The most pressing topic of the meeting was the discussion surrounding the superintendent search committee. The timing and logistics of forming this committee, along with the posting of the job advertisement, were thoroughly debated. A concern was whether the advertisement could be posted without an active search committee, drawing on previous experience where the advertisement and committee formation occurred simultaneously. The committee explored the implications of launching the search before the holiday season, considering that potential volunteers might prefer to delay involvement until January.

The timeline for the search was scrutinized, with suggestions to use the same advertisement as the last search while concurrently working on forming the committee. A six-week application period was proposed, with a start date of January 18, to allow ample time for attracting a diverse range of candidates. The importance of a broad applicant pool was emphasized, especially if the search aimed to include national or international candidates.

Discussion also covered the composition of the search committee, which traditionally includes representatives from various stakeholders such as school administrators, district employees, school committee members, parents, teachers, and community members. The need for balanced representation, including parents and teachers from both schools, was underscored, particularly in light of a previous exception where one school lacked representation. The committee considered using past recruitment methods, like outreach through newsletters and Google forms, to gather names of interested volunteers.

Another focus was on budget preparations for fiscal year 2026. The superintendent is finalizing capital articles to be submitted to the town by the upcoming Monday. Budget drafts are being reviewed with department heads and principals, with a submission deadline of December 13 for compilation by the Town Administrator. The committee scheduled a public budget forum for December 17, from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m., to encourage community input. Concerns about potential conflicts with basketball games during the forum were discussed, and a plan was made to record the forum, allowing community members to submit questions in advance through newsletters and social media.

In addition to these topics, the meeting covered several educational initiatives. Updates included the superintendent and special director’s attendance at a legal seminar on special education and social media policy. Central office staff participated in a virtual workshop on artificial intelligence in education, leading to the formation of a working group focused on technology integration in classrooms. This group aims to explore procedural developments and training opportunities for staff regarding AI.

The committee also discussed recent parent-teacher conferences at the high school, which were well attended. Thanks to a 21st-century grant, an after-school program at East Meadow for elementary students has started, operating three days a week with plans to expand to five days. A shopping event for students at East Meadow is scheduled for December 16 to December 19, allowing students to purchase gifts for their families. Additionally, the Springfield Thunderbird mascot, Boomer, will visit East Meadow on December 6, coinciding with an ice cream event seeking volunteers for donations and service.

The topic of the kitchen bid was addressed, with plans to re-bid in February or March. As the committee looks ahead, they intend to work on various agenda items, including budget and policy discussions. The need to reorganize due to a member’s departure and another’s onboarding was acknowledged, with plans to address these changes in upcoming meetings.

The public portion of the meeting concluded with a motion to enter into executive session to discuss strategy regarding collective bargaining, in accordance with Massachusetts General Law chapter 30A section 21 part A3. A roll call vote was taken.