9 Takeaways from the Dec. 6 School Committee Meeting

“Boutique Day” at Hynes Convention Center is slated for Saturday, April 11th. 1,800 students are invited to receive free prom dresses, shoes, jewelry, and purses at a giant one-day shopping event featuring 800 kind volunteers.

Leave a Comment

Residents asked to limit walks on school grounds to non-school hours

1. Rania Elouahi opened up the meeting with the Student Council Report. Fall sports have ended for the year, and winter sports began last week. The concert band and choir have a concert on December 14. The TMHS Theater Company tryouts for the Adams Family are on December 12.

2. Superintendent Brenda Regan shared in her report that Tewksbury received a $15,000 student use cell phone pilot grant. TMHS Principal John Weir will be working with student council to find the best way to to pilot that program. Regan also shared that last week there was a Special Education information session in regards to home and community support services. Mrs. White was at Center Elementary for 50 minute STEM lessons, for all grades, focusing on motion. These sessions were paid for with a Corning Foundation grant.

The district security team met to evaluate day-to-day security practices and emergency planning. Regan again stressed that no one should be on school property during the day without reason — this includes taking a walk or walking dogs. Educators become alarmed when people are walking around campuses.

3. Assistant Superintendent Lori McDermott recently attended a Title 1 conference with Literacy Director Felicia Cenanovic, Ryan School Principal Judi McInnis and Wynn Vice Principal Victoria Cordero, where they discussed best practices for Title 1 programming.

Standards-based report cards will go live December 15 and be available as an attachment in Aspen. McDermott did specifically point out that if a child has reached mastery on a topic it doesn’t mean they’ve reached it for the full year, just up to the current term. Parents can see the presentation on the new report cards or access an example on the district website.

Kindergarten registration will open on January 16. Information about registration will be posted on the district website closer to the date.

4. Dave Libby wasn’t able to attend the meeting, but Regan shared the Business Manager Update. The district has received two of the three quotes for engineering and design to repair the greenhouse rooms at the Heath Brook. Once this process is completed, plans can be made to fix the issue from the leaks over the summer. Quotes to fix the HVAC at the Wynn and Ryan came in higher than anticipated, so one school can be repaired this summer using ESSR grant money and the second school will have to be delayed until possibly next summer.

5. Member Reports

Tewksbury SEPAC: Nick Parsons shared that the TSEPAC’s regular business meeting was last week and that it was well attended. Annual goals were discussed; they are focused on outreach and community outings and increasing membership.
Wellness Advisory Committee: Rich Russo had the update from the meeting earlier in the day. The committee discussed the screen time grant the district received. They also discussed the importance of filling out the free and reduced lunch form, even though all lunches are free, since families can receive other benefits if they qualify. The wellness policy is ready for sub-committee review, they’ll be looking for feedback from DESE before presenting to the School Committee.

6. Policy Sub Committee (all updates can be found on page 30 of the packet)

First reading: Policy reviewed and recommended to revise
- KBDA – Notices to Parents/Guardians
- KBE – Relations with Parents Advisory Councils & Booster Organizations
- KCD – Public Gifts to the School
- KDB – Public’s Right to Know
- KDD – News Media Relations/New Release
- KE – Public Comments
Second & Final Reading: Policy reviewed and recommended to revise (unanimously approved)
- FB – Facilities Planning
- HB – Negotiations Legal Status
- HF – School Committee Negotiating Agents
- KA – School/Community Relations Goals
- KBA – School/Parent Relations Goals
- LBC – Relations with Home Schools

7. Regan also shared some updates on early college opportunities at TMHS. While AP exams are not required, 32 students requested them, which is 21 more than last year. TMHS also has seven dual enrollment classes with Southern New Hampshire University and Middlesex Community College. There are 12 students who have met the academic requirements for the Innovation Career Pathways to Engineering.

8. School Committee Matters of Interest: Per Parsons, the TSEPAC will be having a meet and greet for families, details to come. Katie Anderson said thank you for the list of holiday events shared and that she’ll be attending the Dewing showing of The Grinch with her family. Kayla Biagioni-Smith noted that the Wynn will be staging a production of Frozen later this month. Chair Bridget Garabedian congratulated the Rocket League making it to the Final 4. She also question if it’s possible to align town events with schools events so no there is no overlap.

9. Future Meetings