The meeting’s most concern was the potential layoff of up to 30 staff members due to a looming budget gap. The superintendent underscored the severity of the situation, noting that academic, behavioral, and safety needs are changing classroom dynamics. Members discussed the impact of these layoffs on the community and taxpayers, with particular attention to the expiration of grant-funded positions. The discussion included the need for crisis intervention in schools, exacerbated by challenges related to the migrant crisis and a perceived lack of adequate resources from state and federal governments. The committee underscored the importance of transparency and thorough consideration of all options before proceeding with layoffs.

Adding to the urgency was a proposal to introduce crisis counselors at two schools, CGS and Marsh, to better address behavioral and mental health challenges faced by students. Committee members voiced support for this initiative, acknowledging its potential to improve the support system for students exhibiting challenging behaviors. The allocation of resources for this initiative sparked debate, with members raising concerns about the cost and equitable distribution of resources across different schools. The discussion encapsulated the broader concerns about in-school suspensions and the need for alternative disciplinary measures that adapt to students’ evolving needs.

The committee also examined disciplinary policies, specifically the implementation of the “timy and tenny model” for in-school suspensions and the consistency of suspension policies across schools. Concerns were raised about the effectiveness of in-school suspensions and whether current staff, including school counselors, adjustment counselors, and school psychologists, were equipped to handle crisis situations. The use of mobile crisis intervention services, such as MCI, was discussed, with apprehensions about their capacity to respond promptly to crises in schools.

Further discussions centered around leveraging internal staff for Behavioral Health Care in response to the high number of students requiring such services. The committee emphasized the need to adapt strategies to meet students’ changing needs and utilize licensed clinical staff effectively. Budget priorities were also a topic of concern, with mental health and classroom teachers identified as top priorities amidst the potential layoffs.

In addition to these issues, the committee addressed the inclusion of Good Friday as a holiday in the school calendar, which sparked debate over the appropriateness of favoring one religion and the need to reflect the community’s diversity. The contractual obligation to observe Good Friday was discussed alongside the challenge of changing the holiday. The start date of the school year and the proposal for remote learning on potential snow days were also debated.

The committee voted on the policy for managing unfinished agenda items, electing to allow items to be postponed to the next agenda and hold special meetings for matters. The start time of school committee meetings was changed from 6:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to accommodate staff and students with after-school activities. The meeting concluded with discussions on the nomination and election process for the City Charter Commission representative for the school department, with an emphasis on an open and transparent selection process.