The joint meeting with the Select Board was a focal point where Estelle Jordan was appointed to the school committee following a two-round voting process. The initial round of voting saw Jordan receiving five votes, Georgia Robert getting four, and Sarah Fernandez receiving none, leading to Fernandez’s elimination. In the subsequent round, Jordan emerged as the final choice. This appointment was conducted with a structured, private ballot system, and the Select Board expressed their appreciation for the candidates’ willingness to serve the community. They encouraged those not selected to consider future opportunities for involvement.

During the school committee meeting, a portion of the discussion centered on the needs of English Language Learner (ELL) students. Nilda Rosar, Director of Student and Family Support, presented compelling data and personal insights on the growing requirements for ELL services within the district. Rosar emphasized the importance of structured support, stating, “I hope for every child that through that structured and targeted support they can continue to excel in Longmeadow Public Schools.”

Rosar highlighted the district’s increasing diversity, particularly among Hispanic and Asian students. As of late summer to early fall, 11 new students were identified for ELL testing and support. This increase necessitates targeted support, especially at the elementary level, where many students are arriving with emerging proficiency in English. The district follows a sheltered English immersion model, integrating language instruction into daily teaching activities.

Currently, there are 41 students needing ELL support, with ongoing monitoring for those who have tested out of ELL services. The program aims to create a welcoming environment for families and emphasizes community engagement. Rosar detailed that students entering with lower proficiency levels require about two hours and fifteen minutes of instruction per day. The district employs three ELL teachers, but with the growing number of students, there is a recognized need for additional staffing.

To address this, a recommendation was made to add either a halftime ELL teacher or a full-time academic tutor. This recommendation aims to ensure sufficient direct instruction or monitoring support for ELL students. The committee discussed the difficulty in filling the ELL teaching position due to a potentially limited applicant pool and considered hiring an academic tutor as a fallback option. However, there was a strong inclination to hire a certified ELL teacher due to their specialized training in language acquisition.

Financial implications were also discussed, with estimates for the 0.5 position ranging from $30,000 to $40,000, while a full-time tutor would be less costly. The importance of certified teachers was emphasized, as they are better equipped to provide targeted support. There were discussions about the potential for tutors to pursue certification over time.

Following the ELL discussion, the superintendent’s report provided updates on several key projects and events. The superintendent mentioned a productive meeting regarding the Williams Middle School project, focusing on vehicular circulation, pedestrian access, and traffic calming measures. The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) Facilities Assessment Subcommittee was scheduled to meet the following day to gather information about the project before submitting the preferred report to the full MSBA board in October.

Additionally, the superintendent discussed the release of MCAS results, with individual reports to be distributed to families in October. The new elementary literacy curriculum implementation was highlighted, along with potential grants for related professional development. In the realm of special education, a new IEP process was underway, and professional development was ongoing. An upcoming review by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) would serve as an audit of special education practices.

Technology updates included the installation of a new firewall for enhanced network protection and plans for implementing a classroom management tool for teachers to monitor student Chromebook usage. Upcoming events such as the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Center School playground, rescheduled for October 8, and the anticipated opening of the Wolf Swamp playground were also mentioned. The superintendent invited committee members to attend the LEAF Awards ceremony scheduled for October 24 at Longmeadow High School.

The meeting also addressed transportation challenges due to a national bus driver shortage, affecting the district’s ability to maintain timely transportation for approximately 275 to 300 registered students. The committee discussed the rollout of the My Ride K12 app, which allows parents to track their children’s buses.