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Meeting Opening and Public Comment (Link: 00:01:00 – 00:06:00)
Chair Amy O’Connor called the regular session of the Swampscott School Committee to order at 6:00 PM on Thursday, August 28th, using a gavel made for her by students in the Innovation Pathways program. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance.
O’Connor announced a change to the agenda order, moving public comment to the beginning of meetings so attendees don’t have to wait through the entire meeting to speak. Katie Karoleis, a board member from Big Blue Bargains, addressed the committee about a $5,000 donation her organization submitted for the integrated preschool to establish a music program. Karoleis explained they learned about the preschool’s limited enrichment opportunities through word of mouth from a local parent who had worked at the preschool.
Karoleis invited community members to contact Big Blue Bargains during their operating hours on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00 PM, Thursdays from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. She mentioned they are actively seeking community connections and had recently visited the senior center to explore additional ways to support the community.
Committee members expressed appreciation for Big Blue Bargains’ generosity and volunteer efforts. One committee member shared personal experience with the integrated preschool and praised the organization’s work. Another committee member noted satisfaction that Big Blue Bargains continues to operate successfully and encouraged broader community volunteer participation, mentioning that seniors are already actively involved as volunteers.
Committee Comments and Welcome (Link: 00:06:00 – 00:11:00)
Chair O’Connor checked for online public comment participants but found no one with their hand raised, so the meeting proceeded to committee comments. Vice Chair Glenn Paster began by welcoming Superintendent Jason Calichman to his first day, expressing hope for his long tenure. Paster noted the positive atmosphere at all schools and emphasized the committee’s commitment to serving all children regardless of gender or beliefs, focusing on education and acceptance of differences.
Committee member John Giantis also welcomed Calichman, noting that July 1st had seemed far away when they voted on his appointment. Committee member Miguel Contreras expressed excitement for the school year, commenting on the positive energy from staff and community members who were enthusiastic about the new leadership at all levels.
Committee member Suzanne Wright praised the positive energy visible on school social media accounts and thanked Calichman and his staff for their summer community outreach efforts, including their presence at the block party. Wright acknowledged that Calichman had been working hard well before his official start date and expressed enjoyment watching the seniors’ first day of school activities.
Chair O’Connor noted that her recent activities had been in collaboration with Calichman and his staff. She highlighted the positive momentum created through teacher contract negotiations and praised the collaborative work done by the entire group. O’Connor emphasized that while celebrating new initiatives and changes under Calichman’s leadership, this should not be viewed as criticism of former Superintendent Angelakis, stating that the district was great under her leadership as well. O’Connor concluded by expressing that the opening meeting was among her favorites, second only to the end-of-year college placement presentations.
Superintendent’s Report on School Opening (Link: 00:11:00 – 00:28:00)
Superintendent Jason Calichman presented his report using slides, beginning with a whole faculty and staff picture taken after convocation, which was posted on the district website. He emphasized creating a collaborative team environment and stated that teachers have the most important job in the district, as they carry out administrative ideas with students.
Calichman reported on the elementary school opening, noting the presence of Chief Cassada, Principal Sanborn, Assistant Principal Horgan, Principal Driscoll, teachers, and the therapy dog Sora. He described positive energy from students and families, with children already learning the school’s CLAW values: care for our community, learn every day, act responsibly, and work hard. He noted improved traffic flow compared to the previous year and reported receiving no complaints from neighbors.
At the middle school, fifth graders started at 8:45 AM on the first day to receive individual attention for potential scheduling or locker issues. They attended a meeting in the little theater with Principal Minter and Assistant Principal Knowles, who discussed taking pride in work, collaboration, communication, kindness, and daily improvement. Calichman acknowledged trying to give Minter space as the new principal while expressing confidence she would take the school to the next level.
At the high school, Principal Otto created what Calichman described as an electric atmosphere, emphasizing new standards of excellence both in and out of the classroom. The goal is to ensure Swampscott graduates are the most prepared students whether they pursue military service, workforce entry, or higher education at any level. A teacher reportedly told Calichman the atmosphere was electric and unlike anything felt in 30 years. High school drop-off procedures also ran more smoothly than ever before.
Calichman described the summer leadership retreat, which included reviewing the new teacher evaluation system, updating the bullying plan, handbook reviews, a KP Law presentation on school law including ICE protocols and suspension procedures, and a METCO survey on inclusivity. The retreat emphasized open communication, collaboration, and supporting each other through mistakes. Chair O’Connor clarified that 75% of the district’s students of color now live in Swampscott, compared to when all students of color were METCO participants.
The district has reinstated department chairs at both the high school and middle school as a one-year pilot program. Unlike previous arrangements, the new department chairs carry full teaching loads. Due to budget constraints, wellness and fine arts departments do not have chairs this year, and world language is combined between the middle and high school. The union negotiated changes to the job description, removing outdated requirements. All department chair positions have been filled.
Calichman reported a 39% reduction in federal Title grants compared to the previous year, despite receiving full funding from the town. The district managed hiring carefully to address this shortfall, with savings realized from new management team hires. He noted that while the town funded their request, it did not necessarily cover all their needs, including a long-discussed additional teacher at the middle school.
The superintendent detailed extensive community outreach efforts over the summer, including tables at the farmer’s market and block party, presentations to youth football, visits to the senior center, and meetings with various town officials and school teams. He emphasized to student athletes and activity participants that being a good teammate extends to classroom behavior and academic performance, and that participation in extracurriculars requires leadership both in and out of their activities.
Calichman announced the return of the Swampscott Education Foundation (SEF), which he began working to revive upon his appointment as superintendent. The first event will be a Family Fun Fest on Sunday, October 7th from 3 to 6 PM at Lynn Woods Park, aimed at building community, raising funds and awareness, and engaging families. The event is being promoted through QR codes, flyers, and school newsletters. He also mentioned exploring ways to use the Swampscott Auditorium to generate additional revenue for the district.
Director of Teaching and Learning New Teacher Orientation Report (Link: 00:29:00 – 00:42:00)
Director of Teaching and Learning Sarah Kent presented her report on the new teacher orientation held August 19-21. Kent, who has been in her position for two months, explained that the orientation’s purpose was to help new teachers understand the district’s vision, connect with schools and community, and build relationships. The goals included providing access to important resources, building a foundation for ongoing professional development, and ensuring a successful first week of school.
The orientation involved 19 new educators over three days, with eight administrators presenting on their areas of expertise, seven teachers presenting on their own time including the union executive board, and seven high school students participating in a student panel. Kent noted that the student panel was a new addition this year, replacing the traditional trolley tour of Swampscott since many new teachers already lived in the community.
The student panel featured a diverse group of sophomores, juniors, and seniors from various backgrounds, including students from Nahant, athletes, and band members. The format was structured as a fishbowl conversation with a talking piece rather than a formal panel, allowing students to respond naturally to questions. Students received questions in advance covering topics such as what they wished teachers knew about students, times when their perspectives weren’t understood in classrooms, advice for new educators, future goals, and suggestions for strengthening equity and learning in the district.
Kent reported that the student panel received the highest ratings on exit tickets from new educators. Rachel Sturma assisted significantly with student recruitment for the panel. The orientation also covered instructional practices, with new teachers identifying adjectives describing impactful educators, which were compiled into a word cloud. Topics included teaching and learning cycles, multi-tiered systems of support for both struggling and advanced learners, and levels of rigor focusing on strategic and extended thinking skills.
Exit ticket feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with 12 out of 12 respondents rating their excitement to be part of the district as “very” on the scale. Kent noted that the 19 new educators represented a mix of experience levels, including transfers from local districts that had experienced strikes and turnover, such as Gloucester and Marblehead. These educators expressed appreciation for the collaborative atmosphere between administration and union in Swampscott.
Chair O’Connor attended to provide a welcome message and noted the cohesive messaging between the school committee, administration, and union representatives who had spoken the previous day. She clarified that the 19 new hires represented budgeted replacements rather than additions to staff numbers. Vice Chair Paster praised the energy that new staff brings to the district, whether they are recent graduates or experienced educators from other districts.
School Committee Goals Discussion (Link: 00:42:00 – 00:49:00)
Chair O’Connor initiated discussion about establishing school committee goals for 2025-26, acknowledging that she felt rusty in her role after the summer break. She recognized that goal setting should be coordinated with Superintendent Calichman’s entry plan to ensure alignment between the committee and administration.
Wright agreed that the goals should dovetail with the superintendent’s plans, and Paster emphasized the importance of alignment to maintain synergy and ensure everyone is on the same page. O’Connor outlined three specific areas the committee had previously agreed to focus on for their internal goals.
The first area is technology improvement, with O’Connor noting she had already spoken with Latonya Mackey Knowles about making the committee less rusty in their technology use. This includes using the same online tools and Google suite products that the district uses and holding committee members to the same standards as district staff.
The second area involves developing a communications plan specifically for the school committee. O’Connor explained this would require discussion over the coming month about priorities and clarifying the distinction between what the school committee communicates versus what the district communicates, as these roles have evolved over the years.
The third area focuses on reviewing the district’s support relationships, including examining legal counsel arrangements that haven’t been evaluated in a decade. O’Connor emphasized this review is particularly timely with the new superintendent’s arrival.
O’Connor committed to ensuring these topics are included in upcoming agendas with sufficient time for meaningful discussion. She asked committee members to hold her accountable and push back if progress isn’t being made, acknowledging she can become overwhelmed. She suggested this is an opportunity to reset the school committee with the new superintendent, noting that experienced boards sometimes lack rigor.
Wright clarified the distinction between these internal committee goals and broader district goals, which will be developed based on the superintendent’s entry plan. She volunteered to draft the committee goals document. O’Connor agreed to share her notes with Wright and indicated they would begin working on the superintendent’s entry plan at the next meeting, having delayed it due to first-day-of-school pressures.
Giantis asked about logistics for sharing the draft goals, and Wright confirmed she would place the document in the shared drive that all committee members will be using based on Mackey Knowles’ technology training. The committee agreed to have an open discussion about the draft goals at a future meeting.
School Committee Physical Setup and Protocols (Link: 00:49:00 – 00:58:00)
Chair O’Connor raised the issue of the committee’s physical meeting setup, noting that she had not yet spoken with Joe Dulet as promised. She observed that their current arrangement is designed for addressing the audience rather than facilitating discussion among committee members, and referenced other towns that use different configurations to promote better dialogue.
Wright suggested closing up their current arch formation to create a more collaborative arrangement. O’Connor cited Salem as an example, where committee members sit with desks facing one another and the chair positioned at one end, creating a more debate-oriented environment. Wright noted they are no longer constrained by previous room and camera limitations.
Paster supported the idea, describing a tight U-shaped configuration he observed in Lenox where committee members could move their chairs back for presentations and then return to the discussion formation. Giantis agreed to try the new arrangement for several meetings as a trial. The committee also discussed the poor condition of their current chairs, with Giantis requesting improvements to the seating.
The discussion then moved to school committee protocols. O’Connor indicated that based on their previous meeting, the committee was in agreement that the protocols did not need editing. Paster made a motion to approve the Swampscott School Committee operations protocols for 2025-2026, which Contreras seconded.
Wright provided an overview of the protocols for the public, explaining they outline how the committee governs, treats each other, communicates, improves, defines authority limits, and addresses problems when they arise. She noted the committee evaluates themselves annually and that a Massachusetts Association of School Committees representative had reviewed their protocols positively, finding them comprehensive.
O’Connor highlighted one specific protocol regarding non-interference with daily school operations, explaining that the committee follows a chain of command for complaints and concerns. She noted that she had communicated to new teachers that the school committee should be a last resort, with issues first addressed at the appropriate level with teachers or coaches, and that any concerns about committee member interference should be reported to Superintendent Calichman.
Contreras added that during their workshop, the MASC representative praised their protocols as being ahead of other districts in areas of respectful treatment, communication, and handling policy disagreements by focusing on substance rather than personal issues. The committee voted unanimously to approve the protocols, with plans to have all members sign the document and post it on the school committee webpage.
Subcommittee Appointments (Link: 00:58:00 – 01:12:00)
Chair O’Connor reviewed the previous year’s subcommittee structure, which included O’Connor and Giantis leading bargaining, no specific assignment for budget and finance, no communications committee, Giantis and Wright handling policy, and Wright managing wellness. She clarified that subcommittee chairs serve as points of contact rather than doing all the work, particularly for bargaining where the full committee participates in collective bargaining.
Giantis noted that the bargaining subcommittee would have follow-up work on teacher evaluation and stipend reviews. Paster mentioned the need to consolidate contract addendums into a comprehensive agreement, which O’Connor indicated had already been completed for paraprofessional contracts. Paster volunteered for budget and finance responsibilities and to continue with CPAC representation.
The committee discussed Wright’s involvement in town committees, including a community facility committee exploring senior and recreation center options and a voting location committee. Wright had stepped off the facility committee due to quorum issues but noted both committees were well underway. O’Connor volunteered to take Wright’s place on the facility committee, which meets monthly on Monday evenings.
Wright agreed to continue with the wellness subcommittee, describing it as meeting four times per year with Martha Raymond’s involvement. For policy, Wright agreed to serve one more term but emphasized the need to train someone else. Contreras expressed interest in joining the policy subcommittee to learn, with Paster noting it provides good insight into district operations and requires basic technology skills.
O’Connor volunteered for the bargaining subcommittee. For communications, she suggested more discussion was needed about the committee’s role before assigning ownership. She noted the committee’s traditional stance that they should not be newsmaking, with news coming from schools and the superintendent, but expressed willingness to reconsider this approach.
Wright suggested researching best practices through the Massachusetts Association of School Committees to understand appropriate communication strategies. Paster supported exploring communications, particularly for budget season when school needs may not receive the same attention as town issues due to lower meeting attendance compared to selectmen meetings.
O’Connor agreed to conduct preliminary research with their MASC field representative to inform future discussions about communication strategies. Giantis offered to work with Paster on budget and finance, and also volunteered to help Wright with the policy backlog. Wright suggested Contreras take over policy responsibilities to bring a fresh perspective to the existing systems and processes.
The committee concluded by formally appointing Superintendent Calichman to the North Shore Education Consortium board for the 2025-26 school year. O’Connor noted this was an annual school committee responsibility that may not have been formally done in previous years. Wright made the motion, which passed unanimously.
North Shore Education Consortium Board Appointment (Link: 01:12:00 – 01:13:00)
Following the formal appointment, Wright asked Superintendent Calichman whether he had attended a North Shore Education Consortium board meeting yet, which he confirmed. Wright inquired whether all board members are superintendents or if districts can send designees, wondering if this might be an option if the responsibility becomes too cumbersome for Calichman.
Calichman indicated he was under the impression that he would need to attend personally. Chair O’Connor noted that she was unsure if the law requires the school committee to make this appointment, but mentioned that former Superintendent Angelakis had served as chair of the consortium board for a period of time.
Calichman reported that he had completed a two-hour training session that he found interesting and described himself as being in the learning phase regarding the consortium. Wright commented that it is an amazing organization.
Wellness Policy Review and Approval (Link: 01:13:00 – 01:17:00)
Wright presented the wellness policy review on behalf of the wellness committee. She identified the committee members as school nurses Megan Ramirez, Ann Hudson, Jennifer Miller, and Emily Silly, community member Barbara Kaufman, and school staff members Martha Raymond, Cindy Lavender, and Maureen Kellett, with Wright serving as the school committee representative. Wright explained that this is a mandatory committee required for USDA approval of food services.
Wright acknowledged the policy review was late, noting it should have been approved in the spring. The committee made several changes to the policy, including adding a new section called “Healthy School Environment” that states Swampscott Public Schools provide safe, healthy, well-maintained surroundings that are tobacco, alcohol, and drug-free and foster a culture of caring, empathy, respect, and responsibility.
The committee removed a sentence about nutrition guidelines being based on nutrition goals rather than profit motives, as this concept was already covered elsewhere in the policy. They also changed “other school-based activities” to “additional wellness goals” and removed the first paragraph while keeping the bullet points in that section.
Wright praised the committee discussions and noted that Emily Silly would be effective at coordinating protocols across schools regarding parties, lunch, and food policies to ensure all schools have up-to-date procedures. Raymond confirmed that the approach focused on establishing protocols rather than including specific procedures in the policy itself.
Wright explained that after reviewing other districts’ policies and initially considering making their policy more robust, the committee ultimately decided not to reinvent what was already working effectively. Chair O’Connor compared this approach to their recent cell phone policy review process.
Wright emphasized that this policy, like the concussion policy, is a legal requirement that needs regular review and approval. O’Connor announced a change in procedure to take votes immediately after discussion rather than at the end of meetings. Wright made a motion to approve the ADF School District Wellness Program policy, which Paster seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
The discussion then turned to the concussion policy, which Wright noted must be posted on the MASC website by September 25th. O’Connor explained this is a biennial requirement where the school committee must review the concussion policy and send a letter to the Department of Public Health, with this being the required year for review.
Concussion Policy Discussion (Link: 01:17:00 – 01:26:00)
Wright reported that to her knowledge, there have been no substantive changes to the concussion policy since the last review. She noted that the athletic trainer has a robust concussion handbook with protocols and expressed confidence that the handbook aligns with the policy, stating they would only modify the policy if the athletic trainer recommended changes.
Chair O’Connor entertained a motion to approve policy JJIF Concussion Policy, which Giantis made and Wright seconded. However, Giantis raised concerns during discussion about whether the policy adequately addresses the academic aspects of concussion recovery, particularly teacher notification and accommodations for students returning to school after a concussion.
Giantis noted that while the policy addresses returning to athletics, he wanted assurance that teachers are properly informed about students with concussions and any necessary academic accommodations. He referenced at least one example where this communication had not occurred effectively.
Wright read from the concussion handbook, which states that when returning to school, injured students and parents should contact the school nurse, guidance counselor, or athletic director to ensure school staff are aware and ready to make accommodations. The handbook also requires a written graduated re-entry plan for both academics and extracurricular activities.
Giantis felt the language was too general and wanted more specific protocols for teacher notification. Wright acknowledged that like any protocol, enforcement depends on administration. Chair O’Connor compared this to other policies like the cell phone policy, noting that all policies rely on proper implementation.
Giantis expressed reluctance to approve the policy without being comfortable that the underlying handbook contains proper instructions for notification procedures. He preferred to pause the vote rather than approve a policy that might continue to be inadequately enforced.
Paster supported Giantis’s concerns but worried about potential compliance issues with fall sports if the policy wasn’t approved. Chair O’Connor confirmed that the policy deadline is September 25th, allowing time for the next meeting. She decided to postpone the vote to allow Giantis to research his concerns.
O’Connor noted that committee members should review agenda items in advance and contact the superintendent with concerns before meetings. Giantis acknowledged this feedback but explained his concerns arose that afternoon. O’Connor emphasized the importance of having unanimous approval on such policies and agreed to delay the vote to ensure all members feel comfortable with the decision.
Search Committee Update and Administrative Matters (Link: 01:26:00 – 01:29:00)
Chair O’Connor was prepared to move to actions and votes when Giantis requested to provide a final update on the town administrator search committee. Giantis reported that the search committee had forwarded three excellent candidates to the select board, any of whom could have successfully filled the role. He described a rigorous and lengthy interview process with good questions asked of all candidates.
Giantis noted that by the time of the school committee meeting, the select board had already made their selection. He expressed confidence that the chosen candidate has a good temperament suitable for Swampscott, as did all three finalists. Giantis praised the search process as very good overall, with all five search committee members being highly engaged and taking their responsibilities seriously.
Paster suggested that Chair O’Connor should have a one-on-one meeting with the new town administrator once they begin their role. O’Connor indicated she believed Superintendent Calichman should take the lead on such meetings and that any interaction might be more appropriate during tri-chair meetings involving multiple department heads. She noted that Calichman had already been meeting with select board members and said she would not push for a separate meeting but would be open to one if the new administrator requested it.
Donation Approvals and Meeting Minutes (Link: 01:29:00 – 01:35:00)
Chair O’Connor presented an anonymous donation of $10,000 to be used at the discretion of the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, and Finance and Operations Director. She noted that while the donation is truly anonymous to the committee, the district’s finance staff and secretary likely know the donor’s identity for check processing purposes. Paster made a motion to approve the donation, which Contreras seconded.
Superintendent Calichman indicated that the use of funds had not been finalized but mentioned initial discussions about engineering and robotics programs. O’Connor expressed hope that the funds would be used for tangible purchases rather than operational expenses, with Paster agreeing that it should support something concrete like robotics equipment. The motion to accept the anonymous donation passed unanimously.
The committee then voted on the $5,000 donation from Big Blue Bargains to support the music and movement program at the Swampscott Integrated Preschool. Paster made the motion to accept, Calichman seconded, and the vote was unanimous. O’Connor thanked Big Blue Bargains for being a great community partner.
O’Connor presented a donation from the Doug Flutie Foundation of equipment for the Swampscott Elementary School playground. A speaker explained that the foundation donated a communication board with pictures and icons to help children who communicate non-verbally through photos or symbols rather than speech or sign language. The board is made with plexiglass for outdoor protection and will be installed within the playground structure.
The communication board aims to promote inclusivity and awareness of different communication methods, encouraging peer-to-peer interaction and creating a welcoming atmosphere. While students who need communication assistance have their own iPads with communication software, the board provides a visual example of what such communication looks like and helps curious children understand different ways people communicate.
Paster announced that a ribbon cutting ceremony for the communication board would be held on Thursday, September 11th at 5:00 PM. He indicated he would represent the committee as part of CPAC and confirmed that an invitation had been extended to the superintendent or a designee. The motion to accept the Doug Flutie Foundation donation passed unanimously.
The committee approved the regular session minutes from June 12th with Paster making the motion and Contreras seconding. Before adjournment, Contreras asked about when student representatives would join the committee. Calichman indicated they were targeting September 11th but noted his absence that day, suggesting September 25th as an alternative. He mentioned meeting with the student representatives during their X block on September 3rd. Paster made a motion to adjourn, Contreras seconded, and the meeting was adjourned with unanimous approval.
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