The meeting commenced with Chair Christy Boudreau announcing amendments to the agenda, specifically omitting discussions about the sixth-grade transition to Smith Academy and the superintendent’s annual goals for a subsequent meeting. The mission moment followed, highlighting improvements at Hatfield Elementary’s library and commendations for effective teaching methods in the kindergarten classroom.

One notable issues discussed was the ongoing challenges in hiring educational support personnel (ESP) at Hatfield Elementary. Dr. Salvador reported significant efforts to fill vacant positions, including job postings on platforms like Indeed and outreach to neighboring districts. However, these efforts have faced setbacks, with some hires leaving shortly after starting. Dr. Salvador expressed optimism about a recent influx of applicants following recent postings.

In addition to ESP shortages, the committee addressed gaps in physical therapy (PT) services within the district. A work group dedicated five hours to addressing scheduling gaps and evaluating staffing needs. Despite these efforts, the current situation was described as a “Band-Aid type of fix,” with compensatory services deemed necessary once a provider is secured. The challenges in recruiting PT providers were noted, with staffing difficulties attributed to statewide trends since the pandemic. The committee discussed the possibility of families seeking PT services independently and whether they could be reimbursed by the school.

Further discussion highlighted the tiered focus monitoring process, involving a civil rights audit and documentation review expected to continue into early January. Training on a new Individualized Education Program (IEP) document released by the state was conducted, emphasizing the need for educators and support staff to understand the technical aspects of IEPs and behavior intervention plans. The importance of staff having access to these documents was underlined, with plans for them to be centralized in Dr. Salvador’s office for easier reference.

Concerns about significant roof repair costs at the elementary school were raised, with a $23,000 bill noted, although this was within budget expectations. The district experienced some unexpected school choice funding, which would help cover these costs, with projected increases in school choice revenues anticipated for the next fiscal year.

The committee also discussed school choice policies, particularly focusing on the timeline and specific language to be used in policy documents. Applications would be accepted until September 30th, with a lottery to take place on February 15th if the number of applicants exceeded the cap. Subsequent applications would be considered on a space-available basis until September 30th. The committee debated the wording of the midyear admissions section, ultimately leaning towards a first-come, first-served approach for midyear admissions to streamline the process.

The Hatfield School Committee also reviewed potential changes to Policy IKF, which pertains to graduation requirements. Proposed changes included requiring foreign language classes and a community service requirement of 20 hours over four years. This sparked a discussion about manageability and student participation, with members noting various opportunities for community service within the community.

An update on the Title IX policy, specifically Policy ACAB, was presented. The legal team provided a revised version of the policy, aligning the district’s handbook with current legal standards. The committee recommended a first reading of the policy and proposed to waive the second and third readings due to the comprehensive nature of the updates. The policy was approved unanimously.

The committee also touched on the school’s payment system, “My School Bucks,” which recently completed training and was developing a platform for managing preschool payments and after-school programs. Some logistical issues remained, particularly regarding separate accounts for different types of payments and calendar-related adjustments.