bring to the city. Um and just to invite the committee in and to be transparent about what we are prioritizing after receiving feedback and then considering both the data we receive from our operations hero work order system conversations with principles um and our multi-year uh plans. So uh next slide please. Um, so this year, uh, we are bringing to the city a suite of capital requests that total 5.825 million. Um, that is more than the city is typically able to fund um, but less than what we requested last year. So, it's about 6% less um, in terms of total

068asks. There are some one-time costs that I'll share with you. Um, and then some recurring projects that will move our work forward. Next slide, please. So, just as a reminder, um, this slide shows you two of our beautiful new generators. And the chart at the bottom is the appropriation um, from the city's capital budget. You can see that the total we received for FY26 was $3.5 million. Uh a large chunk of that was for the roof replacement at Bates. Um another uh large ticket item was our generators and then our playgrounds. Now you can see on the playground line that it is $210,000. We received additional funding from the state and then funding from other city sources. The that line item ultimately grew to $500,000. So, that was our original appropriation, but the $500,000 funded

069the renovation of the base playground. Um, the only other thing I would add on this slide is that you can see in the gym floor line there was an appropriation for $120,000 that was matched by $125,000 earmark from the state as well as some additional funds and that supported the installation of a new uh portable gym floor at the high school. So there were concerns for many years about the gym floor at the high school not being actually safe for athletes to play on. And so we have installed an NBA quality um gym floor that is portable. So when the high school is torn down or replaced by a new beautiful building, that floor can be installed um in another school. So we are glad that it is already being put to good use, but

070that is what we spent the gym floor funding on. So, next slide, please. So, looking ahead, I mentioned that we developed these plans in close partnership with school leaders. Um, we listen very carefully to feedback we receive from the public. As part of this process, I did reach back out to the playground committee um that came before the committee in the fall, this school committee in the fall. We met with the PTO's for Salt and Stall and Carlton. Um, and we did review our data around work orders that come in all year from any staff member and now students at the high school. We strive for our capital requests to align to the city and schools multi-year priorities. Um, and we do try to balance preventative maintenance as well as repairs. Next slide, please. So,

071this is a summary of our request. We'll send a spreadsheet uh that is there's a picture of it here to the city um to review these requests. You can see at the bottom they total 5.8 million. Um, and you can see that uh I I'll go into more detail on the lines, but just from the top um roof replacements, um we have requested $350,000. Uh this will we will not need this money if we the are successful in securing grants the city as our partners have applied for. Um, but this would support the roof replacement at Horse Man. The Bates RTU replacement would be to replace one of the 11, excuse me, there are several of the 11 RTU units on the Bates roof that helped with the cooling of the building. The Witchcraft boiler

072replacement would purchase two new boilers for Witchcraft Elementary School. The playground line is actually for play spaces, but it is for the Horus man early childhood playground as well as um some funding to uh start the planning process for a new early childhood playground. We've had a lot of advocacy from parents uh who have said, you know, we really need to do better with the ECC playground. And so we've included some funding to begin planning um for a new playground uh for the early childhood center. Uh security and life safety. We'll talk about actually in just a moment. Technology. Um our costs have gone up as we have seen prices rise. Um but this is for Chromebooks and touch view screens. Um mechanical, electrical and plumbing we will um talk about momentarily as well as

073HVAC painting. Uh this is a relatively new request that we've started the last couple of years to put all schools on a rotation being painted. ADA is will help with access um for all students and families to the schools including external ramps. Um relocation expenses, we'll talk more about that. Um that includes movers, boxes, as well as new signage for um the new merge school. Um, grounds repairs are a combination of the standard work we do in the summer as well as relining and repaving at a number of schools. We have a request in for two new vehicles and then interior upgrades primarily focusing at Bentley um and the Salt and Stall building um with some u investment in horseman. So that is a brief overview um of the request for FY27. And if you

074go to the next slide, um we will dig into what specifically we are looking for. Um so of that 5.8 million, 2.4 million will go to MEP, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing and HVAC. Last year we spent uh about $500,000 for our HVAC systems for different backlogged repairs. We want to continue those repairs and tackling deferred maintenance. Um, some of the highlights of this request include um, and we've included photos. Uh, on the left are the window units that we want to install at the Bentley School. So, the Bentley School has window units that were installed when Bentley was a charter. They are beyond their um, lifespan. They're these portable units are no longer functioning as they should. So, we are um including $200,000 to replace all of those window units. The middle picture is the

075playground, the early childhood playground at Horus Man. It is not ADA accessible and the equipment and sizing of it is not appropriate for the age group. Um and so this was the next uh playground identified in our playground report that was teed up for replacement. And finally, um, that last picture is a picture of the fire panel at Bates that needs to be replaced. There are no longer parts made and the units are beyond their useful life. So, we're also proposing to replace fire panels for both uh, horsemen and witchcraft who are in the same boat. Um, next slide, please. So, security and life safety. Um this is a picture on the right hand side of the PA system at Bentley. Um and so at both Bentley and um Witchcraft, the PA systems are in

076need of replacement for the Witchcraft PA. The parts are no longer available and we can't actually change the bell schedule um because the we just have to go with what the current PA system has. At Bentley, the system is more than um 35 years old. Um and not only are parts not available, but the company will no longer service or inspect it for fear of it not turning back on after it is serviced. It poses a safety risk currently with ECC not having the PA system working on their side of the building. We have mitigated this by ensuring that every single classroom has uh walkietalkies. So the the school does have communication, but we're proposing to replace as part of the investment in Bentley, replace a buildingwide PA. Um other security and life safety. I

077mentioned already the fire panels. We're also proposing to install uh secure vestibules at Bentley and Witchcraft. We are continuing this process of installing vestibules for safety in all of our schools. Um, we have this past year we did one at Salt and Horse Man and so Bentley and Witchcraft will be next on the list. We're planning to add access controls, cameras, and intrusion alarm upgrades at schools. We have some schools that don't have a swipe access control for their kitchen doors or doors that staff commonly use. Uh, we plan to install cameras whenever we do a new playground. Um, and just making sure that we have the alarm systems that we need in all of our buildings. And finally, the fire and sprinkler repairs. Um, some of which we do every year uh to make

078sure that our buildings are safe um are safe for all who are in them. Uh next slide, please. So for play spaces, uh I have mentioned that uh we're planning to invest in the Horus man early childhood um playground. This is a picture of the Bates early childhood playground and we are looking to do something equally as beautiful for Horus man. We did include $25,000 in funds for planning to begin really moving on the ECC playground. Next slide, please. So, we wanted to call out the ways that we are investing in the schools most impacted by uh the portfolio reconfiguration and the merger in particular. And we consider Bentley to be one of those schools. Um we have with some intentionality not been making large investments in Bentley over the last couple of years um

079because we weren't we were unsure of the lifespan of that building. We now have recommitted to Bentley and so this year we are proposing to make some repairs um that are long overdue. So I mentioned the PA system, the window AC units need to be replaced. They are beyond their lifespan um and they are not working. Bentley the Bentley building will need a larger assessment of what it will cost and how we could install a modern HVAC system. We are planning to do an assessment of the building um and hope to time that for the next cycle for the MSBA's accelerator repair program so we can receive some partnership support for that. So while there is the need for a larger assessment of the Bentley building this year we're proposing these sets of things that

080we think will make a real difference um in the Bentley and begin to chip away at some of the overdue maintenance. So, the PA, the window units, um the grounds will plan to reline. Um and repave the parking lot and driveway. Um and so that is the grounds um item. The gym floor will get uh stripped, polish, and wax, so not replaced, but we think it we will be able to um really brighten it up this year. We plan to paint the building, switch over the lighting to LEDs, replace um parts of the fire panel um and then build a secure vestibule. So, actually the other thing that Zeke mentioned in this slide is that uh Bentley has a very old key system. So, we'll replace all the locks and the keys in Bentley to

081ensure that um the principal has access and that we have keys for every room of the building. So that is we took and carved out of our larger request how much would be invested in Bentley and that is $555,000. Next slide please. Um so for the Salt and Stall building uh we plan to finish painting the building. We started that last summer. um the grounds we will be um adding repaving the parking lot there and adding an additional spot. We know that the Salt and Stall building will need new signage to reflect the new school community and also the new name. Uh and then we're planning other interior upgrades to be determined in partnership with the school. So, one item that has come up regularly has been um investing in the auditorium. And so, we've

082included funds for um interior upgrades at Salt and Stall. And altogether, we estimate the investments in Salt and Salt to be $275,000. And I think that might be it. Could you go to the next slide? Oh, no. How could I forget with Mark advancing my slides? How could I forget to mention um elevating learning with technology? And so uh we do include technology and the hardware that we use as part of our capital requests. This year because of rising prices, our costs are expected to go up to about $650,000. Um that will purchase new Chromebooks for grades 1, six, and nine. 200 new staff Chromebooks, touch view screens, which are the interactive whiteboards um for Bentley and the Salt and Stall building, and then relocating um the the touch view screens that are at Carlton

083to the Salt and Stall building. Next slide, please. That is the last slide. So, I'm happy to take questions u from the committee. you have these slides in your packet. So, if I can answer anything, I'd be glad to. Oh, and actually, while you're thinking of your questions, it did occur to me that I wanted to reiterate that we know we have asked for what the city can typically afford. Generally, the city um tends to provide capital funds for us in the range of three to $3.5 million. So the next step will be meeting with the city finance team to review the proposals and see what might be possible. So uh sorry to leave that out. >> Members, >> thank you. Um thank you for the presentation in the details. I guess your your last

084comment was kind of one of my questions of what is there an ask on a on a vote for this tonight without really knowing those levels of detail. Um I'm not sure what that how like kind of the whole budget process works here. So that might be some education that I need. Um and then I did have some questions on the numbers that were presented. The first one was around the ADA updates of it just being 25,000 a year. That seems really low to me, especially if we have like a backlog of ADA updates that are required. So, I'm curious how that number comes to every year and if you feel that it's sufficient and covers us of what is needed for those essential updates. >> Um, thank you. So on the ADA requests generally

085we have received about $25,000 and that is that is about what we spend and that like last year helped um rebuild the repair the ramp in the front of Horus man. So I would say that we use this funding um for projects like that um to fix curb cuts to um to improve ramps. We've used it for signage. So, replacing signs that have braille on them, making sure they're up to date um with what uh what the building needs, each building needs. Um we've also replaced sinks so that um students who use a wheelchair um for mobility can access the sinks. We do make other ADA repairs as we're, you know, building doing any of these projects. We're doing them with an eye toward making all of our spaces accessible. So, these are funds that

086we have used and we have found that um a $25,000 ask does tend to support what we need to do. Um these are these are funds that we explicitly use for that, but we embed that into all that we do. Um and then the first question was about the budgeting process. So we put these plans together in collaboration with principles with you know taking input the work orders using our um multi-year plans and then we bring these uh to you. We will share them next with we'll send it to the city's finance office um this week and then we will meet with the finance team to talk about all of these are important all of these are priorities. What is the most pressing set of priorities um that we need? So even as we expect

087to have to winnow down these requests, um we work very closely with the with city hall to do that. The final package gets presented to city council with our budget um in May after this body has approved our general fund budget. Um this is part of the conversation with city council. Um, if I may, I have two more quick questions. >> Um, uh, the the first one, I think you made a quick comment. I just wanted to confirm about the ECC playground because I know as a former counselor, I got a lot of emails about that. So, I just wanted to make sure that that was also on the radar. I didn't see it in the presentation. >> Yes. of the $535,000 that we're requesting for play spaces, we have $25,000 in for planning process

088for early child an early childhood playground for ECC. Um so our our hope and intent would be to put this planning process in motion and then bring you a full request for the ECC playground with our next set of capital requests. And superintendent, do you want to >> Yeah, I just want to be careful. I was going to mention that uh as well. Want to be clear because I want the public to be clear that is not suggesting that the ECC will necessarily be staying at that site. Uh I think there's discussions that the school committee needs to have about as we did a few months ago about the ECC potentially moving to another site. So when we say ECC playground, we don't mean the ECC building because that the school could be somewhere else.

089Um, and we but we still believe we need a playground for that age group of kids whether it stays in that building or moves to another location like the current Carlton. >> Thank you. And then my last question is just about the energy efficiency program. Is the city or the schools still working with our Nesco to ensure like when I saw the window units at Bentley that to me just didn't seem like the most green way of cooling down classrooms. I didn't know if that was a temporary process or if that's more of a long-term plan. Um I don't I'm not as well verssed in that world. So I don't really know exactly what my question is, but I'm sure or I hope that that's been part of the conversation to make sure that you

090know we're following the green building, the municipal ordinance and utilizing our um information there. >> Yes, we are working closely with the city um on the ESCO projects. Um part of this year's um investment in Bentley will be switching over to LED lighting um which we have done in all of our other buildings. Uh the window units are because we do think there needs to be a longer term larger investment in HVAC at Bentley, but they don't they these window units that they currently have won't last another year. So this purchase will um provide us with more energyefficient window units. Um but it's it is still window units. Um the other work that we're doing to green our buildings, for example, the Horseman roof um is being done in full partnership with the city and

091we're expecting that this will help Horus man um green their um heating and cooling systems. And so we are moving to that. But in the case of Bentley, we felt like we couldn't wait >> for um a large investment in their cooling sense, they they're not going to make it another year with what they have. >> And I'm really sorry about my dog barking at me. >> The tension. Um any other questions on the capital requests? Member Hoffman. I just had a quick question. Um, was there something about the the ECC that Manny had gotten some funds for a playground there? But it's that and now like understand, thank you for clarifying, Steve, about the ECC and where it could be, but are those funds able to go with the ECC to wherever we decide

092or what we decide what happens with that? or is that specifically city-owned money for the cuz the city owns that park that the ECC is now on. I'm sorry if I'm incorrect in any of this, but I just curious. Um so we did receive um thanks to Representative Cruz, we did receive 20,000 or $25,000 a year or so ago for equipment at the ECC playground. and the the teachers and the principal of the school um used that to buy uh equipment for the playground. It um the the things they chose to buy were things like bikes and toys um that children could use and so they come out for recess and they get put away. I think the vision is to have something beautiful like we have now at Bates and we'll have at Horse

093Man where there can be climbing structures that are developmentally appropriate um and other um other playground equipment that is developmentally appropriate for young children and accessible. Um so we have purchased things for the ECC playground that would go with them um wherever. Um, I think there have been other investments in the ECC playground and it is a city-owned park. Um, so I know the city has um worked on ways to bring more shade um to the playground, for example. So, I think the things that have been purchased can move with the school. But, um, Superintendent, I don't know if you want to add to or edit anything I've said. Now, mayor, you may want to weigh in on this, too, but I that the ultimately, yeah, we're waiting on the a shade structure to be

094installed. Um there there's we're trying to find the you know, the final funds to be able to do that. Um you know, I think that is a a city playground that would be continued to be in use um beyond whether the ECC was there or not. Um, I think ultimately the problem we have is we do not have an age appropriate playground structure for the age of students who attend the ECC. Um, and so ultimately we're going to have, you know, that playground that space can stay even if the ECC is not there as a as a city space, but we're going to have to build a playground for children of the uh age group that the early childhood center serves at some point. So, um I don't know that it would be moved. Uh

095I'm not sure if the shade structure should be uh would be moved. Um but it would still remain as a play space because the Bentley school would still be there. >> Yeah. I So I don't have a lot to add to that. I mean, just to say we have a, you know, we did get a CPA grant for about $60,000 for the shade structure. Um, that's not the full amount that we need for it, though. So, like the superintendent said, we're working to try to identify a funding source for the for the gap to close that to be able to get it installed. Whether or not the ECC continues to be at that location, you know, it is a city park. It's used by it'll be used by kids for hopefully many, many years to

096come. And so, uh, we'll be continuing to make look for ways to make investments in it. Any other questions on the capital requests? Okay. So, we have this under uh motions and resolutions for a vote as well. Is there any other um finance updates or requests? No other finance updates or requests. Thank you. >> Superintendent, do you have any nothing else for your report? >> Ready to move on. >> All right, we'll move on to subcommittee reports. Uh, we heard from buildings and grounds. I don't know if there's anything further on that or any other subcommittees that have reports to share. All right. We'll move on to motions and resolutions. The first item is the uh calendars for the 2026 2027 school year. I'll make a motion to approve the calendar uh but with a

097change that uh the 30th is a half day for students and a remote second half of the day PD for educators. >> I'll second that. >> In lie of the 21st. >> L of the 21st. Yeah. So, there's a motion to approve the calendar. Oh, Laura. Laura's got her hand up. Laura, did you have something to offer or is that a >> Nope. Sorry, that was a wrong click. >> All right. So, we have a motion to approve the calendar with the change to the October half day and professional development remote to the 30th as opposed to the 21st. Seconded under discussion. This is the easiest calendar vote in a long time. All right. All right. Roll call vote on the motion. Member Hoffman. >> Yes. Member >> Miranda. >> Yes. Member Bayas, >> yes.

098>> Member Cornell, >> yes. >> Member Scott, >> yes. >> And myself, yes. Motion carries. 6. Our next item is uh setting the enrollment targets for 2026 2027 for student assignments. Motion to approve the enrollment targets. >> Motion made by member Cornell. Was there a second? >> Second. >> Oh yeah. Member bias. Okay. Under discussion. Any discussion? Seeing none, roll call vote on the motion. Member Miranda. Yes. >> Member Bayas. >> Yes. >> Member Cornell. >> Yes. >> Member Scott. >> Yes. >> Member Hoffman. >> Yes. >> Myself. Yes. Motion carries. 6. Uh, our next item under motions and resolutions was not contained in the superintendent report. It is on the naming of the newly uh consolidated Salt and Stone and Carlton schools in the building on Lafayette Street. Yeah, Dr. Zark. >> Yeah, sorry.

099I can I just uh just remind the committee that in your packet you have a list of the names that the community uh recommended. Um I will note that the uh me the uh community member Adam who spoke earlier um he had he he had noted that his one of his suggestions was not included. So, I just want to uh in an email he sent earlier today which was Foron Point Elementary School. I just want to make sure that that gets on the record record. He um that there w it was just an admission. It wasn't anything intentional. Um but he was merging Fort and Point. Um so I just want to in the back of your packet you do have the list of recommendations we we received from the community with a brief dis

100description of why they recommended the the uh that particular name. Thank you. Um so I will open it up to discussions from the members. Um I just want to start by saying thanks to all the community members who provided recommendations and a lot of thoughtful insights into um their suggestions. You know the we have a policy on school naming. It is the purview of the school the school committee. uh we're not obligated to take a recommendation uh from the community, but I think it was really helpful to hear from um from people in both school communities and across the city um offering their perspectives and their advocacy. So I I'm very happy with the list that's here, but if any member wants to suggest something that was not recommended, that's certainly also within your purview

101uh as a member of the school committee. So, I will open it up to discussion if anybody wants to make a discussion or just start off with a motion. >> I'd be curious to hear >> Oh, sorry. >> Sorry. Oh, yeah. Remember Miranda? Um I'd be curious to before a motion is made if possible if we can have some discussion around this. >> Yeah, absolutely. I um I I I want to open it up to committee members to to maybe um you know use the raised hand and I'll call on you and we can have a discussion about it. I do feel uh well I I'll go I'll go last. Member bias. I was just going to say, are we able to review all um the options and like kind of name them out loud?

102>> Um well, the options are limitless, but we can review the recommendations that uh that were submitted to us from the community. So, these were also sent out to to the public, I believe, in an update last week. Uh, we have Point Elementary co do is it possible for Mark to share screen with the table that's in the packet? That might be easier than me just reading the names. >> Mayor >> member Cornell. Yeah, >> sorry. It's just we do have names attached to those and I know there's one um elementary school students name in there. side. I'm not sure that we should post that. Put that up on the screen >> in the table that was shared with the community, but >> Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see that there was one with the

103community. >> Yeah, the one in the packet I think only has the suggested school name in the description. And then um we asked about the forton point recommendation. So I I guess um I'll put it back out to the committee. You know, what are we looking for in the name of a school and what are your thoughts, concerns, or hopes? member bias. >> Oh, member Scott. >> Thank you. Um, I guess I'll kick it off with just kind of my initial thoughts in looking at the names suggested. So, to me, they all kind of fell into three categories, right? kind of a geography location type name, um, a person name, and then the third was kind of a creative mix of both of those, which I appreciate it. Um, all of the suggestions really I

104thought were thoughtful and had me digging really a lot more into especially the naming of the people. I know I went and I got a few books from the library and I appreciate all the links that were provided because um it it really I think is going to be a great learning experience for the community and also a great communication experience and and really getting that um information out. So, um, all of that said, I my initial thoughts after, you know, grow growing up here, always going to schools named after men, um, in this area or notable figures and knowing that that can be problematic. Um, I do think that that practice should change. On the flip side, I don't feel comfortable with the first opportunity to change that practice and not utilize it um

105to honor a woman, hopefully a woman of color, from our history. So, those are my initial thoughts. I really want to hear, you know, what everyone else has to think because I know I just started to scratch the surface on the names that were submitted. there was some really really I can't say it enough um really great research that was done and provided to us and I just want to say I really appreciate that and I really hope that we can continue continue that and take that you know include the schools include the children and include the students and the teachers and the community in that education piece. Um, so that's definitely where I'm leaning. And then I'll even say it, I'm leaning more towards Redmond. Redmond, I don't know if I'm saying that correctly.

106Um, mostly because as a former Salem State student, I know that there is a building named after Foron there. Um, and we also have a Foron Park within the city. We do have a Redmond park within the city, but it's not as prominently located. So I think the connection between Redmond and schools, it would be really timely to have that acknowledgement and honor. you member Miranda, >> I completely agree with everything that member Scott um had mentioned and then also just wanted to highlight that there's like a a really awful and also I think could be a beautiful connection between Salt and Stall lever Salt and Stall and Sarah Parker Remond. um that I think is is worth highlighting and could could just be like a full uh circle moment for us as a community.

107I I won't go into um the history here, but I also did like a deep dive um and uh also did a little bit of a deep dive into Clarissa Lawrence um and there wasn't as much information on her uh and generally speaking um I think would love to be able uh to support um having a one of our schools named after a woman um and especially a black woman who was um directly impacted from the opinion of Levert Salt and Stall's uh Lever Sultan Sol's opinion back in the 1830s um which basically uh talked about separate but equal schools um and she was directly impacted by that. So um I too would be in favor of um Sarah Parker Raymond member. >> Uh I am also leading in that direction. Um for all the

108reasons that uh member Miranda just um stated so beautifully. I the the one thing that gives me pause a little bit. I don't know if I cut out is uh I thought that um Adam who spoke at in public comment uh raised a really beautiful idea about grounding students in place and really thinking about kind of the diversity of our community and expanding beyond the downtown and just the vibrancy of where Salt and Stall is. So, I liked the idea of kind of combining that fort and point. And so, um, you know, if it's the majority opinion that we sort of just go with her name, Raymond, then that would be that would also be fine with me. But I I think there is something lovely about that as well. Salt and salt's uh geographically

109is just sort of a important space in our community. So, I don't know if I don't think Raymond Point like rolls off the tongue the way Forton Point does though. So, um, but I just wanted to say that >> Cindy, >> um, I think that Salem is very diverse in its community, and I think that's very important for us to highlight, which was really what also kind of encouraged me to speak about it. It was Adam, I think his name was, that spoke in the beginning for the Forinpoint Elementary. I think it's a very good point considering that all of us who are sort of brought up in Salem were only really taught about like the witch trials even though there's so much more culture and diversity and community in Salem that often goes untalked

110about especially in the point where there is this mix of cultures from everywhere and I also really like the idea of the remand elementary especially just like how member Miranda said there is a lot of history tied to it and I think it would be a very interesting turning point for us as as a city to move past these sort of racial injustices that have consistently sort of shaped everyone in society to something more progressive, especially now considering that it could be named after a woman of color as well. That would be very very interesting and very cool for me to witness. >> Lauri, your hand is up again. >> That was actually intentional. So, thank you for the opportunity to speak. I just want to be respectful of the family's name. Um, and uh

111that we think about the the Asian of their of the last name. um is re um so uh in written pronunci m o n d so rayond and I want to make sure that um that is uh reflected as we um continue to connect about uh voting for the school name and pronouncing it properly. Laura, >> can you just say that one more time? wanted to uh be respectful um and share the properation of the family one more time. >> So yes, Ramond. >> Remand. Okay. >> Thank you, Laura. >> A member Hoffman. So, I agree with what everyone has said here and have also done a lot of research um on the names and um I just my thought was uh I actually like the Sarah Raymond u Sarah Parker Rayond um name because

112I feel like we're always talking about diversity but we're not really doing the inclusion part and whereas we already have so many foron we've kind of glombmed on to one person of color and I really feel strongly that it's time to and I know that that they um that there is also one about the Rayman but we we hear less of her right and I also think that the other the the Levette that uh is also someone to consider but I really feel like if we are going to be a diverse community we need to start focusing on inclusion and as for my thoughts for the schools I want someone new Um and and um I realized it's kind of sorry my dog. Um I realize that I'm also recommending Ramond again while we already

113have one but outside but we've like I said we've less we've spoken less about her. Um but I feel like she has a real strong connection and also being part of the segregation of Salem. It's important to honor her uh in that way. Um, so I just I would like us all to focus on inclusion and less about diversity and think about like um how we include our history of color into our community and not just stand on this high word diversity like it it doesn't feel good to me. So I apologize if that's insulting to anyone. It's just my own personal thoughts over mulling over all these um these names. Cornell, >> I just now want to say now that um Laura Assad has corrected us on how to pronounce it. I think Raman

114point actually does sound nice now. So, um, again, I I could go either way, but again, I just wanted to It flows a little better now that I know how to pronounce it, so I just want to say that. >> Member Miranda. >> Um, thank you and thank you Laura for correcting that. Um, I just wanted to add there's two reasons why I I don't like the idea of tying the last name to a location. One is I think um and I'm I'm still trying to I'm like processing this in real time, but like connecting our first potential black woman um and then adding the point um in the name. I'm I'm like still processing that, but I I don't know that I I love that idea. I feel like it takes away from uh

115from the person. And then the second reason why I don't love the location uh adding the location marker in the name is because we've had discussions as a body of making sure not to continue to gentrify our dual language program and we've talked about as a body potentially moving the dual language program to that building. And I feel that by adding the point in the name is like one of the ways of of erasing that. and um attempting to like solidify uh that the Carlton Salts merger um that that community stays in that building. Um and so I have some uh some deep concerns about that. Any further questions, comments, discussion? Yeah, member Hoffman. >> Um, I just wanted to ask I also feel like whatever we name uh the school, we should actually teach

116the history of it in our schools so that everyone is aware of why we celebrate, why we have this name. Um, I think the history is important and we shouldn't shy away from it. And especially as a white person, I really want um our community to understand how important these women were to our community and why we're doing this. That's it. >> Member Stop. >> Thank you. Yeah. I'm similar to a lot of this line of conversation. I I personally prefer the full name. Um I know I knew I was pronouncing it incorrectly. Um but I think that that would be a part even after hearing it many times. I think that would have to be a part of kind of education or we'd have to figure out a plan on how to do that

117so it doesn't get changed by the community. I mean we have other schools that honestly when I moved here I had no idea how to pronounce a bowage school. I would like multiple pronunciations of it. So, you would want to make sure that whatever we do do stays over time. Um, I'm thinking of an elementary school that my nieces go to in a different town and it's gotten shortened to just the initials because it's a very long. Um, so I would want to make sure we kind of think through all of that that if if we're leading down this path, what does that mean and what could like the variations of that be and how do we, you know, keep it consistent with the community. The other reason why I like the full name is

118it really kind of keeps the history there. I know when um my kid was at the Carlton School, I remember asking who's the Carlton School named after and it was like it's just one name. It's really kind of hard to figure that out and find the history on them. Um, so I like that the full name is there. I do like at Collins that it says, you know, the the full name on the side when you when you drive in. So you if you wanted to learn more, it just provides a little more context and and detail there. Those are my two thoughts. >> Thanks. And I mean I I I would add to that. So first of all, for my part, I entirely agree um with the sentiments that's been expressed. I don't know

119that I'm so um so opposed to naming buildings for people. Um but certainly not um stopping when we only have buildings named for white men. Um I think that that's the wrong time to stop that practice. Um, I think all three of the women of color who were were suggested to us would all be fantastic names to to put on uh an elementary public elementary school in Salem. But I I agree that that um Sarah Parker Raymond is the the one that feels like the is the most appropriate fit both because that because of the history with the segregation moment um and lever salt install uh and because as has been articulated by a few of the members um she feels like a really underceelebrated but um important figure in our history and this would

120be a chance to elevate that story. I do also agree that the full name should probably be used if because um it I think it recognizes and honors her part in history. It also distinguishes her from her brother Charles Lennox Raymond who was also a very noted abolitionist and ortor. Um but if we want to be very clear about this being named for a woman of color, I think it's important that we use her full name to make it clear we're not talking about the Raymonds in general. Raymond Park uh off of Bridge Street is intentionally named just Raymond Park because it is supposed to reflect a celebration of both Charles and Sarah. Uh and in this case, I think my preference would be that we make it very clear that this is about Sarah

121Parker Raymond. >> There any further discussion? Seeing none, is there a motion? Amber Miranda, >> I'll make a motion that we uh name the Carlton Sultan Stall building after Sarah Parker Raymond. Um, so Sarah Parker, uh, Raymond, hopefully I'm pronouncing that right. I don't remember which one it is. Elementary. >> I'll second. >> Motion made by memoranda, second by member Cornell. Under discussion, any further discussion? >> Right. On the motion for the naming. I will call the role. Oh, member stock. >> Uh, thank you. I just had a point of clarification for the process here being again new to the committee and the policy, I believe I read that the naming needs three readings. Is that correct? So, it wouldn't go into effect until it's read three times. >> There's a motion on the first

122reading, believe. Is that right? >> Okay. >> Looking at the someone have the policy up. >> I just want to confir that that was so while we're voting tonight, there will be two additions. >> Mayor, do I need to amend my motion? It's a mot first reading. It's a motion for first reading. >> Of the naming. >> All right. Uh roll call vote. Member bias. >> Yes. >> Member Cornell. Oh, you're on mute. Member stop. Yes, >> member Hoffman. >> Yes, >> member Miranda. >> Yes. >> And myself. Yes. Matter carries 6 for the first reading of the naming of the Sarah Parker Raymond Elementary School. Next item under motions and resolutions, capital expenditure requests for 2026 2027 for the fiscal year 27 budget. >> Is there a motion? >> Motion to approve capital requests.

123>> I'll second motion made by member Cornell, seconded by member Miranda. under discussion. Seeing no discussion, we'll move to a roll call vote. Um this is on the motion to approve the requests for the capital expenditures for FY27 for the sale public schools. Member Cornell, >> yes. >> Member Sto, >> yes. Member Hoffman, >> yes. >> Member Miranda, >> yes. >> Member Bayas, >> yes. >> And myself, yes. Matter carries 6. We have no further motions and resolutions. Are there any announcements from committee members? >> Member Hoffman. Um, I uh just wanted to ask since with every Sorry, my dog's gonna bark while I'm talking. Um with everything that's happening in our country today, um I have been thinking a lot about our processes and our what are our plans um if uh ICE were

124to come to Massachusetts like they have in um in Minneapolis. And I'm very worried about our families of color that are legal immigr like that are not immigrants that are born here and being profiled. And I just wanted to ask like what our procedures might be to protect our families. Lucky. Um so sorry. I didn't know this going to happen. And then um uh how to protect our trans and non-binary students. Um these are just thoughts that uh I know a lot of fears with um a lot of my friends. Um and so I wanted to know if if we should have meeting somehow to talk about this because I want to make sure that school leaders are comfortable and our families are comfortable and maybe having a um Can you still hear me? um

125maybe having a uh like um a community dinner where we can bring in community members to talk and just kind of have like a casual like how are you feeling check-in with our community. Uh I don't know if that's something we can do, but these are just some thoughts I've had and it's been keeping me up at night. So I wanted to get from all of you uh what your thoughts are. That's it. Yeah, Laura, your hands up. Thank you. Um, thank you, member Hoffman. I can speak to that a little bit. We've had over the past uh couple of weeks um inquiries from parents and principles to our central office. I'm sharing the offices at the welcome center. We are supporting families and educator alike um with support or any um and like with

126a with our partners out of dorm. Uh we are we have done uh know your rights. Um we have done uh hang on I'm getting feedback that my connection is not that great. Can everyone hear me? Okay. >> Yes. >> Yeah. It's a little choppy. >> Can everyone hear me? Okay. Yes. Okay. Okay. Um, so we've been supporting families with uh know your rights information. We've been disseminating information around um if there is potential ICE presence, whether that's in Salem or in surrounding communities. Um, I uh was connected to a resource that was sent out to staff over the weekend for uh further know your rights training done through the mirror coalition and also bystander uh training that they are going to be offering in February and it's information that I'm happy to share with

127this body and also trying to gather some local resources for uh bystanders um and what to do um to and and what to do when they are wanting to find ways to support their neighbors. Um the one thing I will share is that families are are for sure nervous and I think having a space to have conversation maybe thinking about um having those online. I also don't want to put any pressure on our families who may be nervous about um even coming out to uh a potential dinner or anything like that. Not to add any more pressure and having to either share stories. Um, I think they're they're trying to figure out how to support themselves and their families and um but I think that there's still a space for those who want to support

128neighbors to find the proper channels on how to do that in a safe and supportive manner without putting more strain onto our families. Um, so I'm happy to share those resources that I'm putting together once I have um them better organized um with the school committee members and um that will be available for you all to also also participate in those webinars or training sessions. member Morirana. >> Yeah, appreciate uh this being raised as well and um all of the work that we're doing uh with our families to empower um and share information. also wondering if I don't I don't know if um if this would need to be like an executive session, but uh as a school committee member, I'd um be interested in having further discussion around what uh power we do have

129with the Salem Police Department in protecting um civilians from uh federal agents. Uh they already here, they already are here. um in Massachusetts, but um obviously not to the degree that they are um in Minneapolis. Um so and other places. Um, but I if it would be appropriate or if other um committee members or the mayor uh were interested, I I'd love to hear from the chief on this and how we plan on um putting certain um people potentially officers um having putting their bodies in between federal agents and um and our residents because it's it's terrifying what's happening. So, I I just want to flag that we're we're kind of moving from announcements to talking about it, like deliberating on something that probably should be on an agenda. Um, if we want to keep

130going this way and um this was not something that was on the agenda. So, I want to be cognizant of the fact that, you know, we're outside, I think, of what the scope of the announcements section of the agenda is supposed to be about. But, you know, um you know, member Miranda, member Hoffman, we can um I'll speak with the superintendent and and the chief and we'll see, you know, if we set this up as a separate meeting, uh or have a conversation with you directly about what those concerns are. But I know that there's wider interest from other members. So, it may be, you know, something that in order to maintain the um open meeting law consistency, we would have to have in some kind of either posted meeting or executive session. Are there

131any other announcements for the committee? >> Is there a motion? >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Roll call vote on the motion to adjurnn. Member Scott. >> Yep. Yes. >> member Hoffman. >> Yes. >> Member Miranda. Yes. >> Member Bayas. >> Yes. >> Member Cornell. >> Yes. >> And myself. Yes. >> All right. Thank you every everyone. We're journ for the evening.