A substantial portion of the meeting was dedicated to the topic of substitute teacher pay. The presentation highlighted that Medford Public Schools currently offer substitute compensation ranging from $90 to $125 per day. Despite an increase in the pool of substitutes, the district continues to struggle with meeting the demand for substitute teachers. Concerns were raised about the adequacy of this compensation, especially in light of the difficulty in maintaining a reliable substitute teacher workforce. The committee discussed the potential of increasing the pay scale for substitute teachers and instructional support staff, and the possibility of partnering with educational staffing companies to build a larger pool of substitutes.

Committee members inquired about the current expenditure on substitute coverage, which amounted to $34,988 for the current school year, and sought clarity on the differences between teacher coverage and loss of prep time, as well as the rates for each. Questions were also raised about the timeline and cost implications of potentially outsourcing substitute management to educational staffing companies. The conversation underscored the desire for increased transparency and detailed information in the upcoming budget meetings regarding the rates at which budget calculations were being made and the timeline for potential changes to the compensation structure.

The committee addressed the Medford High School building project, detailing the steps required for a successful bid, starting with the eligibility period beginning May 1st. The district is tasked with describing its current and future educational programming and considering the placement of Curtis TS High School on the Medford High campus. Public input and stakeholder feedback are also crucial, as is the creation of plans for a building that aligns with Medford’s climate goals. The administration has been working on initial compliance certification and drafting the educational profile, with the city council playing a role in identifying funding for the feasibility study, which is estimated to cost between 2 and 2.5 million dollars and may be partially reimbursed by the state education board.

The committee recommended the appointment of voting and non-voting members to the school building committee, emphasizing the need for diverse community representation and expertise. Public comments touched on the importance of including vocational program needs in the committee’s considerations. There were also discussions about the composition of the committee, specifically the balance between politicians, community members, and teachers, resulting in the approval of an amendment to add two more non-voting community members.

Additionally, the meeting covered the Medford Educational Foundation’s donation of $3,180.11 for the Curtis High School music program and donations from the Medford Rotary Club and the Medford Kiwanis Club for the media technology and culinary arts programs, respectively. All donations were approved with thanks.

Updates from the Superintendent of Schools included the closure of schools for Eid Al-Fitr and April vacation week, the celebration of Autism Acceptance Month, Arab American Heritage Month, and Occupational Therapy Month, and the announcement of the Middle School placement lottery and the transportation survey. The Superintendent also presented a draft report on district-wide suspension and discipline for review.

In new business, a resolution was proposed to recognize Autism Acceptance Month and Day, which led to a discussion about the importance of language surrounding autism and supporting students impacted by autism spectrum disorder. The resolution was approved to move to committee for further discussion. The meeting concluded with the approval of a revised subcommittee structure and a presentation of the districtwide suspension and discipline report scheduled for the next meeting.