001Order a special meeting of the Salem School Committee being held on Monday, December 22nd at 7 p.m. This meeting is taking [music] place in person at 29 Highland Avenue, room 227 in Salem. Um the session is also being broadcast on Zoom. You can join the meeting using the Zoom link posted in the meeting agenda. Calling the meeting to order. First item is approval of the minutes of the school committee meeting of December 15th. >> So moved. >> Seconded. Motion made by member Cornell, seconded by member Campbell. Under discussion, seeing none. All in favor? Any opposed? The matter carries. Item three, >> do you want to start? >> Which is recognition of >> Oh, that's you, mayor. Mayor. Um, so I will start by saying first of all, uh, how much I appreciate having come into
002this role, um, knew with you both serving here that member Campbell and, uh, member Cruz have been just incredible, uh, uh, leaders for this committee, uh, friends and supporters to to me and to all the committee members here and to our entire district. >> Stay on the lap. [laughter] Um, I have just incredible appreciation for what you did, >> especially during the pandemic. Um, it was an incredibly challenging time to be in public service and to be on a school committee. Um, but Salem is a district that I think that we should all be proud of how it carried itself forward and uh, you both are leaders in that respect and and are reasons that that happened. Um, you both bring some incredible expertise that I think that has made this committee a better place,
003our district a better place. Um, and it's going to be hard hard to fill those gaps. Um, I hope that you will continue to be engaged with our district and reaching out to to me and reaching out to Steve and to all the committee members to let us know um, when we screw up and you wish [laughter] >> um, and where we can improve and and um, where we can build on our strengths together. Um, we have some tokens of appreciation, but I want to open it up to any of the committee members that might want to also share anything. Member Cornell, [clears throat] >> I'm going to read um some of your colleagues, Amanda and Manny, we were joking earlier that we would try and make this meeting as long as possible to keep
004you here a little bit longer. Um, and I actually offered to read the etmology of the word school, which by the way comes from the Latin scola, which was borrowed from the Greek, meaning leisure, spare time, or rest, because education was a pursuit for those with free time. And when I read that, I thought about how apt that was given how much free time you both must have had over the past eight years in order to be able to serve Salem public schools as well as you have. While on school committee, member Cruz worked as a legislative aid, served as senior policy fellow at Latinos for Education and on the boards of Leap for Education, Plameumber Youth Promise, and the Northshore Community Actions Program. He got married to his smart and very patient wife, Vanessa,
005won a second school committee term, had baby Ivy, got elected to the state legislature, had baby Ezra. Uh, am I leaving anything out? couple maybe. Oh, yeah. And is going to have another baby. >> And since member Campbell has been on school committee, she has worked as program specialist for the language support office of Lind Public Schools. married my former student Mike, who is apparently an adult human, [laughter] been promoted to deputy director of multilingual education in Berlin public schools, received the 2023 Excellence in Literacy Leadership Award from the Celebrate Literacy Day organization, cared for their beloved dog, NOVA, won a second term on school committee, served as an associate with the Multi-state Association for Bilingual Education, completed coursework for a PhD at Boston College, and is now completing her dissertation. So much free time.
006Free time to lend your experience and expertise to the children of Salem and to this body by men mentoring new bu me members in ways big and small and by setting strong examples of what it means to serve students, schools, and teachers with integrity. I think I speak for all of us when I say that we are devastated that you are leaving us, but we appreciate your service and guidance over the years. Um, I could make this longer if we really want to torture them, but I will just end by saying that I hope I hope you can find some ways [clears throat] to fill all this time uh in 2026 and beyond. So, thank you. >> Hello, Miranda. >> Thank you. uh appreciate both of you guys. I feel like it's it's been a
007very somehow short and long period of time that our times have over overlapped. Um, and I specifically want to call out Representative and Vice Chair Manny Cruz and just appreciate you um, publicly for your support um, in my run on the school committee and all of the um, all of the guidance and the mentorship uh, that you have given me and Yamaly Bayz, our next um, school committee member. and I have full faith that you'll continue uh to encourage and and push um amazing, brilliant people of color in the city of Salem and beyond uh to serve in public office. Um so appreciate both of you guys and the end. >> Right. >> I'm I'm Can I say something too or No. >> Okay. [laughter] >> Go ahead. I'll just uh just say um you
008know when I got hired to this position uh both Manny and Amanda were on the committee um and it was right I I I think I met them during the interview process but my first impression was like these are very two very tall individuals >> [laughter] >> uh when I because I we were in CO for a long time and then I saw them in person um and I was just I I was taken a back like they're not only do they pack a punch in other ways but they are imposing tall people. [laughter] Um, so just want to share my first impression, but >> [clears throat] >> um I I think just in all in all seriousness, these are uh two as a superintendent, you will you will rarely find um school committee members
009with such deep expertise on K12 education. Um I have been very fortunate to to have both of them and they're not shy people. Neither of them are shy. Um, but they know their they they know a lot more about aspects of our work than I could ever know about the work. And um, Amanda has just amazing expertise in supporting multilingual learners in ways that um, I don't think people in the public know. She's one of the foremost, I think, educators out there. And, uh, it will be I sorely missed because I could always pick up the phone. I will call you anyway. Um, and um, to get like firhand guidance and direction from someone with that level of expertise is is really unique. And I I don't I I'm not sure the city of Salem
010realizes how fortunate we've been to have that guidance. And Manny is he's, you know, a product of this city. He knows this city better than anybody. He understands the Latino community as as well as anybody does. and he developed a deep understanding of how to support um to build pipelines for staff of color to uh create conditions for that to happen. He uh was always connecting I he's he's a connector and I I don't think I've ever received more referrals to connect with people during my time here and it was always people who could help the Salem public schools. um and his um just his tremendous energy and advocacy for this uh not just for K12 education but for Salem because he's a he's a product like I said he's a he's a a son
011of the city and everything he does is in support of this city. Um and so these are huge losses for the Salem public schools but I know they won't be far away. Manny's still a parent. Amanda's still a real life educator and uh you know we'll get [snorts] her back to Salem at some point um now that she's not on the school committee. Um but the thing that I I would say is the will be the biggest loss is I remember being so struck at how the two of them care so deeply about kids and the voices of kids. And one of the when I left the interview, I remember thinking like this is a group of people and these two um as much as anybody who care more about the voices of youth and
012cared about youth um advocacy and making sure that students had a say in their own education. And that I think is their lasting um is is there going to be their enduring legacy is they always would push me and have pushed me on what do the kids think? What do your students think? what are you listening to youth the student advisory advisory committee was their pride and joy and uh that says a lot um there are many school committee members or school committees that don't have the same push around listening to the voices of youth and that is something that Manny and Amanda truly represent is our kids and um and and and and and want to make sure that everything we do is is uh student centered. So I'm grateful for them. I'm grateful
013for everything they've brought to the school system. I've been a I be I I've been better at my job because they've been in their roles. Um and they will continue to get um as much as I'm sure they don't want to get those calls and those texts, uh they will continue to because they are huge assets to the city of Salem and to the Salem public school. So yeah, enjoy all the free time, but I'm not sure how much free time we're going to give you. [laughter] And these are not people that know what to do with free time because they don't have it. So congratulations and thank you for your service to the kids of Salem. [applause] Um, so I also want to recognize that we have a number of former school committee members
014who served with you both in the audience, Anna Nunio and Kristen Pangalo, Dr. Kristen Pangalan. Um, as well as our state senator Joan Lovely. Um, I I spoke with Lieutenant Governor who also served on the school committee with you both. She wasn't able to be here, but sent her very best regards and appreciation for all that you've done. >> We have a couple of tokens of appreciation to present to you both. Want me just hand it off to you? >> That works. >> No, no, no. You got to stand up there and get your photo. No, you got to do photos here. Ivy makes the rules right now. >> She wants to stay right there. Yeah. Okay. >> You can hold up. >> She doesn't care. >> We have uh a clock to mark your
015time. serving our community. >> Yeah. Yeah. I'm just [laughter] I'm presenting it to you. I'm presenting it to you. Oh, are we really getting out of >> the city seal uh recognizing and honoring Manny Cruz and Amanda Campbell for their years of service to the Salem School Committee there, uh throughout their tenure, playing a vital role guiding Salem public schools through many challenges, championing Salem as a positive and welcoming community and consistently working with the best interests of students at the forefront of their efforts. On behalf of the city of Salem, we extend our sincere gratitude for their leadership, commitment, and the lasting positive impact they've had on Salem public schools. We thank them for their service and look forward to their continued support of our school community. [applause] >> She's not going to get
016off. >> Um, I do we also have we we like to withhold swag from school committee members until they leave. And Amanda has been on in my ear about that for years. Like we don't we don't have the funds to provide you with like, you know, a [laughter] full wardrobe. But we >> I offered to pay. >> Yeah. >> Um but we have a a bag full of swag for each of you too that has a sale in public schools. Now that you're leaving, what's that? >> Bag of swag. [laughter] >> Bag of swag. Yeah. For each of uh the each of the school committee members. I don't know, Elizabeth, if you want to pass those down. The gifts keep coming. Um, >> oh my god, my jealousy is tuckling. >> The tote bag. >>
017I bet I have >> bag of swag. >> Swag. >> Pass it right over. She's been eyeing it all night and I'm not sure. >> You got to return it. [laughter] >> Oh dear. >> Um, >> can we get a photo then up front? >> Yeah, photo has to happen. Are >> you [laughter] photo or you're still [snorts] okay? Do you have a Yeah. >> You want to come up? Yeah. >> We're not done serenating you with things. >> We're gonna We're gonna come right out. [laughter] >> Although, I need to know if you guys did this to me on purpose and printed it crooked just to >> Yeah. [laughter] And I was like, we could fix it or >> torture her final. You know, >> she'll never notice. >> She'll never ever let it
018go. [laughter] I'm totally photo bombing myself on purpose. >> Yeah, completely. You [laughter] look nice. You look You think this is the appropriate thing to do? >> Can I say [clears throat] a couple words? >> Go to the microphone. >> The microphone, Joan. >> Good. You want to just go to the >> Absolutely. >> Hi, Joan Lovely, state the state senator for Salem. First, I just want to say thank you to anyone and everyone who serves on a school committee. It is such incredibly vital, critical work. And I don't think I've never served on a school committee, although I was asked a long very long time ago and I declined at the time. I was a young mom, didn't think I had the time to do it, but I've always um regretted that decision after
019seeing different members of the school committee and everything that you bring to for our kids, for our students, and for our families. So, thank you to everyone who has served past, present, and future. And to the two honores, thank you in particular to both of you for your service, your eight years of service. It's a very big commitment and you're here for every single meeting. And it's not just this meeting. There's lots of sub meetings. There's lots of work that goes in behind the scenes when you are a public servant. And you both have just brought the your best selves to this work. And we're just so very very grateful for all that you have done for Salem. Salem children, including mine, when they were here. You weren't here, but they were here at one
020point. And I have grants that are coming up as well. Um, so I do have two citations that I wanted to present, and I will read one uh to both of you. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, state senate official citation. Be it known that the Massachusetts Senate hereby extends its congratulations to school committee member Amanda Campbell and Salem School Committee member and state representative Manny Cruz in recognition of your eight impeccable years of dedicated service to the Salem school committee and Salem families and students. And be it further known that the Massachusetts Senate extends its very best wishes for continued success that this citation be duly signed by the president and signed and transmitted by the clerk. It is offered by our president Karen Spilka and offered by me your state senator. Congratulations and thank you. [applause]
021Let's get all this [laughter] dressed for this. >> Get the former members to join them. Okay, >> we live through a pandemic together. I mean, >> we have a filter. >> That was low. >> You're going to have to leave. >> Oops. Knock down. >> There's a picture. >> This is harder than it's upside down. [laughter] >> This one was real. We really give these out all the time. >> Now it's on the side. All right. One, two, three. One, two, three. Last one. >> We'll do that at the end cuz they're a little disregulated. >> Okay. Thank you. >> When I was on city council, [clears throat] >> if they wanted, >> can I really? I don't want to. >> Member Campbell. I don't Do you want to say anything? You don't have to.
022>> Yeah. >> Sure. >> Okay. Um, so, anyone who knows me well knows I don't typically prepare my remarks before I speak. I prefer a more off the cuff. Um, but I've had a few things on my mind um, these last eight years um, or as I wrap up these last eight years. And so I actually did write them down, type them up, very official. Um, and so I first want to say these past three months are definitely not how I imagined ending my time on committee. Um, Salem, I feel like took a chance on me as a brand new educator a long time ago, and it took another chance again on me when I decided to run for school committee. Um, and I'm I'm so proud of the work that we've accomplished over these
023eight years. Um, I leave really encouraged, um, knowing that Salem Schools is stronger than when I found it. Um, to any members of the public who may be watching, um, I know how I voted last Monday may not be the decision you would have made had you been in my position. Um, and for me that feels very poetic and full circle. Um, because I first ran for school committee in 2017 out of frustration. Um, I was frustrated with a series of controversial decisions. Um, I was frustrated with the lack of representation from current educators on this body. I believed then, and I still believe that now, that it matters to have someone sitting in this seat who spends every day in public schools working alongside educators, students, and families. Um, that it matters that you
024have someone who understands the consequences of the decisions we make here. Um, and especially for our multilingual learners and our immigrant students. Um, so rather than sit in that frustration, um, I chose to run. And so if there's anyone who's feeling that same frustration today, I encourage you to do the same. These last eight years have taught me how to make really hard decisions and how to make those decisions in public, which is a totally different thing to do. Um, so how to look at the research and the data, how to seek out community input, and most importantly, how to balance that information with my own professional expertise and make decisions guided by what's best for our youngest constituents here. Um, so if you disagree with any decisions that have been made, um, I would
025just say consider having the courage to put yourself forward and work towards a different future or a different vision. Um, I'm I'm so glad that I did because I've gotten a lot out of these last eight years. I know that every person on this committee ran because they believe in that better future for our students. You do not sacrifice the amount of time and the amount of energy and the amount of work that this demands of you um, unless you do. And so I know that everyone here um believes deeply and cares deeply about our responsibility to make equitable decisions um and making sure that those decisions are made with the best of intentions even when they're challenging, even when they're contentious. We [snorts] don't always get it right. We don't always agree. The work
026is often messy and at times it's uncomfortable, but we continue to show up. We continue to engage and to wrestle with really hard questions. And to me, that's representative democracy and action. Um, and that's something to safeguard and protect always, but especially during times like this. Not every school committee gets to be composed of members who are so thoughtful and so equity-minded. And it has really been a true privilege to serve with all of you alongside um each and every one of you making these tough hard decisions. So I would like to leave everybody watching and sitting here with a little piece of advice. Um and that is that there is a fundamental difference between believing in equity and actually enacting it. One requires only words. The other requires sustained actions, discomfort and accountability. Enacting
027equity moves means moving beyond intention and into practice. It means questioning whose voices are being centered, whose experiences are being prioritized, and who is bearing the consequences of your decisions. Equity is something that must be demonstrated consistently through the choices you make. And so, um, in order to enact these, uh, equitable decisions, you have to be in real and ongoing conversation with the community for whom you are trying to enact it. Um, I'm skipping a lot of this because it feels like a long time, but my hope for you is that this committee holds itself to the standard of deep listening, of meaningful partnership with the communities most impacted by every decision. Um, recognizing that the strongest outcomes are built with communities, not merely for them. Um, it's hard work, it's necessary work, and I'll
028be rooting for you guys every step of the way. [applause] Member Cruz. >> Thank you, uh, Mayor. And, uh, it's really humbling to be closing this chapter of public service. Like, uh, member Campbell, I prefer to speak from the heart, but I did write things down so I wouldn't lose track of my thoughts. Uh, I want to thank the the members of the committee for the kind words. Dr. Reich. Uh, I really appreciate those affirmations and the ways in which you all uh saw me as a leader, as a friend, and someone who uh showed up every day on behalf of Salem's children. Um, so I just want to express my my gratitude to all of you uh for those kind words. Um, but I first want to just begin by thanking the voters, the
029voters of Salem uh who placed their trust in me eight years ago uh to hold this position as a school committee member. It was June of 2017 when I launched this campaign for school committee and it was with the aspiration of being a new voice for our parents, our educators, and most importantly for our students. Um, the superintendent mentioned it. I'm a proud product of these public schools. I went to Horse Man Collins Middle School. I graduated from uh from Salem High School in 2010 and with my wife uh and two cats in a stroller uh when I was just a recent grad of the Salem public schools in Northeastern uh we knocked uh 17,000 doors with the help of volunteers um all across the city and we want to seat at the table. And
030until this very day, I'm incredibly grateful to every single voter who opened up their doors and saw a young person with passion for their community and was willing to give time uh to me uh to ensure that I could serve in the seat uh with a very important mission of ensuring that all students could get what they needed from this public school district. Uh and many folks had shared over the last eight years their different priorities and aspirations for the future of Salem with me. and my journey on this committee was only possible because of the support that you provided me uh to make some of those things real and I'm eternally grateful uh to all of those voters and supporters who uh put their trust in me. I want to thank the again my
031colleagues um who for their dedication to the children educators and families of the Salem public schools uh from our former mayor uh Kim Driscoll our lieutenant governor now uh former school committee members Dr. Kristen Pangalo, Ana Nunio, Chris Wilson, member Fleming, uh Jim Fleming, all of you played an instrumental role in shaping uh the debate. Uh we deliberated, we collaborated and we wrestled with difficult situations and I became a better public servant uh having served alongside you and the current members of this committee. Um these are leaders who again I I see as incredibly dedicated who center kids in all of their decision-m and over the years uh as I've stepped into my own leadership as the vice chair when this committee has been at odds when we've been in harmony when we've disagreed when
032we've uh worked really hard to establish our decorum and we face challenges uh the one thing that I really admire about all of you is uh the ways in which each of you were willing to reflect on your practices as leaders uh and to work to rebuild trust with each other and with the community. And we have some promising and challenging years ahead as a school district and as a community. And it's my hope that all of you will continue to be reflective, be willing to pick up the phone and call uh your old friends uh and to build bridges of understanding between each other, but also with the families, the educators, and the students that we serve. Uh, I want to express uh some more gratitude and thanks to the union leaders that I
033had the pleasure of sitting at the bargaining table with. Um, I say this all the time and I mean it. We have the best uh public servants in the Commonwealth serving our children here in Salem. So, beginning with the STU, I'd like to thank President Burman, uh, Vice President Karen Tucker, my beloved seventh grade English and social studies teacher, uh, former STU President Beth Ktos, affectionately known as Mama Ktos. Um, I want to thank you all for your collaboration, uh, for your honesty, the dialogue that we've had over the years, and to thank you for your willingness to help me grow as an education policy maker. Uh on the administrator side, I definitely want to thank everyone in the SAA that I've worked with over the years from Deb Conny, Lin Mullen, uh Monnique Osgood,
034ASME, uh my friend Paula Gist, and Steven Dost. Um and each of you, I think, have played a a critical role in ensuring that for those that take care of our children that they have what they need. And as I move on from this particular journey, what I hope my colleagues uh will continue to center uh is the need for us to think about different ways of engaging our staff to make sure that we're hearing their voices as um we're making decisions. Uh I I think being a recent alum of the public schools, I had the the deep pleasure of having proximity to some great educ educators who were willing to pick up the phone, call and speak to me about the things that they thought were important. uh and I listened with the intent
035to understand, not what the listen uh not listening to respond to what they were saying. Uh and many of them I think counseledled and coached me uh in the ways in which we could be showing up for our kids and for educators in this district um in a more equitable way. So I want to thank all of those people that are hidden figures in Salem public schools. Uh but in particular, I want to thank my dear friend and a mentor um who's my favorite teacher um Brad Malone. uh you were a little bit of a different teacher for me uh teaching me conflict resolution. Uh and what I would name uh for you uh Mr. Malone is that when you took that chance on me in sixth grade when I first came in through your
036office, you saw a young man who was clearly carrying a lot of anger in him. Um you did something that was really important. You you engaged in restorative justice. You listened to me. You asked me what was important. And at the time I didn't recognize what you were doing, but you were building me up. I didn't understand why you wanted to be the cap be to be the captain of the Wolfball team or the basketball team. Um or the flag football team. I was really short and unathletic. Uh but now as a mentor, I understand that you were filling my cup that you saw that I had talents and gifts and that I just needed something positive and constructive to do. Um and so I thank you, Brad, for seeing me, all of me, and
037by teaching me conflict resolution. uh you not only helped me resolve the conflict between myself and my peers, but you also helped me resolve the conflict within myself. And uh to this day, I I use those skills uh and try to be a restorative resolver is what I call it uh in the community. And uh I hope that uh I can continue to support young people in their journey to do the same. So there's a I think a few more things that I would just uh want to share with uh members of the community about the future of the Salem public schools. Um it's it's a bright one. Two of my children are going to be in the Salem public schools next year. We're expecting a third uh come this May. Um and I'm wearing
038this this fantastic suit. And this particular suit is actually my first suit that my mother gifted to me. Um and I wanted to wear it today uh because when my mom gave me this suit um it was at a time in which I was in a tremendous transition in my life. Um I was 15 years old. I had just been suspended uh from Salem High for about 10 days. And my mom told me that someday in this suit that I would transform our family uh and our very lives. And I didn't know that my mother was putting blessings into this suit, but she did. and as a single mom who had to survive domestic violence, um who worked with uh so many different social workers to get us what we needed and uh really just
039put us first. It was just incredible. Um and now my kids have the the luxury of being uh taken care of by my mom and I get to relive all the joys of just how loving of a parent she was uh to me and my two brothers. So, um, when I think about the future aspirations that I have for this district, it is about the families that need us the most. Those that may not necessarily be able to come to a school committee meeting for a whole variety of reasons. They may not speak the language, but they believe in the promise of this country and public education. Um, and it's important that we reach out to them. Uh we've done a lot of great things on behalf of families uh and children, but uh as
040I think about my role in stepping off, um I think about the representation that we need to see uh and that representation isn't possible if we don't create space uh for those that we don't often hear from. So, um, my my larger message being, uh, if we want more of our families that speak different languages to attend, uh, our our meetings and to engage in the process that we need to ensure that we're creating space for them in a way that, um, they feel safe and they feel comfortable. If we want to have more diverse educators and those that have different gifts that are multilingual educating our students, we can't just recruit them, we have to retain them. And if we want this school committee uh to reflect the very diverse experiences of uh our
041students and our educators, then we have to make sure that when we have um school committee members that are on this committee that represent those backgrounds that we build them up and we give them opportunities for leadership. Uh and that's what I've seen members of this committee do over the last eight years. Um and continuing that commitment will ensure that many others will follow um myself and member Campbell uh to put their names on the ballot and run for school committee. So it's with an immense uh gratitude and a little bit of um regret that I couldn't do more for all of our kids that I leave this committee, but I do so with uh the intention to help from a different perch. Uh, and I just want to thank every single person uh, again
042who's been a part of my journey, that's helped support me over the years, and I look forward to continuing to support you all. And I'll be rooting for you um, on the sidelines. Thank you. [applause] Back to our regular agenda. All right. >> Yeah. Competency determination. >> Okay. Um hard to follow those um speeches. Um I hope everybody's enjoying the start of winter break. Um and a full two weeks. Um and I don't know why we have educators. No, we I know why you're here, [clears throat] but uh [laughter] um it says a lot that you're here to uh on a day that uh we didn't have school. Um I just there's two items uh that we have on the agenda for review. Um and I'm I'll let um Deputy Superintendent Carboni talk about it
043in one moment. Just just so you uh are reminded every year we do come to the school committee around the programs of study for um all three of our high schools. Um, in recent years, we've asked that, uh, New Liberty and Salem Prep also submit programs of study for your review. And thanks to the good work of our school leaders, who I think are on, or at least some of them are on as well. If there are questions, um, we now have programs of studies for all three high schools, which I'm very excited about, and I want to thank Deputy Superintendent Carboni and our our school leaders for making that happen. And then what's new this year is that we're asking for your approval on um the competency determination for um for high school. Um
044it is uh this is what this is uh we've been we're required to submit a new policy around high school competency um that replaces the what was the MCCAST um requirement the requirement that the MCCAST fulfilled which was competency. It's not the graduation requirements. graduation requirements have always been local and we continue to have our local requirements for each one of the schools. The competency determination was a statewide um determination based on passing um the MCCAST assessment in um English language arts, in math and in science. that has now been replaced now by after the ballot question that failed uh by uh local uh local determination which is what we have before you today. The state the department of education has given us a lot of guidance to follow and we believe that our policy
045which I I know has been reviewed by the curriculum subcommittee and the policy subcommittee uh meets the um the criteria established by the department of education. Uh, so Kate, I'll turn it over to you if you want to add anything to that. >> Yeah, not much to add other than we did receive um guidance from Desessie um to follow in developing the policy. There were several webinars that we could um get on to get further guidance um as we develop this and we worked together with uh the schools and their teams to compile this and we did um share and present it to uh the curriculum subcommittee um a couple of weeks ago I think and I'll turn it over to member Camela in a moment. Um but [clears throat] there is some overlap between
046the graduation requirements um the local graduation requirements and the competency determination. Um but the graduation requirements cannot replace the competency determination. So the CD in short for competency determination has two components. Um so they h students have to um fulfill um the and meet the local graduation requirements and also um well the competency determination has two components. One is they need to show mastery um of um coursework in English language arts, math, science and with the for the graduating class in 2027 um US history as well. and then they also have to show successful um or satisfactory completion of the coursework. So in the policy we kind of outlined both and how they would do that. Um we have different grading scales um depending on which high school the student attends. So we outlined um
047the courses and what um the student would need to show in terms of mastery um and the grading scale to pass the course. Um and then all three schools did elect to have um a final exam um and successful completion of a final exam um meet you know uh be the determining factor for um mastery of the course work. Um so there are those two components um and they're outlined in the policy. The policy also includes other um practices that have been in place to support um students with disabilities and um students who may come into um the district um after 9th grade um and how um the school would determine um meeting the CD. So those are outlined in there as well as well as the appeals process. So, I'll turn it over to
048you, Member Campbell, um, to take it from there. >> Sure. Thanks. Um, first of all, I'd like to say I was lured here under false pretenses. I was promised a reception and now there's been No, I'm just kidding. [laughter] >> And I'm not at all cranky about it. Um, but um, no, everything Deputy Carboni said is um, spot on. It came out of curriculum unanimously recommended to move forward. Um, and I would just flag that um, given some of the changes that are already coming out from the state and expected to continue to come out, it's a bit of a moving target. So, if there are, you know, you guys have had an opportunity to review it, but if there are nitpicky little things you may want to change, we're almost certainly we y'all are
049almost certainly going to have to change it again anyways. Um, so I don't know if uh, policy had any additional recommendations, but we moved it over to policy just to get their official um, stamp of approval on it. Uh yeah, we did not have any additional comments. Uh we are going to make a motion whenever the mayor asks for it. >> And just can I just add one thing that this is something that we need the committee to approve so that we can we have to um uh submit it to the department of education by December 31st. >> And we may receive feedback from the department. >> Correct. based on our >> Yeah, >> you don't think so, Member Campbell? >> I was going to ask >> Don't tell him. [laughter] >> I was going
050to ask if um this was considerably different than what other districts are doing. >> No. >> Um so I'd move to approve it. >> Second. But um we also need to include in the motion uh we need to suspend and adopt. We need to suspend the three reads policy um to adopt >> accept that friendly amendment. >> So the friendly amendment member Campbell has added. So I will second with that friendly amendment. >> So the motion is to approve the um graduation requirements and compensate determination policy and suspend the rules uh requiring third reading >> to make final reading and approval. >> Yes. >> Motion was made by member Campbell, seconded by member Cornell. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? Any opposed? Matter carries. 6. Next item on our agenda is program of
051studies schools. >> Uh so as we do annually, the schools um review their program of study. they consolidate and make um uh sort of a list of what uh changes they're recommending. And at the same um uh curriculum subcommittee uh meeting, we had all three principles present and they outlined the changes that they were making to courses. Those are outlined in the PowerPoints that were presented to you in your packets. Um, I would say, uh, the one difference is with the Salem Prep, this is their first year with a program of study. So, it's great that they've, um, codified a, you know, a a program of study for their school as well. Um, and this is the second year for the new Liberty School. Um there weren't substantive changes but changes that um were made
052uh from the ILT from the schools and feedback they had gotten from students. Um so and they were presented at curriculum subcommittee and um I think approved. >> Yeah, they was unanimously recommended to be brought forth to the full committee for approval. Um and I know I mentioned this in the curriculum subcommittee. can't remember if I said it at last meeting when I reported out. Um but as um Deputy Carboni mentioned, this is the first time that we've had programs of or Dr. Dre said it, I'm sorry. Um that we've had them from all three schools. Um and I just want to personally note that that's very exciting to me. Um that to me feels like equity and action to show um uh students and families, the consistency across three schools, but also the unique
053opportunities and for them to feel like they've got structure and care and thought behind them. Um, we know that, you know, all three of our high schools have that and now they have documents that really support that. So, thank you for all the work to make sure those three came up. Um, and then I would move to approve the program of studies for the 2627 school year. >> Second. >> So, motion to approve the program of studies for the three high schools for the 2627 school year made by member Campbell, seconded by member Cornell. Under discussion, seeing none, all in favor? Any opposed? The matter carries 6. >> Member Cruz. >> Move to adjurnn. >> Seconded. >> Motion to adjurnn by member Cruz. Seconded by member Campbell. Under discussion. Any discussion? >> Will. >> Yeah.
054[laughter] All in favor? Any opposed? The matter carries. We're adjourned. Thank you.