School Committee: December 21, 2023

Transcript captured from MHTV’s Vimeo auto-captioning. No speaker labels; proper names and dollar figures occasionally misheard. Click any timecode to jump to that moment in the source video.

0:01 Yes, Alex. Um, I want to commend the staff at Lever. Um, what has slowly become uncovered this past two weeks is indescribable for me. I can’t fathom what it must be like for you. There’s been a lot of chatter and many have inquired, uh, and I feel it’s imperative to remind folks that this came to us as a school committee as soon as the complaint was escalated. Anything prior to that is operational and is not in our purview, and we don’t even know anything about it. Um, until those complaints do come up, I feel it’s important to let you know that I stand with you, um, and that it is, uh, really just disheartening

0:47 to read everything I’ve read, most of which is on social media, which I know needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Um, but I wanted to provide that support, um, to you. So thank you.

1:02 Can I just make a quick comment? I just, without belaboring the point, I wanna thank Allison for making that statement and I confer with hers as well, her as well. Um, and I, I thank you for all coming here tonight and for all of your commitment to our students.

1:17 Um, was there a public comment sheet that had gotten around? Um, is that, is that the one that was on the back to excuse? Yeah, I mean, is there one behind you? They’re, they’re all, they’re all the same

1:32 as you come up, you, our policy is that you can state your name and address for the record, if any staff members uncomfortable stating their na their address. I will leave that tonight. Um, Jane Sullivan.

1:48 Oh, one minute. Let me just give you a little blurb on public comment. So our policy on public comment, you can keep coming while I talk, talk. Our policy on public comment is maximum of three minutes each for a total of 15 minutes. Um, we will allow more comment ‘cause we, it’s very important to us to hear from everybody, but it’s also very important to me that we adhere to our policies. ‘cause I think when we don’t is when we really can all agree is when we get off track. So when we hit the 15 minutes, we’re gonna go back to our agenda. It’s a very, very short agenda. So bear with us. It’ll be, you know, just a few minutes and then I’m gonna return to public comment again and I welcome to everyone to, to speak again. Who wishes to, um, so we’ll start with Jane. Do I just stand here?

2:33 So we’re gonna sit down and, um, bring, we’re gonna bring the microphone over to you guys so that everyone can hear.

2:52 My name is Jane Sullivan. I live in and I’ve been teaching for 21 years, 10 of those in Marble Men. I’m, I’m currently at Glover School. Tonight I’m speaking in support of my Glover colleagues. When an individual’s behavior is unpredictable and unsafe, it causes those around that individual to put their guard up and be on high alert, activating the amygdala, the fight, flight, or freeze portion of the brain. No child class or teacher should be asked to remain in this state. Heightened alert for any extended period. Remaining in this state causes UE stress and trauma. I know this because I spent five months in this state of alert while trying to teach and keep my class safe. I asked repeatedly for a support person for a student in crisis, but I did not receive it.

3:39 I stated that I did not have the specialized screening to help the student emotionally and behaviorally. And I was not comfortable with the situation. I was told to ignore the behavior and keep teaching even though his behaviors were alarming and disruptive, not only to our class, but to our entire hallway. And late later, the building as a whole, administrators have directed teachers, students, and staff to ignore these behaviors and keep teaching. They’ve allowed disregulated students to roam the hallways unsupervised and to disrupt multiple classrooms with screaming, slamming of doors, hiding, throwing objects, and other unpredictable behaviors. They’ve ignored multiple requests for staffing and help as these students have escalated their behaviors. When the administration has failed to act and has lacked an effective protocol to address these students in crisis, they sent a message

4:27 to the rest of our student body that is here and seeing these behaviors. The message sent is that these behaviors are acceptable and that some students do not have to follow the same school rules. Every teacher taught here has empathy and wants to do what is best for a child. But we also have to meet the needs of all the children and look out for the physical safety and mental health of all students, teachers, and the staff. Asking a teacher to remain responsible for a student that requires them to remain on high alert and leaving them alone to manage a student in crisis, while also being responsible for an entire classroom of students is not providing a safe working environment. I have now worked at both Glover and Village, and these issues are not isolated to one school. I wrote this statement before the incident at Glover

5:14 that is under investigation. I was moved to compose this statement because I saw my colleagues at Glover Glover suffering as I had. I saw them requesting help. I saw that they were being asked to remain on high alert. I saw that the problem I experienced was a systemic issue that needs resolution. Marble ed teachers and support staff have been asked to wear many hats and fill in for staffing gaps. While the district has left critical positions unfilled marble ed teachers have been asked to make do without support. Instead being told that there are no bodies or money to support these students. Marblehead teachers are being blamed for the lack of communication, planning, staffing, and safety protocols. My colleagues and I deserve better. Our students deserve better. It’s time to trust teachers’.

5:59 Professional judgment. Thank you for your time. Thank You. Would you mind if we had a copy of your sequence? I have a copy for you. I appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you. Um, and if anybody has a copy of their statement, if you, um, could get them to us. Kara Hery.

6:32 Good evening. My name is Kara Hery and I’m a teacher at the Brown School. I live in Denvers. I have worked for mobile and head of public schools for 12 years. For some time now. The Marblehead school system has had a systemic problem regarding our special education leadership. Paula Donnel Lee and Emily Dean created cultural fear in our staff community that stems from its intimidation, a complete lack of support, and a total lack of respect for their professional and support staff. They have taken advantage of their roles as administrators and often blame the staff for their mistakes as a means of covering up the increasingly disruptive atmosphere affecting all of our children. Recently, I was directly affected by what I see now as gross negligence and incompetence. As a team, we were working on putting together an

7:19 individualized education for a student. We had all agreed we needed support to grow successfully for their social, emotional, and academic goals. Prior to the student meeting, Paula and Emily met individual lead with each team member violating the team process. In those private meetings, they directed providers to not recommend services for the child, disregarding the basis of data testing, and most importantly, the recommendations of staff members that so spent so much time observing and getting to know the trial. I recording In progress recording, in progress recording. In working in Congress, I filed a formal complaint with the union that was delivered to Dr at that time. And I received no response and no action mistaken. Unfortunately, this is one of many stories where Paul

8:06 and Emily have failed our students and staff. I am here speaking tonight in support of my fellow colleagues. I am here in support of all special education students to receive the service and behavioral support they need. I am here in support of all of your children, to see their teachers being hit and kicked and punched to see their classmates being aggressive and come back day to day, no support, uh, without support or consequences. And you here for your children whose education is being interrupted because we have no support and you’re told to just teach your children have the right to a fair education, fair education as well, the that are no confidence vote, the upheld and that Paula Donly and Emily DD removed from your positions immediately.

8:54 Thank you. Tara. Do you mind emailing me that if I, so I have it. And also, um, if you could email us an additional, um, I’d like to see the forwarded email you sent to Dr. Buck. Thank you. But when you have time, thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you.

9:21 Catherine Holman. Catherine Holman.

9:36 Hello, Catherine Holman, resident of 29 Dartmouth Grove. I am a fourth grade teacher at the Village School. I have worked as an educator in Marblehead for the last 10 years. Before I begin, I would like to make it very clear to everyone in here tonight that I have always felt incredibly supported by the Logan Principal Amanda Murphy and our village school special education Chair, Leah Terrio. My statements tonight have nothing to do with them. They’re both exceptional leaders and I’m very fortunate to work with them tonight. I stand for you because I am in support of our union vote of vote

10:13 Of no confidence in Paula Donnelly and Emily Dean. And I’m implore the school committee and the community to listen to the voices of our educators. Over the past few years, I have watched our inadequate and ineffective leadership and special education fail. Our children. Paula Donnelley and Emily Dean are major contributors to this problem, need to be held accountable for their actions. Told Ms. Donnelly and Ms. Dean have little regard for the safety of our educators and students. And unfortunately, I have witnessed this firsthand. They have not fulfilled or followed the responsibilities of their leadership positions. Instead, they have used backdoor approaches to special education. These approaches include, but are not limited to not following IEP plans, removing teachers from meetings about their students and failing to provide students

10:58 with required services By law, these two individuals have created a culture of fear that teachers would be silenced for voicing their concerns. Last year, Donnelly and Dean both failed me and simultaneously compromised the entire safety, the safety of the entire student body and staff. At Village School, they allowed me to teach in unsafe working conditions when they failed to provide adequate staffing to the therapeutic students in my classroom. These students are legally entitled to a paraprofessional under their individual education plans. When my paraprofessional went out on her planned maternity leave in November, they did not replace her for two months despite being given the required notice. So for two months, my students who require a prepare paraprofessional to learn and feel safe did not have access to one.

11:46 When I inquired about when they planned to build a position, I was told to be patient again. This is illegal. I then took matters into my own hands and asked to be trained in safety care as a means to ensure the safety of not only myself, but also my students. Donnelly outwardly denied this request during this two month period of no support. Neither Donnelly nor Dean came to check on my students or myself. It is completely outrageous. The these two individuals allowed one of the most vulnerable student populations to learn about the support that they’re entitled to. In February, when a student in crisis was repeatedly threatening my students and me and cause ‘em bodily harm to staff members and students, I was told to just teach my students who witnessed violent and disruptive behaviors were told to ignore it.

12:31 What kind of message does this send to our students who commit acts of that? Students who commit acts of violence against others are allowed back into the classroom with no consequence before school. One day this student was unsupervised and destroyed my classroom and personal belongings. On that same day, the student accused me of racism when I tried to deliver a consequence. After these situations, I demanded a meeting to discuss how the district would ensure my safety and the safety of my students. This meeting never happened. And protocols to ensure that this child would not have un would not have unsupervised access to classrooms was not put in place. Eventually my complaints became too much for Dean and Donnelly. They removed me from all meetings regarding my student, and I was not allowed to contact the student’s parents anymore.

13:17 The fear of coming to work and the unknown about what happened to myself and my students every day was very real. And I still to this day suffer from nightmares and night terrors about the situation. Effective leaders do not scapegoat educators to cover their own mistakes. Effective leaders support their staff and students. Effective leaders make sure that all students have the right to a fair education. Paula Donnelley and Emily Dean are not effective leaders. They have little regard the safety of our staff and students, and they will continue to take advantage of their leadership goals. If drastic changes are not made, our children deserve better. Our educators deserve better. We can do better. Barbara Hood. Thank you.

13:56 Thank you

14:05 Kristen Zeros and Hannah, I’m gonna butcher it. I’m sorry.

14:21 There’s one for each of us. I thought this was lovely. Oh, good God. Hi. Kristen Zales Lover School kindergarten teacher Hannah Ika Glover School kindergarten teacher. A student service administrators, Dr. Donnelley and Stein are responsible for creating an environment that promotes the health and safety of all students, educators, and staff. They’re also responsible for working collaboratively with educators to create structures that help us to provide best education from other students. Dr. Donnelley and Ms. Dean have repeatedly failed in their oversight of the school’s response to various incidents of unpredictable and unsafe student behaviors. Events like Glover are merely the latest example of this long term failure.

15:06 Specifically, Dr. Donnelley and Ms. Dean have repeatedly directed teachers, students, and staff to ignore dangerous behaviors and to only focus on the positives. This approach sends a message to other students that these barr behaviors are, are acceptable and that some students do not have to follow school rules. Dr. Garley and Ms. Dean are failing to support dysregulated students. Allowing these students experience a mental health crisis. To roam the hallways and disrupt multiple classrooms is completely unacceptable. Don, we and Dean have ignored our membership’s, repeated requests for additional staffing to address these escalating behaviors which traumatize our students, teachers and staff. For example, for our entire school district, they currently employ one board certified behavior analysts,

15:52 educators, with expertise in shaping appropriate student behavior to prepare written behavior plans that guide staff responses to disruptive students at the elementary, middle, and high school level, adding insult to injury. When teachers reported such dysregulation and incidents, Dr. Donnelly and Ms. Dean inquire how did they provoke the child? Insinuating that teachers provoke a child is grossly unprofessional. In dealing with a misbehaving student at Glover, Dr. Donnelly and Ms. Dean have substituted their opinions for the judgment of professional educators to disastrous results. To give one recent example, Dr. Donnelly and Ms. Dean overrode the judgment of a school counselor who evaluated a dysregulated student at the end of a school day, recommended that he not ride the school bus home.

16:37 Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, there was an altercation as a result of their disregard for their staff’s professional opinion. We are pleased that the superintendent’s office is undertaking a review of longstanding protocols for addressing dangerous student behavior. But it is regrettable that Dr. Donnelly and Ms. Dean allowed those inadequate protocols to remain in place despite repeated incidents that threaten the safety of educators, staff, and students. Appropriate action must be taken against Dr. Donnelly and Ms. Dean for their abject failures of leadership that have contributed to an unsafe environment for the educators, staff and students in our schools. The only way forward from the dangerous and unacceptable, unacceptable situation in our schools, it’s to immediately replace Dr. Donnelley and Ms. Dean as student service administrators.

17:26 Thank you. Sammy Re in Pat Sullivan.

17:37 We’re going to, um,

17:51 Speaking. My name is Patrick Sullivan. I’m a special education tutor in the therapeutic classroom at Rhode School. I’m not a member of the Marblehead Education Association. I’m a father of two graduates of the Marblehead Public School System. I feel it is my responsibility to support the local, their endeavors to secure a more safe environment for the students and staff in the Marblehead Public Schools. Hello, my name is Samantha Trough and I’m a special education tutor in the therapeutic classroom at the Village School. I’m not a member of the Marblehead Education Association. I am an alumnus of Marblehead public Schools. It is my responsibility to express my concerns regarding what has happened throughout the district to support my colleagues and students.

18:39 The purpose of our being here is to reflect on a situation we encountered early in the year at the village school. The situation began with the two of us and Emily E. Dean. We believe Dean not only provoked the student to increase harmful behaviors, but incorrectly led the QBS call to be an unsafe scenario. Primarily her response to a crisis involving a student shocked us. For example, staff familiar with the student knew how to avoid escalating a situation with him. Yet Dean ignored the staff expertise and took an opposite approach. Secondly, as the lead of this response, her instructions for us to quote unquote take the student down from a two person stability hold that was affected at the time

19:25 to a two person seated stability hold with a leg wrap, did nothing but further exasperate a deteriorating situation. Also going from a standing stability hold to a seated stability hold cannot be conducted unless the student themself is lowering their own body. According to our QBS training, Dean instructed us to conduct the seated hold. Anyway. During the post-incident debriefing, it was intimated to us by administrators that this incident was the longest and most intense they had ever witnessed. With that being said, do not feel deemed effectively and appropriately mitigate the kinds of incidents that occurred in Marblehead Public Schools. We stand with the Marblehead Education Association

20:12 and their vote of no confidence in Emily Jean and thank you.

20:23 Thank you. Thank. So, um, we’re, we’ve hit 15. I ask you please to bear with us. We’re gonna go through our agenda. It is very important we hear from you.

20:41 Move forward with the Okay. We can going there. Continue. Okay. We wanna do that again? No. Okay. I think we should. Um, yeah. Nick Ton.

21:01 Uh, Nick Ton. I’m a math teacher at Marble High School. Uh, worked at Marvel Public Schools for 12 years. Um, before I officially started, I did want to recognize that I spoke with about a dozen educators, counselors, and supports at the high school today who are afraid to be even at advocating for fear of retaliation. The faculty, students, and families of Marette High School have been directly and adversely impacted by Paula Donley and Emily Dean’s failure of leadership. Our letter of no confidence was ignored by the interim superintendent. So it was important for the school committee and the community to hear from us Today. I read the statement tonight on behalf of my colleagues at Marette High School. Too many of us have been negatively affected by Dr. Donnelly and Ms. Dean. However, Indi individual members do not feel safe speaking

21:48 to you today for fear of retaliation. Retaliation is a key feature of Dr. Donnelley and Ms. Dean’s style of management. The pattern of retaliation spans buildings and departments across the district at the high school. This fear of retaliation erodes our sense of worth. As educators, it damages our ability to corroborate across teams and departments. And it prevents us from delivering the education to our students deserve. As educators who serve this community, we are accustomed to working closely and collaboratively with our students, their families, our colleagues and administrators. Dr. Donnelly and Ms. Dean routinely interrupt this process. Although we are the people who build relationships with our students, Dr. Donnelly and Ms. Dean make decisions for our students without us, instead of seeking our input, team members are excluded from meetings. Vital information is not shared with us

22:34 or is selectively withheld, or our professional expertise is ignored at times. Decisions for our students have been made in our name without our consent for knowledge when our students suffer. As a result, we are blamed, used as scapegoats and positioned as incompetent. Under our last permit, superintendent’s leadership, it became disturbingly clear that staff concerns were not a priority. And speaking up or speaking out was discouraged. As a faculty, we felt optimistic that our new interim superintendent was sincere when she expressed her enthusiasm and willingness to collaborate with faculty and staff as we work together to prioritize our students in an effort to keep each other well. The faculty and staff across the district came together to collectively speak up against the failure of leadership in the student services department. The MEA has been clear that we stand firm in our demand.

23:20 Coming into this school year, staff morale was an all time low. And the lack of action by the interim superintendent is compounding our frustrations. The faculty and staff, our students, and their families deserve better.

23:36 Kristen Burley. Thank you.

23:45 Yes. Um, Kristen Goy 15 Auburndale Road and Special Education Teacher at Village School. We stand for you today as a group of highly qualified special education teachers in solidarity and in support of the four special educators, unexpectedly placed some lead by upper administration. We possess certifications that are above and beyond what is asked of us in order to meet the needs of our diverse population of students. These skills are highly valued and necessary across school districts in the state. We worked tirelessly with students on our caseload and with their families to meet the individual needs of our students as dictated by their individual education plans. We love our students. We celebrate their progress. We worry when progress is not made. And we advocate for changes in programming and service.

24:32 Superintendent Theresa McGinnis statement to the MEA that the building principal is squarely responsible for the safety and the educational success of their students is false building principles and chairpeople have continuously been understanding, supportive, and advocated for the needs of students and staff. From our experience, Paula Donnelley and Emily Dean have undermined the building principals to the point where their hands are tied. There’s a hierarchy of power and building. Principals are not allowed to make the safety decisions for their schools. Despite their best efforts to keep their students and staff safe, we expect upper administration to be responsible for creating procedures and policies that keep students and staff safe. This year alone, we have experienced the removal of therapeutic and behavioral supports.

25:18 Last year there was an applied behavior analyst, analyst coordinator, one board certified analyst, and two behavior specialists. There’s currently only one board certified behavior analysts servicing the entire district. One. Paula Donnelley and Emily Dean randomly cut the BCBA from their consulting programs where students have significant behavior challenges. This results in IEPs out of compliance and staff of students with behavioral needs without appropriate supports. Although the BCBA consult continues to be in student grids, these services are being denied. Untrained staff or supporting students’, students with behavioral challenges, monthly safety care trainings were requested and denied. This is completely inappropriate and unsafe.

26:04 There is a lack of a cohesive plan for specialized reading instruction across the schools. This has been ignored. We have repeatedly advocated for our district-wide K through six special education reading specialists, student teacher ratio guidelines for program fidelity are not being followed. Requests for additional staff trainings to meet recommended instructional size have been denied by student service directors. This lack of a cohesive plan for reading instruction and inadequate staff training contributes to our out of district placements. There is a lack of professional culture, including communication for staff from the Office of Student Services. Required training scheduled by upper administration is not communicated effectively. This results in staff missing the trainings or students not being serviced. We demand a professional culture

26:50 where we can have consistency across the district with clear communication where we can access the Director of student services when concerns arise. This is currently not an option. We are highly qualified educators. Our professional judgment is continually disregarded. Our department has lacked proper guidance and cohesiveness as Head of Student Services. Paula Donnelley and Emily Dean have not provided the necessary support or guidance for our department to operate with a clear vision or direction. And to keep students and staff safe within our schools. We demand a change.

27:30 Um, I, uh, next is Kaitlyn SLU 16 Glendale Road.

27:50 My name’s Katelyn Valio and I live at 16 Glendale Road. I’m the Vice President of Build School PTO. And I’m speaking tonight as a parent at Glover. I come to you tonight to urge this committee and superintendent to listen to what our teachers are telling you

28:10 and to remove Paula Donnelley and Emily Dean from their posts. We trust our children every day in the hands of these amazing teachers. And we have to trust that what they are saying is true. That they do not feel safe or supported. Our teachers deserve a much better working environment and our kids deserve much better learning conditions. Our town, sorry. Our town cannot afford to lose. The four educators who are on leave, children at Glover have been suffering and struggling since they have been gone.

28:57 Take your time. Do not move stressful On our Glover Zoom call this week with Dr. McGinnis parents. Were left feeling like we are sa safer now that Matt Fox is there. But this is just a short term, short, short term fits as he will be leaving shortly. Once again, leaving us all in very uncertain about safety and support for both teachers and staff and students. Dr. McGinnis, I urge you to listen to the Marblehead Education Association and to work with ‘em to find a better way for our district.

29:47 Hi, my name’s Fit Ola live at 30 Beverly Avenue. I’m a brown school student, a village school student, and an up and coming brown school student. In fall, I am here to stand in solidarity with the MEA and the 97% of them who voted no confidence in our current special education, special student services administrators. But this did not happen in a vacuum. And it is not unique to Gover school. In order for our district to not only thrive and be competitive with other districts, we must provide our educators with the tools and proper administrators and support they so desperately need so they can do their job effectively and safely. And right now, that’s not happening. For them to do that.

30:33 Our district needs more funds for them, and we have failed to provide that. I didn’t come with proper receipts or tallies, but those educators that are gone from Glover as well as the ones that we lost, budget cuts and failed overrides. This is causing our giant cookie to start crumbling. We can’t expect to keep our incredible educators who are here tonight and those who aren’t here tonight. We can’t expect ‘em to keep them here or attract other administrators that we need. And educators, if our district can’t afford to provide ‘em the support that they need in their classrooms and the support that they need outside the classrooms. So this is my plea to you. The administration. Please hear them. Listen to every single word.

31:20 Listen to what they need, listen to their experiences. Please hear the teachers and members of the MEA, but they’re nearly unanimous and overwhelmingly majority cry And listen to their recommendation. And to those who are listening tonight and to our student, um, sorry. To our school committee. Now that budget season is upon us. Please remember tonight, think back to the past couple weeks and stand with our teachers and our district so that we can provide ‘em what they need. Support in the classroom, support outside the classroom, more bodies for them. Our students deserve it. Our children deserve it. Our teachers deserve it. Thank you.

32:06 Laney Titus.

32:19 Hi. Thank you for the time to speak. My name is Laney Titus Summit and I am at Free Rock the Road. I’m the mom of two Glover students, a third grader and a kindergartner. My husband and I have been consistently impressed by our daughter’s teachers at Glover. It constantly amazes us how their teachers know each child so well and how to cater to their strengths and support them with their challenges. And I know each of the almost 20 kids in their class just as well. And they know all of this and adjust for all of their learning styles while successfully teaching them for which we’re very grateful. It was honestly horrifying to hear that. In addition to everything I just mentioned, our Glover teachers and staff also have to worry about working in an unsafe setting. As the events of the past few weeks have unfolded, I can’t help but think that the administration

33:05 is focusing on the wrong problem. The major question being addressed and investigated should not be whether teachers should have made a difficult decision. Very difficult decis decision to strain a child. Child. The question and investigation should be focused on what the failures of the system were that led to the teachers having to be in that position in the first place. What resources? Resources were not provided? What steps in the disciplinary process were skipped or ignored? This should be the focus and these are the questions that need to be answered before Glover will become a safe place for teachers, staff, and students. Any assurances that Glover is safe for everyone are disingenuous until these past failures can be addressed. I hope that the school committee and the administration will work with the teachers

33:51 to find the solution and guarantee the safety of all. On a final note, we’ve all heard grumblings and complaints these last few weeks about the METCO program. I was fortunate to attend a middle and high school that had the METCO program. I have nothing but great things to say about the program and the experience we all had by meeting and learning along with students who came from a different city and background. A close to 50 year successful program should not be thrown out because of one situation. Removing other children from the schools. They’re very much a part of. Again, gaps in policies and failures and following the required disciplinary action should be analyzed, not the value of the cohort. Thank you. Mary McCarrison.

34:42 5 6 9 foot drive. First of all, I wanna let you know I support all the teachers. Well majority, because sometimes there are some teachers that aren’t that grade. Fortunately middle school, I mean the middle school has been great. She had two great teachers at Glover School. I was also a permanent subject alternative school in Lynn. So I know how difficult it is to restrain children, try to get them an education. And yes, I was stamp with a pencil, so I survived was one of the best jobs I ever had. But you need a old ride to be able to get what I want. Everybody wants. I had a couple kids, all my kids were adopted.

35:28 I had two kids on head plans in Swamp Spot, but I had to go through. That was 30 years ago. We haven’t got much father. And the story of Batal is trouble.

35:44 A few months after my son was killed in a car accident, his previous middle school teacher came up to me at Nordstroms and said, I’m so sorry about your son. I said, thank you very much. Then he had, right, he should have been in another school, but I had to worry about my budget.

36:07 Can you imagine someone saying that? I have had to go. My granddaughter slash straw in her has been bullied by six or seven separate kids since she’s came into the system. I had gone to a principal. Two of those were teachers.

36:30 Bucky wasn’t here. I had to go up to Bill McCall. He tried to say to me, I support the principal. I said, I think you’ve gotta to talk to your lawyer. ‘cause I already talk to my woman. And I was right.

36:47 So it’s really, really difficult. And parents out there, you have to be accountable for your children. Every single parent in here get out there, should sit their gets down and talk about teasing and bullying, because that’s what happens. A lot of kids in special ed, they get teased, they get bullied. Especially boys don’t talk about, I’m lucky my granddaughter had had some really good teachers. They tried, it didn’t work. And I finally said I was done and it was taken care of. I can take care of my own fight and I will do it. But parents, I don’t think the kids aren’t teasing because they are.

37:35 There’s a couple people in this room whose kids tease. I bet you 10 bucks. They don’t think it was the hr. Think about it. They depend. But parents, you have to help these teachers, special ed kids, you can’t make them take medication. You can’t make them go on IEP. Those same laws are almost exactly the same thing from 30 years ago.

38:04 And you want to bring people back that are already on the I fix. Mary, we have hit three minutes, so We’ll yeah, I’ll let people talk. No, you no, no. I’ll ask that you, I’m writing telling you wanted to bring text into district into this district. That should be, I’m gonna ask that you adhere these patients are all right. They are correct, but they need the parents to be working choke. Are you are not gonna get anything because I’ve already told you, I we represent the senior citizens and they don’t wanna give you any money. They don’t want go. Right. They don’t wanna pay Joseph to respect Huh Joseph? To respect You wanna tell something Mary? No, no. I been very respectful

38:52 and the teachers and that. No, because they wanna cut me up. Other people. Three minutes. More than three minutes. I I’m gonna call a recess. Parents work with you so we can get it. 7 41 that we’re going into recess. Go there. All right. So you can have some money. So this won’t match you. Everybody can step out and we can return. You Should Be after. You should be

39:55 Back session at 7 42.

40:05 I just wanna thank everyone who spoke. I know it was very hard and very emotional. Um, so I, I wanna thank you for that. Um, I also just wanna take a moment to, um, say that while purview dictates what actions this committee can and cannot take and what actions we can weigh in on, um, I don’t want anybody to

40:43 misconstrue that for a lack of empathy, understanding, or support. So, um, I do thank you all very, very much for coming here. Um, I I was watching all of your faces as you spoke, and I know that this, um, was difficult and so I, I do wanna thank you for that. Um, we have a very short agenda moving forward and then we will be going into executive session. Thank you. Thank you.

41:26 That brings us to The district update from Dr. Theresa McGinnis. Thank you. Um, this, uh, I’m gonna touch upon the highlights of the school committee memorandum. Uh, a lot has transpired in a couple of weeks since our last meeting. Uh, starting with the budget process and how, I’m sorry. Thank,

41:57 thank oh,

42:03 um, some of the school committee memorandum updates, uh, start with the budget process. Uh, we are concluding tomorrow all of the principals and additional budget managers sharing, uh, their plan for our level services budget. We, uh, are continuing with, uh, January 12th. The budget will expect it to be given to our school committee. Um, and in just a few moments, um, assistant superintendent Michelle Kresta will share a couple more, uh, budget updates also on the memorandum. Um, I included the, uh, my superintendent’s statement from December 7th because it was a verbal statement, but it wasn’t attached to the school committee meeting agenda.

42:48 Uh, I wanted to update you about, um, the fire chief Jason Gillian, who is, um, coordinating active shooter training at Marblehead High School this month. Uh, we are hosting it at the high school and, uh, there, it started on December 9th and it’s going to continue for four consecutive Saturdays in the past. Uh, Marblehead High School has hosted it with, um, all of the coffin school. The training involves the fire department personnel conducting rescue scenarios and functioning as a rescue task force. Um, some updates on the Glover School interim principal. The, uh, a committee contained, uh, three teachers from the Glover School. Uh, Matt Fox, the acting principal of the Glover School, uh,

43:36 PTO member and the HR manager. They had interviews yesterday with two qualified candidates. And we’re continuing with the process and I will be sure to update the community when a candidate is selected and put a strong transition plan into place, which will include some overlap of, uh, the present acting principle map with a new principle, additional Glover updates. Um, regarding the third party administrative interview, uh, excuse me, review the firm comprehensive Investigations and consulting, um, led by the Massachusetts Secretary of former Massachusetts Secretary of Public Safety and Security, Daniel Bennett. Um, had we have contracted with, uh,

44:22 for the administrative review, um, we initiated an independent investigation to ensure employee conduct complies with our rules and policies and protect students. The review will focus on Marblehead public school’s processes and protocols around the use of restraints on students. Um, and as mentioned in previous messages, the results of that will be shared, uh, publicly after we receive it, um, with necessary legal redactions. Um, the, regarding the MBA’s declaration of no confidence in District Student Services leadership, um, as I have stated, we are definitely amidst challenging times in the district

45:08 that necessitate frequent and effective communication while at the same time we are problem solving together and, um, committed to continuously improving the district. I do respect the MEA deeply and tonight is, um,

45:28 important and hard, and I hear you and we’ll take that in our as our next steps. Um, but as I have mentioned in every communication with the MEA that has been given to me, um, I look forward with working and learning specific concerns, most of which I have learned here this evening. Um, I included my initial response back last Friday. Um, and I am also confirming that I will reassess as new information becomes available to me. Um, including this evening. Another update about special ed services for our children. Um, at the Glover School, uh, there is a short-term plan

46:15 to cover student services. Uh, one area of reading services is still, um, in play to get coverage. And also, uh, I included on the memorandum updates for the school committee, the newsletter sent to the, um, Glover school community that has just some more, some more, um, questions and the answers provided. Finally, um, some notable dates, uh, December 22nd is early release across the district. Then we have no school for winter break and we welcome folks back on January 2nd and Assistant Superintendent Cresto.

46:58 Yes. So in regards to the budget, we, um, as Dr. Megan has mentioned, we’ve been meeting with, um, principals and directors all week, reviewing their budget requests. So as I mentioned, last school committee meeting, we were tasked at having, um, two budget figures for the town. One A level services, which is the current level of services we’re providing at today’s dollars, which has an inflation factor. And then creating a level funded budget, which means that keeping today’s dollars roll forward for next year, which means cuts for us. So the budgets that have been submitted to us represent a Level Services budget. Um, as soon as we get back from vacation on January 2nd,

47:45 we are reconvening the admin council to start working on the task of coming up with a level funded budget. Um, certainly not going to be a fun task, but we’re going to try to start that difficult work. So the next steps in terms of that, we will get you the budget books on January 12th, which will be the level funded level services budget. I’m sorry. And then, um, really we need to set the school committee meeting dates for the budget presentations in January. So, um, Michelle, I want plug yours. It’s gonna bump, especially you standing right in front of it as I put it down. Sorry. So, um,

48:30 as we look at that, I know the directive we were given from the town was level service and the one and a level funded. I am going to ask for the support of this committee in an additional directive that we take, uh, an additional look at clearly what we’re hearing about our level service right now. Um, we are not gonna be able to go all the way to aspirational. Our town, for lack of a more wonderful word, is near bankruptcy. So not, I mean, don’t, I’m gonna get in trouble for that. So, um, I didn’t actually read bankruptcy, but okay, I get off track. Um, the point being, when we hear what we just heard,

49:17 when we hear we’ve gone from five BCBAs to one things like that, I want, um, a deeper dive into the special education budget and make sure that what is being budgeted is in alignment with meeting the IEPs we own right now. So we’ve talked about that and a, that a grid needs to exist. This should be a document that exists in our district, um, that looks at the number of hours for every service committed, and that needs to match up with the amount of employees to cover those services. And if not, and we need to make additions, I will fight on the town floor of town meeting to make sure that we are meeting what we need to.

50:05 We are not in a financial situation to go everywhere, aspirational, but we absolutely owe it to every student staff member and community member to make sure that we can properly staff what we need for the needs of our students. So it’s an additional level of work. It’s beyond what we were asked to do from the town, but I can say I will fight tooth and nail to make sure that we’re getting to that minimum.

50:37 Sorry, we are taking on, um, what we’re calling the Labor Accountability Project Yes. As well, which that even though that necessarily wasn’t to add staff, um, that project will give you that information. It will give you the service grids how many required hours and what we have on staff. So that will absolutely give that to you. Okay. All right. Yes. Uh, we had, I don’t know, six months ago discussed, um, before any of it even, uh, we had requested a special education audit on the entire process. Yes. I just wondering if the update was that I have a drafted RFP, um, as I spoke to a couple school committee members a couple weeks ago.

51:23 Um, I think the next step is to bring it to you guys. Just make sure that that RFP encompasses all of your concerns and all of your our needs, and then we can actually put that out to bid. Can we get that to go to approved before the next meeting? It doesn’t need to be approved for our, well just, so if we need to add something, if you need to discuss, our only mechanism for doing that is here. So if we can get that before the January 4th meeting so we can, I still send the draft to you this week. Okay. That’s perfect. Thank you, Michelle. Um, that brings us to consent action, agenda item, schedule of bills. Before I ask for this motion, there was one bill that we had asked to be held from the, from the schedule. Is that, um, is that in this total? It is. All right.

52:09 So I should be taking as well, it’s being held, but I was told just to hold the payment, not to reverse it. We’re not reversing it right now, but I’m taking the vote separately. Okay. So I need my calculator. Um, it’s in the very last schedule. Yeah, it’s in, so it’s 2 4 2 suppress total two minus 9,500. Correct. So I’m breaking the schedules out. The first vote will include everything minus, um, the item in question is,

52:48 I dunno why I keep unmuting. The item in question is, um, an invoice for a communications consultant. Um, this person was brought on during, um, the last few weeks, given everything that was unfolding at Glover. Um, I, I am not opposed to hiring a consultant to deal with crisis communications. It is at, at a time, um, like that it is vitally important to be getting prompt, communicate accurate, legally allowable communication out to parents, staff members, good community members. Um, it was my understanding at that time that

53:33 that would be used for that type of item and not for general, um, district wide emails or updates. There was a concern today about, um, one that had gone out. So I was, I got some calls. Um, and so I agree that we would pull that out. So I will ask for a motion to approve the identified schedule bills totaling in 2000 or 230 2004, a motion to approve the identified schedule of bills totaling 232,104 and 82 cents. So, move Jenner. Seconded. Second. Allison Taylor. All in favor? Opposed?

54:18 Motion carries four to zero. So I will ask for a motion to approve $9,500 on the same schedule.

54:29 Do we understand what happened? To have a discussion? So moved by Jen Schaffner. Second, seconded by Alison Taylor. Uh, for discussion, one thing I will say is we have contracted the services. We, the person has performed the services. It is my feeling we owe them the payment. Can I provide a little bit of information? Yes. I’m not sure you, we wanna hear help. Well, let me start. Okay. Okay. I, I was the one to sign the contract. I understand. Let me start. So we engaged the services of John Gilfoyle Public relations, LLC. Um, we initially talked to John Gilfoyle, um, asking for services for just that crisis management.

55:15 Mm-Hmm. Crisis response. Believe it or not, the quote they gave us for crisis management alone was more than the $9,500. I actually couldn’t find my notes right before this meeting, but I wanna say it was in the 12 to $15,000 range. Um, through conversations, the firm said, well, if you engage with us through June 30th, we will give you a discounted rate and we will offer our services for $9,500 for the rest of the year. But we will also include some not feel good pieces. I can’t remember the exact terminology, but some positive pieces for your district because it’s important to see the good side on the district as well as crisis management. So that was the reason we entered into the contract for $9,500.

56:01 It runs through June 30th, and it does include more services than just the crisis management forum. And I have no problem with the contract. It, it makes sense financially to have done it this way. I wanna, I I wanna hear from the committee members and then I’ll speak. Might anybody, I I think you answered that was gonna be my question. I just kind of wanted to understand more the genesis of this. I think, um, at least personally, I was very clear about certainly not wanting to spend money on a communications consultant. Um, in general, uh, crisis management is completely different situation. I think we were in somewhat uncharted territory. Um, that part I understand. And I think you’ve, for me anyway, I I,

56:47 I understand, um, the view. So I thank you for that detail. Any other? No, I just, I I do,

56:57 I feel as though it may be a little bit hypocritical though, right? Because now we’re, we’re going to be using one. I think we need to be very clear and, uh, with the public and transparent with the public as to why, um, we’re doing that. Because LA last year I sat in the same seat saying, no, we shouldn’t be funding that. Um, so I think particularly if we can see those quotes where it was more expensive just to be a little bit more transparent to show that it would’ve been more expensive to do just crisis management versus, um, you know, I think that would be helpful as well. Yeah. I think too, lemme just make one comment. I think too, that, um, first of all, the opt-ins, right? Like all exactly right, hundred percent. That’s what counts.

57:44 And it was a long time ago and different situation. And I, um, have, I have always thought I go back several superintendents who have been asking about this for many, many years. Um, because it is important in an extreme situation and crisis, whatever you wanna call it, a, um, unexpected situation to have, um, the right, you know, words written and spoken for the community and for all the stakeholders to understand, particularly when we are in either an emergent situation or an issue around safety or what have you. I, I do think on the day-to-day stuff, I understand, you know, the, the desire to do this and, and it is part of the contract. But I think, and I’ll speak for myself, um, I wanna hear from you and you like, I want, we wanna hear, you know, from the,

58:30 from the knowledge of the administrators. Yeah. So I think that’s also what this is about. So I think there’s probably a, you know, a way that we can, you know, there may be also things that this, um, particular contractor can provide in terms of, you know, background support, um, and helping, you know, formulate, you know, the message going out from all of the administration, central administration. So that’s all, you know, I have to comment about that. Okay. Um, so we have a motion and I will ask for a vote of approval. All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries four to zero. Um, thank you very much. We have no minutes to approve today. Um, we have an on next to the agenda.

59:15 Is MEA letters received? Um, typically this would go under commu, uh, correspondence. I felt it was important enough. I wanted to give it its own agenda item. Um, we received on the first letter we received was on December 6th. It was addressed to Dr. McGinnis, but the school committee was CC’d on it. Um, um, yeah, so we’ve been through a lot of this and heard about it, but it will be included in the packet. Um, then we received a second letter on 12 14 23 entitled The vote of No Confidence.

1:00:02 That would be the second, um, complaint. ‘cause the first one came out in and the sixth. So this is why we are holding our executive session as we are later on tonight. But, so that’s what that agenda item is. The next one would be audit A policies, procedure implementation, support services, and school safety. A vote the school committee has to vote in open concession, um, to, we had wish to. I’m gonna ask for a motion to enable the chair to work with Michelle Cresta, who’s our procurement agent, to procure an audit of policies and policy implementation and the support services in school safety.

1:00:42 Somo and sch. Second. Second. Alison Taylor discussion. Can I, I just have a question. So you gave me your update, um, Dr. McGinnis, that contract with the, forget the name, the general C Yeah, that is, is that what this is or that is, that is separate. That’s our own internal. Your investigation is. Okay. So ours will, whether we choose to use that contract or not, this is a separate Yes. The school committee had decided that given the nature of some of these complaints, we wanted to look into it so that the results would come directly to us. And, um, so this is what we do to the rules we govern under. We have to take a, a motion, an open meeting, or vote an open meeting to back up anything we had done in executive session.

1:01:28 So I will call for a vote. All in favor? All opposed motion queries. Four to zero. Um, subcommittee liaison updates. Don’t think we have any. All right. Um, new business. We had received communication yesterday from our attorney, um, channeller Miller, that, um, they felt that we are separating at this point. They will stay with us for 60 days as per contract to handle any, um, Ty tying up of loose ends, handing things off to new, um, counsel. I did reach out to, um, Liz Valerio,

1:02:14 who we’ve worked in the with in the past. Given where we are in, in the cycle of negotiations and other matters, I felt it was really important for us to bring on someone who had experience with, uh, many of our administrators had experience working with the MEA with us and could jump in and catch, uh, without, uh, lead up of catching up to speed. She issued a proposal for legal services that came to me last night. Um, I will be putting this on for a vote on the next agenda. I think it’s really important that, um, we get this underway in due to mass general law. There’s, there’s some exemptions for our procurement process. Legal services for the school committee is one of them.

1:03:01 So, um, I think the sooner we get Valerio, dom and Hillman on board and we can start any transitions as well as get to work with our, um, negotiations, I think it would be serve our, our students in, in communities the best. So, so I, um, I know this ‘cause this is new, it’s at a new business, but I, given the importance and intensity of, of, of this transition taking place, I would like to make a motion to go forward to, um, have the, for the chair to enact a letter of engagement with Valerio. Um, do and Hillman LLC is there. Second. Second. Second by Allison Taylor. Um, okay.

1:03:47 Discussion. All in favor Opposed? Motion carries four to zero. I will work with them to get us the letter of engagement. Um, we still, so for the next 59 days, we’ll Beran transitioning from, um, Chandler Miller to Mella Hill, uh, Valerio, Mella and Hillman having both on board during that time period. Um, we’ll be helpful so that we make sure that they’re an easy transition. Um, all right, so I now will ask for a motion and vote to meet an executive session pursuant to Mass General Law Chapter 30 a section 12 A for purpose one to discuss complaints raised by the Marblehead Education Association in the December 14th, 2024 letter against the student services

1:04:34 20 20 20 23 letter against the student services staff. So move second. Um, uh, okay. Moved by Jen Schaffner. I seconded by Alison Taylor. We’ll do a roll call, vote for this. Um, Brian NoDa approved. Alison Taylor approved Jen Schaffner in favor, Sarah Fox in favor. Motion carries four to zero. That will bring us to an executive session. The Marblehead School Committee will be entering executive session pursuant to Mass General Laws Chapter 30 a Section 12 A for purpose one discussed complaints raised by the MEA or MEA in their December 14th, 2023, letter against student services staff with the intent not

1:05:19 to return to open session. I will ask everybody to exit the room. Thank you, honor. Thank you.