001[music] N hey. Hey Heat. Heat. N. Hey. Hey. Hey. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. Heat. Heat. [music] Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. [music] Hey, hey, hey. [music] Heat. Heat. N. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] >> Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. N. [music] Heat. Heat. N. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. N. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Hey, hey, hey. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. [music] Heat. >> [music] >> Heat. Heat. Happy birthday. Hey, hey, hey. >> [music] [music] >> I'd like to call to order the school committee meeting of January 12th, 2026. Please stand for the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands, one
002nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Roll call, please. Miss Kender, >> Kathleen Emerald, >> here. John Nunes, >> Chris Oliver >> here, >> Mary Beckwith >> here, >> best Coughlin >> here. >> Uh, this be meeting is being recorded. It will be rebroadcast on DCTV and we it can be streamed on their YouTube channel at any time. So, we now welcome public comment from the audience on any topic in this evening's agenda agenda. Um, all comments should be made through me. [laughter] Uh, we have allowed 10 minutes for this. Please approach the mic, state your name, and keep your comments to 3 minutes, please. Okay, it appears that there is no public comment. Uh we will move to approval of the minutes for the regular minutes of December 8th, 2025.
003Do we have a motion? So moved. >> Second. >> Uh motion made by Mr. Oliver, second by Miss Amarall. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> I will abstain >> because I was not here. >> All right, that's uh 34, one against or no, one abstain. >> One abstension. And Mr. Nunes is not here. So, um thank you for that. And next up, we have the student representative report. Rose uh Roseanna Mereditus is our student rep. Welcome. >> Hi everyone. My name is Rosanna Meredus and I'm a senior at Dartmouth High. Um for today for the students events and performances, Dartmouth High proudly hosted the fourth grade and fifth grade students from our three elementary schools into our school community showcasing musical talents from our chorus, band, and strings. Um, we recently had
004poetry out loud on December 17th, giving students the opportunity to perform, engage in literary expressions for our community engagement and school spirit. Dartmouth Pride in Dartmouth Pride on December 13th, students and staff participated in the fill a bus teleathon, demonstrating Dartmouth pride through community service and charitable outreach. We also had the student student and staff participated in the festive ugly sweater day to celebrate the holiday season and promote school spirit. Best Buddies hosted a winter wonderland ball in the cafeteria of fostering inclusion, friendship, and community connection. It was a huge success. The D the DHS pops concert was held on December 22nd celebrating the season through students musical talents and performances. Students are now trying out for the Mean Girls spring musical at the as the Spongebob musical was a huge success. Um when winter
005sports are well underway, boys field hockey during the winter break delivered an impressive showing at the 2025 Dartmouth Holiday Tournament. The team defeated Somerset Berkeley 5 to4 and avenge last year's tournament loss. Um over the students the holiday recess provided students and staff with a well-needed opportunity to reset and rest and prepare for a strong return in this school in this new year. Students are now working on finishing quarter 2 off strong as quarter 3 is around the corner. A lot of seniors have committed to their early action decision schools and regular decision regular decision students are finishing off their college applications. That's all. Thank you. >> Why thank you. That's [laughter] quite a lot. That's not just all. [cough] We appreciate it. And um feel free to stay for the rest of the meeting
006or if you have homework or other activities you need to get to, feel free to go. >> Okay. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you so much. >> Have a good day. Thank you. Um, next up we have a consent agenda request coming from the Dartmouth High School MASC annual student conference, which you all should have received in your packet. Um, have we all read that? >> Is there any need for discussion? Any questions? >> I have no questions. >> Nope. None here as well. >> No questions. >> Do we have a motion to approve this agenda? >> So moved. Second. >> All in favor? Oh, >> I'm sorry. I'm supposed to say uh motion by Miss Beck with seconded by Mr. Oliver >> and discussion. >> Any discussion? >> No. >> All in favor?
007>> I I >> Any against? No, it's unanimous. Um so we have new business and uh Mr. Oliver is going to report on the Southeastern Mass Educational Collaborative quarter quarterly report. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Well, good evening everyone. Happy New Year. Uh I wasn't here at the last meeting. Uh but couple of updates here. Um I just last minute uh I just uh sent it over to Kate about an hour ago and I asked her to uh or Miss Miss Gensler an hour ago and asked her to forward it out to everyone. Uh so just a couple of highlights. Uh back in September, uh I was elected reelected to the chair of Smeck along with uh Michelle Smith uh from Marian I believe. Um, as well as that, some of the other highlights was,
008um, at our November 25th, at our November of 2025, uh, board meeting, our CPA, uh, Lara Stone from the, uh, collaborative independent accounting firm um, presented our FY25 audit and, uh, the collaborative board voted to approve and accept uh, the audit report. Um that's always a big big task as Mr. Kylie knows. Um as well as that, the collaborative also approved the content of SMMEX FY25 annual report and uh that should have been uh shared out with you as well. Um there's a lot of good information in there, a lot of great things that are happening over at Smeck. Um, as well as uh couple of other things just I'm just highlighting because I don't want to read uh verbatim. You all you all have it. Uh the board voted to renew the collaborative lease
009with the Fair Haven Public Schools uh for the 56 Bridge Street building in Fair Haven for a new 5-year term. Um this houses one of our programs. And last but not least, uh, the collaborative welcomes some new representatives from the Ausha in Fra Haven school committees. >> Happy to answer any questions that you may have. >> I don't have any questions. Anybody? >> No, >> I don't at the moment and haven't been able to review this, but if we do, [laughter] can we contact you? >> Yeah, I'm happy if you, you know, certainly you can reach out to me individually. Um, I'm happy to answer any questions that you may have. >> Not not a criticism. >> I No, I apologize for the uh the tardiness of it. Absolutely. I will mention that um just
010for uh those of you who may not be aware that SMMEC is an extension or just like South Coast Collaborative is an extension of the uh Dartmouth school district and um you know they provide these collaboratives provide a great um great advantage to member districts um and provide services for our students at a significant cost compared to a uh a private school education. Um, so just wanted to throw that out there that it's certainly um it's a it's a worthwhile endeavor these these types of collaborives. >> You I would just add to that that um we have a really strong partnership with South Coast and you with SME and South Coast and we do rely on their services. Uh we have a couple of classrooms actually in our buildings >> and uh one of the
011things that we're seeing is that there has indeed been an increasing need for us to rely on those types of services. So having a strong relationship with with smeck is been really beneficial for the district and I'm sure Mrs. Denio, Mrs. Redlom would agree that um that is some you know that they probably communicate with folks over there probably daily. [laughter] Uh so we're grateful that we have such a strong partnership. >> Absolutely. >> Great. Thank you, Mr. Oliver. >> Thank you. >> Um and we are moving right along to the superintendent. >> We are. I know. Um so first of all, I haven't seen everybody so happy new year. um 2026. So, yes. So, thank you. Uh um we're moving into the second half of the school year and as always, we have much
012to celebrate. I love listening to our student representative because she did in in a very short time she captured really a lot of what's gone on in the Dartmouth public schools over the past couple of weeks. Um because it seems as [clears throat] if it was a lifetime ago that we had the holiday pops concert. um you know in all of the events that were happening across the district in a really short amount of time. So she did an excellent job. So I won't repeat everything that she said but you know she took some of my report but I'm [laughter] grateful for that. I thank her. Uh so but this month we're right back into it. Our academic focus this month spec uh is really going to center on specialized professional growth and this is
013all connected to student outcomes. One of the things that you've heard us talk about and I know Mrs. Paveo has and Mr. and Dr. T-Bolt have talked about the work that we've done around with our professional development committee in bringing folks across the district together to hear from them as to what is the best way for us to provide professional development, professional learning that's responsive to what teachers are telling us that they need. We've done that through surveying. We've done that through a number of different um u methods. And what we heard loud and clear, and you know, this is me coming in a couple short years ago and in talking even with our union leadership is that the professional development strands that were once in place in the Dart schools were something that the
014teachers really enjoyed. They liked being part of and they felt that they had voice and they had opportunity. When we talk about voice and choice for students, this is our opportunity to offer voice and choice to our educators. And so this Wednesday marks the first of the five remaining early release days for the school year. And what we love about what we're doing and again I commend uh Mrs. Paveo and Dr. T-Bolt for the work they've led here. They put out just um you know uh I think a wealth of of opportunities that again educators are telling us that they're interested in. And so this will be a strandbased format. Uh, and this allows educators to sign up for specific topics to earn 10 hours of what we call PDPs or professional development points toward
015reertification. And as you know, our educators have to reertify every five years. And so this is an opportunity for us to listen to folks and to be responsive and at the same time for them to earn professional development points that are aligned with our strategic plan with our school improvement plans and with what we're hearing in the field as to what need what the needs are. Um so we will have content specific strands in ELA, math, science. There'll be some leadership strands. Um there's a strand dedicated and I think this is probably the first time we've done this to for our ESPs, our educator education support professionals. So we wanted to make sure that we were as inclusive as we could be and recognize that our ESPs are very much out in the field doing
016the a lot of hard work alongside our teachers. And this is one way for us to show the value and to really focus on some of the professional learning needs that they have. Uh I would also mention that in one of the strands is social emotional learning strand and I particularly again I think that this is a strong strand in that we have somebody an outside consultant coming in. His name is Charlie Applestein. Um he wrote a book called No Such Thing as a Bad Kid. Um he's really fabulous. I've actually heard him speak before, but attached to that, we're also working with the CH Children's Advocacy Center, and they'll be supporting the work that he's coming in to do. So, he'll do the first few sessions. They're actually going to come and they're going
017to um they're going to observe his presentations so that when it's time for them to take over, they're going to build off of the professional development that he's providing. Um, beyond that, we have our instructional leadership coaches that who are going to be out there leading some of this work. Some of our teachers, uh, there's going to be, uh, I know an AI component, uh, which I'm definitely going to try to get into because there's so much going on in that world. And the expertise that we have here in this school district through our instructional tech, Jonathan's department, our instructional technology coaches is really phenomenal. And I know you've heard us and I've shared with you some of not only the local recognition that some of these folks are getting, but some of them are
018getting national recognition for some of the work that is happening here in Dartmouth. U so I'll move on to budget capital improvement and HR. Um so as you know it's it's budget time and I think this is Jim's line not mine but this is the most active period of year of the year. Would you say Mr. Kylie for fiscal and facilities planning and we've been really busy with this all year long but now here we're coming to the point where we'll obviously start discussing budget uh very publicly. So schools all of our schools and departments have submitted their budget proposal uh proposals each request has been carefully vetted to ensure that it not only meets student need but also aligns with our strategic plan and our school improvement plans. And one of the things that
019we have been doing is in our individual meetings and as I said we'll be uh we'll be presenting on February 9th the official budget presentation. But one of the things that we've seen and heard is as we're sitting down with our school leaders, school and district leaders across the district, they're being responsive to what they're hearing from their faculty and there's not one thing that was submitted. there were there was not one request submitted that we didn't also submit ourselves. So that's how well aligned we are right now and that there were no surprises coming from the school-based folks and there weren't any surprises from us >> going as we shared uh preliminary budget information with school-based people. So, um, one thing that we're really excited about this week, as you know, because you'll be
020part of, is that on January 15th, we are going to conduct a tour of our facilities. We've invited the uh, town administrator, a couple of other folks from town hall will be joining us. We've invited the select board. We've invited the finance committee, the capital improvement planning team, and the long range capital improvement planning team. Did I miss anyone? I don't think so. So, we are going to start here at Dartmouth High School and we will have an overview, a presentation of some of our capital needs at the school level and then we'll tour the high school and then we're going over to the middle school and we'll do the same. And so, we've had a pretty good response at this point. Kate, do you remember where are we about approximately 17? So, we have
021approximately 17 people that will be joining us and probably a few more as we get closer. But the purpose of this is to evaluate, give folks a chance to get into our buildings and to evaluate the real needs. And when we're coming to the public and we're uh advocating for the concerns that we have around the facilities across the district, we want them to have an opportunity to have firsthand knowledge of what we're talking about. And so our schoolbased leaders will be conducting the actual tours in both buildings. So we're excited about that. U Mr. Kylie, we have two we'll give you an update. We have two MSBA updates actually. I think roof and today just today we heard from the S MSBA about um their core program. >> Right. Thank you Dr. S Magcguire.
022So um in terms of the core program, the MSBA opened their core program submission window today. Um, on January 27th, I'll be attending a um a session that they're doing on core program submission that they're encouraging potential applicants to attend. And then um I'll be working on preparation of the statement of interest to replace the Dartmouth Middle School building. So that project we've talked about before that would a submission of a state of state statement of interest for um the core program would require school committee approval and select board approval. U and we would need to accomplish that prior to April 17th. So we [clears throat] want to obviously be cognizant and give um cognizant of the select board schedule and give them as much time as they need to do that. So, I'm going
023to be working on that and get it to you and uh and then hopefully um gain your approval and then uh send it over to the select board for their consideration. The other project is the is the high school roof and windows and we're still waiting for them to uh appoint a project manager. So, we're we're not alone in that. That's um they haven't appointed them for the projects throughout the state yet. So, >> okay. Very good. >> I do have a question, Madam Chair. >> Yes. >> Thank you, Mr. Kylie. I do have a question about I know that we had in previous discussions, we've had conversations around uh new facilities >> and there was talk at one point about building a new high school >> and moving the middle school to this high
024school. And I'm just curious at what point have we have a as a committee had a conversation about which building we're going to move forward with. I'm just I'm just wondering if there's something that I maybe missed the last meeting. >> no, we didn't talk about it last meeting. >> Okay. >> I I think and really the this the work of um MSBA is work that Mr. Kylie's been more involved with than than me. So, I'm learning, but from what I understand, it's really the MSBA that will kind of dictate exactly what we do end up building and that as much as we we have to go forward with a plan and they'll let us know really where they think we should focus. >> Yeah. And I mean, you you have to submit a statement
025of interest for a specific building, >> right? But um when you do so then they will collaborate with us. And when you would submit you would indicate that you maybe uh are interested in focusing on the following different options including grade reconfiguration including um you know replacing a building that is a different is a different grade than the existing building. >> Okay. So I understand. So moving forward there's an application process and then >> there's a lot of potential scenarios that could come out of it. >> Feasibility study would be would be done. So they would appoint the project manager that we would then work with that project manager to um identify um an architect and begin the feasibility process which would include looking at the options. >> Right. because I know I think it
026was maybe East Bridgewater. You hear different things from colleagues and from uh people in the field and I know at one point uh MSBA asked the district to like we're we're willing to build you a new school but you're going to have to consolidate three schools into one. >> Yeah. Yeah. That is a priority for them because obviously >> there's an impact long-term with them looking at okay how many buildings can they actually replace with with MSBA funding because they have a limited pool of funding. So, so um there is um sort of a favorable view from MSBA if a project can accomplish multiple multiple you know basically improve um improve things in a way for the district and take care of multiple problems. In our case, I think that would pretty clearly be able
027to be done if you looked at um possibly a high school building. Thinking about grade reconfiguration and most likely the 1922 Kushman school would go away at the end of that process. Um, so, you know, I think, um, that would be something that MSBA would probably would certainly want to talk to us about and be in favor of of, uh, you know, incorporating into the into the process. So, >> no, that that's great. And I apologize if that came off, you know, which catching me off guard. It's just that's some this is something that I've been wanting for 13 years I've been on the committee is seeing a new building. Me, too. And you know, I I want to make sure that we're thoughtful about it and we this this community certainly owes uh you
028know, we we owe this community a new a new school. >> So, >> great. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I'll just add an addendum to that. New schools plural. >> Well, one at a time. [laughter] Yes. >> One at a time. >> Thank you, Mr. Kylie. >> You're welcome. >> Um did you have any more? >> Oh, yep. Okay. I'll move on to uh safe and supportive schools and I'll sort of backtrack a little bit and just make a connection to our district strategic plan and uh the PD that will happen the professional learning that will happen this Wednesday and it's around uh the professional development specifically the cell and special education strands with Mrs. Denisio and Mrs. Redlon wanted me to point out that the reason for that professional learning is that it
029because it directly supports the goal that we have connected to our strategic plan of fostering an inclusive and supportive school environment which you see is embedded in not only our strategic plan but certainly all of our school improvement plans as well. And so this is responsive to our strategic plan. And the reason that I bring that up is because I think it's important that we continue to talk about the work that we're doing with specificity related to our strategic plan. Because as we move forward and start to talk about the budget and what our needs are, you'll see that there are quite a few connections to social emotional learning and the special education strands and why the budget is in fact impacted by those needs. Those are real. and also with our ESPs, our education
030support professionals, the specialized training that they'll be receiving this Wednesday is to ensure that these folks that do really hard work alongside our teachers every day are receiving from us some of the training and the support that they need to be effective in the roles that they serve because we do have a diverse number of classrooms and students across the school district. And um we were just having this conversation earlier actually with our union leadership about the need for us to provide very specialized professional learning for some of the people who are working with some of our most um high need students. And so you'll hear that when we start to talk about the budget publicly. But what you're hearing now is how again that's a budget consideration when we're providing professional learning for our
031for our education support professionals. First of all, it's a budget consideration that we know that we need to uh have our education support professionals that they provide a vital role and at the same time we need to balance that with making sure that we're giving them some of the tools that they need to be able to be successful. So, you'll hear again more about that and the impact that has on some of the budget levers as we start to talk about the budget. Um, as under family and community engagement, I know that uh there is a workshop planned on Wednesday, February 4th. It's at 6:00. I have a flyer here. Um, it's called it's unlock your future. I'll pass it around for you to take a look at, but it's going to be right here.
032Well, it's going to be here at the um in the media center center. And so that is uh that will allow representatives from some of the area colleges to discuss how students can access and navigate disability services in post-secary education. So really important. I know Mrs. Denio and Mrs. Redlon worked hard on making sure that we had that opportunity for our students. And just as part of just ongoing transparency, we're leading up to the February 9th budget pres presentation and we will continue to update you and make those hopefully what you see is really strong connections between the work that's happening in the district and what that connection is to our district strategic plan. And that's I think all I have. I would. Oh, I I wanted to go back to just one thing and
033because I was here for the uh the uh band and chorus and the concert here at the high school where we had our students from across the district come, fourth and fifth graders. And I want to say that was a huge success. In the past, we we had only had the potter school K to five come. And so we've reorganized that. And I thank I really do thank uh Mr. Flint for making sure that happened because what this allows for is that every student in the school district at the elementary level regardless of the school you're in, you have an opportunity to come up here and to see that kind of performance because what we're looking part of what we're looking to do beyond the entertainment factor is to get kids interested in accessing music.
034And so and it it was really fun to be here and to see the excitement and to see kids come from the three different elementaryaries because eventually they were all going to be together in one place, right? So that was kind of like their first opportunity to be able to do that. So that was something that I think was wellreceived in the district and I think was a nice move forward. >> So thank you. >> Thank you. Um, so I have only to remind us the committee and the public that at our next meeting we will be discussing school choice and there will be public comment. There will be a public hearing on school choice. If anybody wants to um think about that and do you have something to say is anybody else have any
035comments updates for the week? I know. No. Oh, yes, Mr. >> I have a lot of talking. >> That's great. >> I'm talking a lot tonight. Um, I just wanted to share with the committee that I had the opportunity I attended, um, last week, uh, the, uh, public hear, one of the public hearings, one of the many to come on section 40B, um, which I don't know if you're familiar with that, but there's a lot going on in town. There's a lot of housing, a lot of building in town. and I attended uh the um Hawthorne and they were hearing the Hawthorne that night and the Hathaway that night. It was a continuation for the Hawth Hawthorne which was uh which is uh approximately this is what I got off the website but they may
036have reduced it since then. Uh but 147 units um slated for the former Hawthorne Country Club 55 plus housing. Um so that was a continuation. And I was really there for the initial hearing for the Hathaway, which is a 300 unit uh proposal uh for Hathaway Road uh including 12 studio apartments, 183 one-bedroom apartments, 75 two-bedroom apartments, and 30 uh three-bedroom apartments, which is certainly significant. Um this is that was the initial hearing. It's going to take probably a year uh for this to to come to fruition. Um but it's certainly some of the things it was just initial. Uh the next meeting is going to be in March. I would encourage any of you um that are on uh you know certainly live off of Haway Road or just interested in seeing what this
037is all about um to attend. Uh there's going to be they're going to be presenting their I believe their traffic study um on in March um at that meeting. And then there's several other different sciences that they're going to be presenting uh throughout the the remaining months uh over the next 6 to 12 months. Um but make no mistake that this is certainly going to affect um not only the infrastructure in this town um of which uh I believe the town is approaching the and maybe Nate knows more than I do uh but uh the 80% threshold for wastewater treatment. Um, and these are projects from what I understand that are all going to be tying into wastewater, um, as well as public water. Uh, so I know our water bills have recently gone up
038as well in Dartmouth. Um, so just be mindful we are under the state threshold for the 10% of section uh, 40b housing. So that's why, you know, we that sounds like the board of appeals is trying to work, excuse me, with these developers because ultimately if we deny them on the different basis that they can appeal to mass housing >> in which the mass housing can overrule anything that the town says and we have to agree to that. Uh so that is just one of four. Uh I mentioned the H the Hawthorne and there's also the preserve that's on currently being built already on State Road across from Cask and Pig. Uh last numbers for that was approximately 288 units. Um and keep in mind that I know at least with the Hathaway that not
039all of these are uh considered 40B. Maybe only a certain percentage um considered 40B lowincome housing. Um the rest will be at market value. Um then there's also which uh another one Sherbrook Farms. So that's a total of four that this town is uh that developers are looking to build in this town. I believe Sherbrook Farms I couldn't find it but I believe that's going to be at the old gravel pit across just past UMass Dartmouth off of Old Westport Road. Uh so just be mindful that ultimately um while you know we we have to work we try to the town is going to try to work with these developers that ultimately it's the taxpayers in this town that are going to be footing the bill when our wastewater treatment plant needs to be um
040updated uh or expanded as well as public infrastructure. And not to mention finally the school department that you know we're certainly not going to be able to based on some of these uh statistics and numbers handle you know with our current staffing levels while yes that's going to certainly it's Mr. Kylie, correct me if I'm wrong, this will be new growth, considered new growth. >> Um, >> yes, >> but it's not going to be enough new growth in revenue for us to support all these FTE um staff and faculty members. So, I just wanted to share that with everyone and just be mindful that these 40 these four projects are are going on in town right now. >> Thank you, Mr. Oliver. >> Thank you. Um, yes, that will affect our schools certainly. Um, so
041our next regular meeting of the school committee is scheduled for Monday, January 26, 2026 at 6 p.m. here in the Dartmouth High School Library Media Center. Um, and I would like a motion to adjourn into e executive session to conduct a grievance hearing pursuant to the collective [music] bargaining agreement between the Dartmouth School Committee and the Dartmouth Educators Association and also to discuss strategy [music] with respect to collective bargaining where an opening meeting may have the detrimental effect on the [music] school committee's bargaining position. That would be the Dartmouth Administrators Association. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Second. [music] >> U motion by Mr. Oliver, second by Miss Amiral. Um can we have a roll call, please? Miss Gunner to return. >> Oh, and not to return to open session.
042>> Thank you. >> Kathleen Emerald, >> yes. >> Chris Oliver, >> yes. >> Mary Beckwith, >> yes. >> Best Coughlin, >> yes. [music] [clears throat] >> Thank you all. And thank you all. [music] Are >> [music] >> you