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Meeting Opening and Public Comment (Link: 00:02:00 – 00:05:00)
The Swampscott School Committee regular session was called to order on Thursday, October 23rd at Swampscott High School, room B129. Glenn Paster, Vice Chair, was sitting in for Amy O’Connor, who was traveling that evening. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance.
During public comment, Katie spoke to acknowledge the cross country team’s successful regular season, noting that the girls had achieved personal bests and the boys were undefeated heading into the NEC meet that weekend. She praised their coach and captains.
Katie then requested that school leadership review and revise the current school trip policy for the 2025-26 school year, specifically regarding the universal trip. She expressed concerns that the current model promotes exclusivity, anxiety, and bullying among students. She stated that teenagers should not have the ability to determine whether other students can attend trips or how much families pay for them. Katie criticized the facilitators for appearing not to care about these issues and urged school leadership to consider policy changes.
Following Katie’s comments, the chair asked if there were any online participants wishing to speak, but none were present. Public comment was then concluded and the meeting moved to committee comment.
Committee Comments and Student Representative Introductions (Link: 00:05:00 – 00:13:00)
Following public comment, a committee member asked for clarification about Katie’s earlier remarks, noting they didn’t understand the connection between cross country and the trip issue. The chair confirmed these were two separate topics and agreed that more detail would be helpful. A committee member noted that the committee had not approved the universal trip for this year, and that it had been approved in the spring.
Before proceeding to committee comments, a committee member introduced Leah Beatrice as one of the student representatives, along with Sasha Dari. Leah, a junior at Swampscott High School, expressed that she was glad to attend after missing previous meetings due to games. She noted that her transition to high school had been smooth and that she had been in the Swampscott school system her entire academic career.
Giantis commented on the cross country senior day ceremony that took place on Monday, acknowledging three seniors including his daughter. He praised the coach’s moving comments and recognized Maura Lau for creating posters of the students that were displayed in the high school lobby. Giantis reflected on the ceremony as an acknowledgment of the students’ four years of hard work, including early morning summer training sessions. A committee member mentioned that there had been a story about the cross country team in the tides the previous week.
Wright stated she had no comments. Contreras mentioned learning about games at the field through his son’s involvement in TV production and training, noting increased community engagement. Student representative Sasha agreed about TV production’s hard work, mentioning her participation in the crew and noting that volleyball senior night was occurring during the meeting. When asked, Sasha confirmed they also cover football games and that football senior night had occurred the previous week.
Student representative Leah added that sports teams were grateful for TV production’s work, specifically mentioning that the field hockey team watched films produced by the crew to identify areas for improvement. A committee member shared that their niece in college watches her brother’s soccer games through these broadcasts.
Paster emphasized the committee’s belief in complete inclusion for every student and family regardless of gender, religion, or other factors. He highlighted various fundraisers, particularly endorsing the Swampscott High School Cheerleaders’ annual Thanksgiving pie sale from Spinelli’s, which includes an option to donate pies to My Brother’s Table. Giantis confirmed the quality of the pies, mentioning his family’s past involvement. Paster noted there was a fundraiser at Fantasy Island that evening for the DC trip and encouraged support for all student fundraisers.
Universal Studios Trip Approval (Link: 00:13:00 – 00:15:00)
Jim Pierce, Chorus Director at Swampscott High School, presented to the committee regarding the Universal Studios trip. Pierce explained that during the 2024-25 Disney trip, both band and chorus traveled together, and they planned to do the same for Universal. He noted there had been a clerical error where chorus was not included on the approval form when band was approved in the spring.
Pierce described the trip scheduled for March 3rd through 7th, during which both groups would perform separately and together. The students would also participate in a workshop called “Sound Design, Music and the Art of Foley” and enjoy the parks.
A committee member sought clarification about whether the approval was to add chorus to the existing band trip approval, which Pierce confirmed. The committee member expressed support for adding chorus, noting both groups had enjoyed the previous year’s trip, but also requested future information about parity in field trip opportunities and criteria for participation.
A committee member made a motion to approve chorus inclusion in the Universal Studios trip, which was seconded by another member. The motion passed unanimously. Paster signed the approval form, noting the date as October 23rd.
Clark Building MOU Discussion and Approval (Link: 00:15:00 – 00:25:00)
Max Casper, Facilities Director, presented to the committee regarding a Memorandum of Understanding for the recreation department’s use of the Clark Building. Casper explained that he and the Superintendent had attended the Select Board meeting the previous night, where the MOU was reviewed for recreation’s use of the Clark Building starting November 1st for one year. He noted that the school committee had approved a similar agreement the previous year, but the Select Board had not approved it at that time. The current agreement was substantially the same with minor adjustments, and the recreation department would pay all utilities for the building during their occupancy.
Wright asked for clarification about the utility payment period, and Casper confirmed that recreation would pay utilities for the entire 12-month period. Paster asked Cheryl Herrick-Stella, Assistant Superintendent, about potential budgetary gaps or concerns. Herrick-Stella explained that there would be no budgetary gap, as the MOU was essentially the same as the previous year’s version. She clarified that recreation would pay utilities while the school district would handle routine maintenance, which was already budgeted. She noted that the district had not budgeted for Clark utilities since they had initially expected recreation to take over the building, and other interested parties were available if that arrangement fell through.
Wright inquired about maintenance hours and whether facilities staff would be used for cleaning after events. Casper explained that cleaning and custodial responsibilities belonged to recreation under the agreement. The school district’s costs would be for contractors handling elevator maintenance, fire alarm maintenance, and boiler maintenance, which were considered fixed costs. He noted that many facilities staff were joint town and school employees, making their support of the building appropriate, and the district would not calculate the cost of staff time for the building.
Wright asked whether the district was still considering renting the building to a school system or program. Casper explained that this arrangement was in place of that option. He noted they had been considering an RFP process and had discussed it with the Select Board, but when the new recreation director expressed interest, they pursued this arrangement instead. While it would not generate the same income level as an outside user, Casper believed it would be beneficial for the town. Wright agreed it was good for the building to have occupants but noted it would be preferable financially for the town to generate income rather than spend money on the building.
Contreras disclosed that he had shared questions with Casper, Paster, and the Superintendent after the previous meeting for transparency. His questions concerned clarification about responsibility if major systems like heating failed, insurance requirements for recreation department activities, and a typo in the document. Casper confirmed that major system failures would be a town responsibility rather than the district’s, and that while the town carries insurance for all properties under one policy, they would need to notify the insurance carrier about the change in building occupancy from vacant to active use.
Herrick-Stella added that having occupants in the building would actually result in cost savings, as insurance rates increase for vacant buildings. With the building no longer deemed vacant, the insurance policy cost for Clark would decrease, making occupancy beneficial from an insurance perspective.
Contreras expressed support for the arrangement, noting that it demonstrated the district was not being greedy with the building, as they could have chosen a revenue-generating tenant instead. He appreciated the partnership with the town to make the building available to the community.
Paster expressed support for the arrangement but emphasized for community clarity that the building is owned by the school department by statute. He noted that any change in ownership would require robust discussion, debate, and voting, and that the issue is complicated by considerations about when the middle school would be addressed and where students would be housed during renovation or rebuilding. Contreras made a motion to accept the Clark School MOU between Swampscott Public Schools and the town of Swampscott, Wright seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. Paster signed the document.
First Quarter Budget Update Presentation (Link: 00:25:00 – 00:35:00)
Herrick-Stella presented the first quarter FY26 budget projection, reporting that despite a $100,000 loss in Title 1 funding, the district was projected to end the year with a small surplus similar to the previous year’s projection. She explained that the administration cost center appeared under budget because salary reserves for union and administrator contracts were housed there, but would be redistributed to appropriate cost centers once contracts were finalized and positions filled. She noted salary savings in administration due to hiring new administrators at lower rates than previous employees.
The district-wide projection showed minimal variance from budget with no significant issues. General education was currently projected over budget, but Herrick-Stella indicated this would be resolved when salary reserves were redistributed. Retirement savings were also helping this cost center. School facilities was projected to finish nearly $200,000 over budget, primarily due to electricity costs at Swampscott Elementary School projected at $300,000. The town had appropriated $200,000 in free cash to cover this expense. Additional costs came from Clark Building utilities, which had not been budgeted since the district expected to transfer those expenses to another entity.
Casper provided an update on the solar project, explaining that panels were currently being installed on the elementary school roof. The gym roof was entirely covered, with work progressing on additional sections. He expected panel installation to be completed within two to three weeks, covering the entire roof. Final wiring, connections, and National Grid inspections and approvals were still needed, with the system expected to come online in February. Casper noted this timing was actually favorable since solar generation is minimal during winter months, with significant benefits beginning in March.
Special education was projected $414,000 over budget, though some of this would be resolved through salary transfers. Herrick-Stella noted that the town had requested a $200,000 reduction in out-of-district tuition with the expectation that the reserve fund would cover those costs. She highlighted positive developments in staffing efficiencies at Swampscott Elementary School that were helping reduce the special education budget deficit.
Giantis expressed appreciation for the presentation and the news about efficiencies. Contreras noted satisfaction with cost-saving efforts following the difficult previous budget and the transparency in reporting. Wright praised the clear presentation and expressed relief at starting the year on solid financial ground. Herrick-Stella credited the Superintendent and building leadership team for finding talented staff at lower costs, which enabled the district to absorb the Title 1 funding loss while maintaining services previously funded by that grant.
Student representatives Sasha and Leah both expressed satisfaction with the budget news. Leah specifically praised the solar panel implementation and the use of renewable energy sources for the community. A committee member mentioned that the elementary school property also has geothermal wells.
Superintendent Goals Discussion (Link: 00:35:00 – 01:07:00)
Casper announced that Consigli, the company installing the solar panels, had offered to give a presentation to older students at the elementary school about the solar project and the building’s geothermal systems and energy efficiency features. Wright expressed interest in attending the presentation.
Paster introduced the discussion of superintendent goals that had been reviewed two weeks prior, noting there had been proposed additions and comments. Wright explained that she had not attended the previous meeting’s presentation but felt there was an absence of measurable goals in what she had read. She requested three-year goals with specific benchmarks for years one, two, and three rather than simply monitoring progress, to provide clearer accountability measures.
Jason Calichman, Superintendent, presented slides addressing feedback from the previous meeting. For Goal One regarding action plan development and assessment procedures, he explained that year one would involve developing the plan and assessment procedures, year two would implement them, and year three would refine them. Wright emphasized the need for SMART goal formatting with specific reporting dates and measurable outcomes.
Regarding student engagement measures, Calichman had proposed attending two after-school events per month at each building, with feedback suggesting three events per month with at least one at each school. Calichman explained that elementary and middle schools don’t always have monthly after-school events outside of sports, so he preferred keeping the broader two-per-month commitment rather than specifying by building. Wright suggested expanding the definition beyond large events to include smaller gatherings like after-school programs, teacher meetings, or visits to programs like the Y after-school program.
Calichman described plans for a student cabinet at the high school, involving a cross-section of student volunteers who would have direct access to administration. The cabinet would meet six times per year, with Calichman aiming to attend 85% of meetings. The cabinet would be run by Calichman, Principal Kent, and Assistant Principal Auto, with plans to potentially pilot a middle school version later. Wright asked how this would differ from student government, and Calichman explained it would provide direct superintendent access and aim for a broader cross-section of students, including those who might not be comfortable running for student government.
Student representatives Leah and Sasha both expressed enthusiasm for the student cabinet concept, noting it would provide opportunities for diverse student voices and direct access to the superintendent. They agreed that selecting students who aren’t typically chosen for leadership roles would be beneficial and that the direct superintendent involvement would differentiate it from student council.
Paster expressed concern about setting specific attendance percentages like 85%, given that Calichman was a first-year superintendent with many new responsibilities including mentor meetings. He suggested flexibility for mid-course corrections during a January review. Wright supported having measurable standards but agreed that establishing the cabinet structure, selection process, and calendar would be significant first-year accomplishments.
Regarding parent engagement events, Calichman explained these would include parent coffees, PTO events, sporting events, concerts, plays, and science fairs, acknowledging overlap with student events. He cited attending a Unified Sports game as an example where he connected with families and received feedback.
For staff engagement, the original proposal was three events per month at one building, but Calichman had initially focused on large events like open houses and professional development conferences. Wright suggested including smaller after-school activities. Paster expressed concern about the volume of commitments and suggested using ranges rather than specific numbers to provide flexibility for addressing priorities as they arise. Giantis supported the range concept.
Calichman addressed communication measures, noting that Amy O’Connor had requested adjusting community and key town leader meetings to three per year, which had been incorporated. Regarding newsletter distribution, Wright had requested direct emailing to town administrator, Finance Committee, and Select Board members rather than relying solely on the town newsletter. Wright explained this would ensure broader community awareness beyond the Parent Square population and prevent claims that information wasn’t being shared.
The discussion included exploring ways to reach residents not connected to the school system, with suggestions for joining the town’s existing mailing list or creating a separate distribution system. Wright noted that the town newsletter reaches town meeting members and others who can opt out, providing a way to reach engaged community members.
Wright had requested that three-year goals be broken down into measurable yearly chunks rather than simply being monitored. Calichman showed a tracking system he was developing to monitor progress on various goals, linking activities to specific objectives and timeframes. Wright praised this visual approach as making goals and evidence clear.
Giantis expressed concern that the detailed tracking requirements might be excessive and take Calichman away from his primary responsibilities as superintendent. He suggested a more holistic approach with measurable data but less detailed compliance reporting. Paster agreed that the level of detail seemed excessive for voting on that evening, particularly given the short preparation time and O’Connor’s absence.
The committee agreed to postpone voting on the goals, with Calichman to email revised versions after consulting with O’Connor. Committee members would review and provide feedback before the next meeting to facilitate a vote without extensive discussion time.
Subcommittee Updates and Actions (Link: 01:07:00 – 01:11:00)
Contreras reported having access to older policies, and Wright indicated she was working with Amy O’Connor on policy review, noting there was one section that would be easy to address but they needed to start checking items off their list.
Paster informed the community that an open meeting of the budget subcommittee of the whole had been held earlier that evening, during which Herrick-Stella reviewed budget numbers discussed in the regular meeting and talked about projections and initial thoughts for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
The committee moved to actions and votes. Paster presented a request for approval of a special one-day sale of alcoholic beverages at the indoor farmers market at Swampscott High School on November 23rd. Giantis asked whether the Select Board had already approved this request, but Calichman was not aware of their status. Committee members confirmed this was an annual farmers market event where wine could be sold. Wright made a motion to approve, Contreras seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
The committee considered a donation from Leah Hines, a Swampscott resident, who donated $21 to pay for any student to attend a field trip from Swampscott Elementary School kindergarten class to Brooksby Farms. Wright commented on seeing cute pictures from the trip. Wright made a motion to approve the donation, Contreras seconded, and it passed unanimously.
The committee voted on the regular session minutes from October 9, 2025. Contreras made a motion to approve, which was seconded and passed unanimously.
Wright asked about a withdrawal report that was in their folder, wondering if it would be discussed. Calichman explained that it had been pushed back because they planned to use the same data with open analytics. Contreras made a motion to adjourn, which was seconded and passed unanimously, ending the meeting.
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