School Committee — 2023-12-19
Agenda
- To approve executive session minutes of December 5, 2023
- To conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel, Adam Deleidi, and the executive assistant to the superintendent of schools
- Vote for School Committee Chair and Vice Chair (10 minutes) vote required
- Surplus Materials
- Donations
- MHS/MVMMS Field Trip Request
- Personnel Report
- Monthly Budget Summary/Grants/Revolving Accounts (5 minutes) vote required
- Warrants (5 minutes) vote required
- FY24 Line Item Budget (15 minutes)
- NEASC’s Notification: First Report of Progress and Planning
- Records Access Officer (5 minutes) vote required
- Enrollment Report (5 minutes)
- School Committee Self Evaluation (15 minutes)
- Outreach Reports (5 minutes)
Minutes
CITY OF MELROSE MELROSE SCHOOL COMMITTEE MINUTES● DECEMBER 19, 2023 Council Chamber, First Floor, Melrose City Hall Regular Meeting 7:00 PM 562 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176
(ID # 11374) Executive Session To approve executive session minutes of December 5, 2023
(ID # 11412) Executive Session To conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel, Adam Deleidi, and the executive assistant to the superintendent of schools
(ID # 11364) Announcements - Superintendent Vote for School Committee Chair and Vice Chair (10 minutes) vote required
(ID # 11373) Consent Surplus Materials Adopted
(ID # 11408) Consent Donations Adopted
(ID # 11358) Consent MHS/MVMMS Field Trip Request Adopted
(ID # 11357) Consent Personnel Report Adopted
(ID # 11359) Finance and Facilities Monthly Budget Summary/Grants/Revolving Accounts (5 minutes) vote required Passed
(ID # 11361) Finance and Facilities Warrants (5 minutes) vote required Passed City of Melrose Page 1 Updated 1/4/2024 8:44 AM Minutes Melrose School Committee December 19, 2023
(ID # 11370) Finance and Facilities FY24 Line Item Budget (15 minutes) No Action Taken
(ID # 11372) Educational Programs and Personnel NEASC’s Notification: First Report of Progress and Planning
(ID # 11369) Educational Programs and Personnel Records Access Officer (5 minutes) vote required Passed
(ID # 11371) Educational Programs and Personnel Enrollment Report (5 minutes)
(ID # 11342) Policy and Planning School Committee Self Evaluation (15 minutes)
(ID # 11366) Announcements - Chair Outreach Reports (5 minutes) Note: The listed agenda items are those that are reasonably anticipated by the Chair to be discussed at the meeting. Not all items, in fact, may be discussed, and other items not listed also may be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. City of Melrose Page 2 Updated 1/4/2024 8:44 AM
Transcript
▶ 0:16 Margaret Raymond Driscoll: Good evening and welcome to the Melrose School Committee meeting of December 19th, 2023. Uh, at this time, I would invite Mrs. Hogan to, uh, call the role, please. Mr. O'Connell. Here. Ms. Ozzie Thomas. Here. Mr. sel. Here. Ms. Withy. Here. Ms. McAndrew here. And Mr. Driscoll Here. And with six members present and one absent, I do declare a quorum. And so we will continue with our meeting. So I would invite you to please rise as you are able so we can save the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic, Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. And I would like to note that this meeting is being recorded
▶ 1:12 Margaret Raymond Driscoll: and live streamed, uh, by our friends at MMTV. Uh, at this time, I would entertain a motion to move the report of the student representatives to this current place on the agenda. So moved, made by Ms. Desel. Uh, seconded by Ms. Withi. Seeing no discussion. All in favor? Oppose. That motion carries unanimously with one absent. And our student representatives. Thank you for being here tonight. And Ms. Dessel, did you want to open, uh, their presentation? Uh, sure. Um, we have, uh, they're rotating their, their way through. Um, would you please introduce yourselves and then, uh, go on into, uh, your presentation. Hi, my name's Taylor Siebel. I'm a junior at MHS. Um, I'm Caroline Donahue. I'm also a junior.
▶ 2:01 Um, we just like to give an update on a couple of things that have been happening recently at the school. Um, the Melrose Alliance Against Violence MHS Student Action Board has been visiting freshman seminar classes and educating them about the difference between healthy and unhealthy peer relationships. The National Honor Society recently welcomed new members in an induction ceremony at the middle school on December 7th. The MHS Chorus and Orchestra both held their annual winter concerts within the past few weeks. And the band concert has their, um, winter concert tonight. And the orchestra, um, had their first performance in Melrose with their new director, Mr. Deba. In light of the holiday season,
▶ 2:40 many clubs have been having different types of different types of drives and just giving back to the community, the MHS reach leadership had their seventh annual hope for the holidays open mic. Um, on December 13th at the Temple Beth Shalom. And people sang, danced, played instruments, read poetry and more with all of the proceeds going to childhood cancer patients and their families. Uh, recently there have been some issues with Aspen students. Parents and teachers have been in trouble logging in and haven't been able to see their grades or, um, their profiles. But the IT support have been working on it and hope to resolve the issue as soon as possible. Other things that are happening or in the works?
▶ 3:23 M h's drama is starting their winter musical soon. This year's production is Sweeney Todd and addition, they're starting later this week. Hope the junior and senior student governments are by getting to plan their proms and hold fundraisers. The junior classes decided on a carnival theme to decorate the courtyard, and the seniors are holding their prom at the Black Swan Country Club in Georgetown. Adding on to what previous meetings have mentioned about the new grading and homework policy, many students, including ourselves, are pleased with it and have adapted to the change from previous systems years past. And lastly, we would like to add on about using Venmo or another use of cashless payment at our school.
▶ 3:59 This has been a big impact on students, especially student governments and student council since they're not gaining maximum profit about the use of cashless payment. Like said at previous meetings, many students don't carry cash and are constantly asking for other methods such as Venmo. And I know the use of the company my Bucks has been talked about. So you wanna get an update of the process of getting that initiated. Very good. Thank you so much. Any questions for our students this evening? Mr. sel? No questions, but a comment. Um, Ms. Lindquist, if you could follow up with regards to, uh, my bucks in return or, or Venmo and return to the committee, um, or have the superintendent return to the committee
▶ 4:41 Margaret Raymond Driscoll: with an update on that? Sure. Brilliant. Thank you very much. Thank you. Have one question. Thank you so much. We appreciate your being here and all you are doing in school. Oh, miss re So, sorry. Yeah, a quick question. Sorry. I wanted to also ask if you know of other, if other districts are using either Venmo or My Bucks. I know Saugus High is using Venmo. Interesting For all the kind of, uh, events that you're talking about. Yes. Okay. Thank you very much. Thank You. Really Appreciate Happy Holidays to you too. Too, too. Thank you both. Thank you. Thank You both. At this time, we do have need for an executive session to approve executive session minutes of December 5th, 2023, and to conduct strategy strategy sessions in preparation
▶ 5:24 Margaret Raymond Driscoll: for negotiations with non-Union personnel, Adam Delany and the executive assistant to the Superintendent of schools. We will return to public session. Do I have a motion to adjourn? So, move to executive session made by Ms. Razzi Thomas, seconded by Ms. Withy. Uh, any discussions? Seeing none, Mrs. Hogan, would you call the role please? Mr. O'Connell? Yes. Mr. Ozzie Thomas? Yes. Ms. Desel? Yes. Ms. withy? Yes. Ms. McAndrew? Yes. Mr. Ko? Yes. And with six in favor and one absent, we are adjourned to executive session. We will return to public session. Make up a name. I could say that way. You ever seen any of those clips? Chris? You ever seen any of Those? Thank you so much. We have, uh, returned
▶ 6:12 Margaret Raymond Driscoll: to public session, uh, this evening. Um, and I am happy to report that we have approved the executive session minutes of December 5th, 2023, and that we are making great progress in our negotiations with the incoming superintendent. And we will provide a press release, uh, when we have reached agreement, um, with our incoming superintendent. Next on our agenda is, uh, public comment, which I will open without objection. Is there anyone who would like to speak this evening at public comment? Seeing none without objection, public comment is now closed. The next item on the agenda is the announcements of the Superintendent of schools and will be, uh, ably presented this evening by, um, the, uh, the Superintendent's Designee
▶ 7:05 and School Committee Council. Amy Linquist. Alright, guest star. Let's go. I have to reopen the search. This goes what? Good evening. In accordance with, um, section 4.2 A of the Melrose City Charter, along with Article three, section 3.2 of the school committee bylaws. It is incumbent upon the school committee to elect a chair and vice chair in my capacity as designee of the Executive Secretary and as school committee council, I shall conduct the straw poll election of chair and vice chair for calendar year 2024. I invite the newly elected members to join us up at the horseshoe. Are there any nominations for the position of chair? I, I would like to nominate Margaret Driscoll for the position of Chair
▶ 8:27 Dory with the nominates, um, Margaret Driscoll. Ms. Hogan, would you please call the role, uh, for nomination as Ms. Driscoll to serve as chair of the Melrose School Committee for 2024. Ms. O'Connell? Yes. Mayor Broder? Yes. Ms. RA Thomas? Yes. Ms. Driscoll? Yes. Mr. Hotman? Yes. Sorry. Mr. Kelly? Yes. Mr. sel? Yes. Ms. Vy? Yes. Ms. Mickey Andrew? Yes. That was, that's a unanimous vote for Ms. Driscoll as chair. Are there any nominations for the position of Vice-Chair? It would be my honor to nominate Ms. Withy as Vice Chair Ms. Withy nominated, um, by Ms. Sal, Ms. Hogan, will you please call the roll call Mr. O'Connell? Yes. Mayor Broder? Yes. Ms. Ozzie Thomas? Yes. Ms. Driscoll? Yes. Mr. Kelly? Yes. Mr. Hockman? Yes. Mr. sel?
▶ 9:38 Yes. Ms. withy? Yes. Ms. McAndrew? Yes. A unanimous vote for Ms. Withy as Vice-chair at the January 9th meeting, the superintendent tell the superintendent will preside over the official election where the newly formed committee will vote. The process will operate in the same manner as it did tonight with the STR hall vote. STR hall vote. Once the vote is complete, the newly voted chair will begin the selection of a subcommittee Chairman for 2024 and prepare for the January, 2023 meeting. Members should indicate interest in subcommittee and liaison positions to the incoming chair by January 12th. Please. Are there any further business in this regard, Ms. Resco? Um, I just wanted to express my appreciation in your support,
▶ 10:29 Margaret Raymond Driscoll: and I'm grateful to all of you. I look forward to serving in this capacity next year, and, um, looking forward to a very productive and rewarding and exciting year on behalf of all of our students. So, thank you, Ms. Great. Thank you. I'm also honored to be serving. Thank you so much. And I look forward to the year to come. Great. There being no further business in this regard. The agenda item is complete and the chair will retake the gavel. I should thank you. Practically a judge with the guy. Yeah. Thank you so much. Attorney Lindquist. Next on our agenda is the consent agenda, which tonight, uh, includes, uh, six items. The, uh, school committee regular meeting, minutes of November 28th, 2023,
▶ 11:25 Margaret Raymond Driscoll: the school committee's special meeting, uh, minutes of December 5th, 2023, a surplus materials memo, donations, and M-H-S-M-V-M-M-S field trip request and the personnel report. Would anyone like to remove anything from the consent agenda? Seeing none. Do I have a motion for approval made by Mr. O'Connell? Seconded by Ms. Razzi Thomas. All in favor? Opposed? And that motion carries unanimously. Next on our agenda is, uh, are the reports of our subcommittees, and I would invite Ms. Rozi Thomas, forward for Finance and Facilities. Thank you. Good evening and welcome to Finance and Facilities. Um, our first item is our monthly budget summary, grants update and revolving accounts update. And, um, we have those three reports in the packet.
▶ 12:31 Jennifer McAndrew: And, um, do I have a motion to approve those? Motion to approve by Ms. Driscoll, second by, uh, mayor Broder, and any questions or concerns or comments on those? Yes. Ms. McAndrew? Not a, not a question or concern, just a suggestion going forward. I know we've talked about this and I'll also convey this to Mr. Kelly because I know he's not here tonight. But, um, I do think on the offset projections, um, summary, which is extremely helpful and really great to see the month to month, if we could also see a projection of year end on that Yes. As another column, that would be really helpful. Yep. Um, because some of those do fluctuate even within the month. And I mean, to my eye, they look relatively on track
▶ 13:24 compared to years past and previous months. But that would be great, uh, especially 'cause we're getting towards the halfway point of the fiscal year. Thank you for that reminder. I will send an email to Mr. Kelly and Superintendent Cyro reminding them to bring that the next time we review these Report. I'm happy to do that. I'm not trying to create work for you. Thank you. Any other questions, concerns? I just wanna say, you know, if we look again at the monthly budget report year to date, this was pulled for the 4th of December. We're seeing the same patterns that we've been seeing through every month, where the overages are as where we expected them to be in the tuition to non-public schools, tuition to collaborative,
▶ 14:05 and then also in, um, transportation. So that's gonna be the areas that we're gonna need to see, uh, if we can make up some other funds from other areas, if we have any surplus anywhere from, um, the offsets as well. And then if we have to go to city council in the upcoming months, we will, um, seeing no other questions or concerns. Uh, do I have, um, a vote to approve these? All in favor that carries unanimously with seven in favor, no abstains and new objections. And moving on. We have seven warrants to approve tonight. So this is basically a month's plus of, of warrants for us to close out the year. Um, so they are, I'll read them out and then we'll, we'll vote on them. The first one is, uh,
▶ 14:56 school wire warrant S 2 4 0 2 8 in the amount of $595,758 and 42 cents. Then we also have refunds and officials, um, warrant S 2 4 0 2 9 in the amount of $1,143 and 50 cents. We have the November High School student activity wire warrant S 2 4 0 3 oh in the amount of $5,152 and 24 cents. Um, we have the November Middle School student activity wire, S 2 4 0 3 1 in the amount of $3,510 even. We have November meals tax S 2 4 0 3 2 in the amount of $34 and 96 cents. And then we have our school wire, um, S 2 4 3 3 in the amount of two thou, $237,376 and 54 cents. And lastly, refunds and officials S 2 4 0 3 4 in the amount of $711 and 75 cents. Do I have a motion to approve? Made by Mayor Broder?
▶ 16:03 Second by Ms. McAndrew. All in favor, those carry unanimously with seven in favor. The last item on our this agenda, um, we were due to discuss the newly created line item budget for the current fiscal year that we're in 20 fiscal year 24. Um, we allotted 15 minutes for discussion and unfortunately, the superintendent's not able to be here tonight, nor is is, uh, Mr. Kelly. So we're gonna push that into January. But I really want everyone who's watching to know that on our website, which is a lovely new website. Um, if you go to it melrose schools.com, and then you go to district information, go under there. And the third item is budget information and documents. Click into there and you'll get to see our lovely
▶ 16:57 salary budget line item. You can see the whole budget and you can see the categories that the school committee votes on. And then you can go in for those people that want as much data as possible, you can go into each line item or group like Hoover Horseman, Lincoln Roosevelt, all our schools, and then athletics, extracurricular, special Ed Teaching and Learning Administration system-wide grants. So everything you ever wanted to think about in relation to our budget that we're currently in is there. And this is how we will also build out the fiscal year 25 budget. And that's being worked on feverishly by the people in the financial office. And that's all this evening for finance and, and facilities.
▶ 17:41 Jennifer McAndrew: Happy holidays and Happy New Year. Thank you, Ms. Razzi Thomas. Uh, next on our agenda is the Educational Programs and Personnel Subcommittee, Ms. McAndrew. Good evening everyone, and welcome to Educational Programs and Personnel. Um, we have three items before us this evening. One requires a vote and two are informational. The first, which is informational, is, uh, notification to Melrose High School. Um, and a CC to the committee and the community that, uh, Melrose High School has received, uh, re-accreditation with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges in neasc. This is, um, for those who may not be familiar, was a major undertaking over the past several years for re-accreditation, um, led by the high school team,
▶ 18:49 Jennifer McAndrew: but with input from many across the district and in central office. Um, this is a really big accomplishment and I, um, really commend, um, on behalf of the committee, Mr. Merrill and the entire high school team. Um, and I would suggest to the community and folks watching that you read this letter in the school committee packet because it calls out, um, highlights from their very intensive in-person, um, review and document review of Melrose High School, um, and really highlights a lot of the great work that's been happening there. So, um, also lays out the process for any, um, changes going forward and, um, reviews between the annual review, uh, the tenure review cycle. Um, are there any questions,
▶ 19:37 Margaret Raymond Driscoll: comments from the committee about the ne a recertification? Mr. Driscoll, please. I would just say that, um, in the past there have been times when the Melrose High School was in warning status with nis. It was, um, very difficult. It had no, um, bearing on the tremendously fine work that was happening there, um, has tremendously high standards. And I think this speaks to the fact that not only, uh, does it show how hard our folks continue to work on behalf of students, but that they have met and excelled in all of the areas. And there are many. So congratulations to, um, principal Merrill, his entire team, um, all those who worked on this from the community and so forth, so many stakeholders contributed to this.
▶ 20:26 Jennifer McAndrew: Um, it is no small feat to get everyone together and do their part to speak to the high quality of teaching and learning that is happening at Melrose High School and then to execute it every day. So congratulations to all of them. Thank you so much for that. Any other comments or questions? Okay, seeing none, um, we will move on. Um, next up is, um, approval of the Records access officer. So there are a series of positions that, um, the school committee approves on behalf of the district. Um, and one of those is the records access officer. And we have a memo before us, um, with a request to appoint, um, assistant city solicitor for School and Labor. Uh, Amy Linquist as the RAO for the Melrose Public Schools.
▶ 21:20 Jennifer McAndrew: Um, I know Ms. Linquist is here with us, uh, in case anyone has any questions about this. But, um, that will then affect the slate of district officers that we approve every year. And so we'll then vote on the revision to that. So let's take these in order if it's, if that's fine with everyone. Um, first for purposes of discussion, is there an, um, motion to approve Assistant city solicitor Amy Linquist as our records access officer? Motion made by Mayor Broder and seconded by Ms. Razzie Thomas. Any questions or discussion on that? Seeing none. All in favor? And that motion carries unanimously. We also have a couple of changes to the full slate of district officers. We approved this before the start of every school year,
▶ 22:10 Jennifer McAndrew: and we did that this year. But there have been a couple of changes and I just wanna call those out. Um, there are three. One is what we just approved, adding Ms. Linus as the records access Officer. One is, uh, the Melrose High School School nurse, um, adding Genevieve Ryder. We have two nurses at Melrose High School. The other is Leanne Denison. We already approved her beginning of the year. And then also the school physician, uh, Dr. Frank Ro. So given that, is there a motion for purposes of discussion to approve the district officers as amended made by Mr. De sel? Seconded by Ms. Whitby? Any discussion on that? All in favor? And that motion carries unanimously as well. Thank you all. Finally on our EPMP Gen,
▶ 22:56 Jennifer McAndrew: tonight is the monthly enrollment report. Uh, we look at enrollment every single month now, and, um, we have the November end of November, 2023 report before us. This was a snapshot taken on November 27th. And, um, as you can see in the packet, uh, the overall district enrollment pre-K to 12 is 3,906. When you add in students who are out of district place, or students who receive services only from the Melrose Public Schools, but attend another school, like a private school, um, that number is 4,025 for our total enrollment. Are there any questions or comments on the enrollment reports? Seeing none, that concludes e, p and P for this evening. Thank you all. Thank you so much, Ms. McAndrew. Next on our agenda is the Policy
▶ 23:49 and Planning Subcommittee with Ms. Dessel and, uh, Ms. Good Evening and welcome to Policy and Planning. Uh, portion of tonight's meeting, uh, we have one item on the agenda, the school committee self-evaluation. Uh, I want to take a moment and thank Ms. withy for, uh, all of the legwork to get this done. Um, as uh, she undertook this, uh, I want to offer the floor to her to, uh, give a brief synopsis of the executive summary. Great, thank you so much. Uh, so in your packet, you'll see that we've compiled a summary based on all of the self-evaluations that were turned in to us prior to December 19th. Uh, just wanted to name a couple of strengths and future considerations as we begin to think about our role
▶ 24:52 and how we wanna continue to strengthen overall service, our service, um, to best support student outcomes. One, I think across the board we mentioned just that we have clear agendas with outcomes that are consistently identified. We are able, because of the presentations that we experience, um, to also have access to data where it be related to curriculum assessments and the budget. And then there were two things that really did bubble up as places of of strength this year in particular. And so one was the hiring of a new superintendent. Um, we began the superintendent search process much earlier this year in order to really attract incredible candidates before that more traditional hiring season begins.
▶ 25:36 And at the same time, we were really intentional around including public, uh, basically making sure that we were proactive by reaching out to students, to families, community members and educators in such a public process. And then the second thing that was noted was our budget communications. Uh, we've worked really hard to provide more clarity with regards to the budget, and I think that is really such a wonderful thing from our finance and facility subcommittee. So thank you. Um, and I think, again, we've rebuilt a line item budget to help people really understand where our monies are spent and how they are spent. And then at the same time, we've dedicated even more time this year to really make sure
▶ 26:16 that we are talking about the budget at every meeting so that we can ask questions and we can learn alongside everyone publicly as well. As we start to think about next year, I think there are three places again, that bubble up. One is communication, wanting to continue to just stay connected to key stakeholders, recognizing that as we proceed with our budget, we may need to consider hosting office hours or again, forums that help people really understand the budget process and what it is going to take to ultimately ensure that we are meeting students' need. And that may mean generating support for a potential override as well. We also wanna make sure that we're supporting the new incoming superintendent having
▶ 26:56 a robust onboarding plan, and at the same time ensuring that he has strong mentorship and guidance as he moves into this role. And then one other thing that came up is just wanting to understand our return on investment in major policy decisions or changes in programmatic shifts that we've made. So I think we all have a desire to learn once we've perhaps approved a different policy or a different programmatic structure, what's the result? How is that impacting students? And so again, hoping as we move into the next year that we'll have the opportunity to hear from district level leaders about those shifts and again, what those outcomes are. So I just wanna say thank you all for giving me the opportunity to compile this summary,
▶ 27:33 and I'm, again, really looking forward to the upcoming year, given our reflections. And finally, before we close out policy and planning, just a reminder, each of the self evals that were provided, uh, individually are attached to the agenda. Uh, I would strongly recommend that all take some time to truly read through, uh, and, and take to heart the messages therein. Uh, it's really an insight into how we view the workings of the committee and our role within the greater community at large. Thank you very much. This concludes policy and planning. Thank you Mr. Sound. Thank you. Next on our agenda this evening is the announcements of the school committee chair and I would invite any outreach reports,
▶ 28:36 any outreach reports, Ms. Whitie. Great. I just wanted to share that the literacy leadership team, or task force, I should say, um, has now met yet again in December. I'm really thrilled We've gone through three professional developments. We've also been working with researcher Dr. Tiffany Hogan to really continue to understand research-based best practices aligned to literacy. And we are moving forward with thinking about what is our vision, what is our hope as we begin to consider pre-K through five literacy instruction in Melrose. So more to come but excited on where we've been thus far. Excellent. Mayor Broder. Uh, Just to follow on to, um, Ms. Worthy's comments in the work of the literacy
▶ 29:16 Paul Brodeur: literacy leadership team. Um, so recent, um, analysis coverage reports of literacy education and the Commonwealth paints a pretty dimm picture. My memory is that the folks that evaluate such things suggest that two thirds of the curricula deployed in various districts are crap, for lack of a better way to, um, describe it. And there is, uh, legislation on Beacon Hill to, uh, it's a couple of ways to potentially rectify that with some, um, potential leadership out of dsi or some other areas of some other folks of expertise. Um, the committee has always been interested in weighing in on, um, statewide issues and legislation up at the State House. Um, I think it would be terrific. Obviously we won't be here anymore,
▶ 30:09 Paul Brodeur: but I think that is a, um, valuable opportunity to kind of make a mark in that, um, show off some of the work that we're doing locally with, uh, with Dory's Group. And particularly since the senate chair is our state senator, the state, uh, the senate chair, the education committee, uh, we have a real opportunity not just in this issue necessarily, but this is certainly one that will well equipped that is super important and, um, is a real deficit, I think, statewide in the way we're pursuing things. It's not a criticism of what's going on here in Melrose, uh, but there is some great work going on. And if we can, uh, help our brothers and sisters across the state, move that forward by weighing in, I think that would be a great
▶ 30:52 use of the committee's time. Very good. Thank you. Other outreach reports? Just wanna, Ms. Rosie Thomas, I just wanna thank Ms. Whitie for all the work that you've been doing on the task force. It's great. Oh, thank you. It's really, really great. And I can't wait to see how it plays out with the district over the next three to five years. It's been really fun. Thank you. And a like, true honor at the same time too. Very good. Anything else on our outreach reports? Seeing none at this time, I'd like to ask committee member Jen McAndrew to join me, please. This chair is large, tall, it's amazing. Different chair altogether. Thank you. Tonight as we honor the service and dedication of our three departing school committee
▶ 31:52 Margaret Raymond Driscoll: members, mayor Broder, Elizabeth Salman at O'Connell, we, as your fellow members wanted to recognize your many contributions by sharing some thoughts and offering you some gifts that reflect your legacy of impact. So first, uh, mayor Broder, um, members, if you would like to share some thoughts on Mayor Broders service, I would begin with Mr. O'Connell. Um, although he has a devilish look, I'd, I'd, you know, be a little afraid. But, uh, Mr. O'Connell, you are, um, uh, recognized, uh, on the floor. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I am, uh, enormously grateful, uh, for having had the opportunity to serve, uh, with Mayor Broder. I've learned a great deal, not just about process and procedure, but about, uh, working
▶ 32:40 with all different kinds of people and how to conduct oneself in the public realm. And I'm, I'm really appreciative of that. Very good. Thank you, Ms. Ra Thomas. Well, I have a few things I want to say, but I'm gonna preface it with this quote for, but this quote is for the three of you as well as for our esteemed mayor. It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. It was the age of wisdom. It was the age of foolishness. It was the season of light. It was the season of darkness. It was the spring of hope. It was the winter of despair. Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities. You might have heard of it. Um, Paul, I just wanna thank you for your long-term commitment, um, to and service to Melrose.
▶ 33:28 You became mayor at a moment of such great promise for Melrose. We as a city had just passed an override and it was a hopeful and exciting time. I can barely remember it then. A little more than two months after your inauguration. The COVID-19 pandemic hit us all. This was a staggering, historic moment. And you worked in a dedicated fashion to keep all citizens safe. And you communicated effectively through a period of great fear and uncertainty. You needed to consider the health and wellbeing of 29,000 people. And you also had to serve on a school committee pretty big jobs. Additionally, you had two elderly parents to watch out for. I can tell people who I am close to. It was awfully hard to make the the decisions we had to make on the committee.
▶ 34:14 And I still can't imagine all the stress and worry that you had to live through. I wanna personally and professionally thank you, um, for all that you did. You worked hard to keep us all healthy and safe. And I wanna publicly thank you for throwing light and resources, resources towards the mental health problems that many people struggled with during the pandemic, before the pandemic, and were made worse by the pandemic. I thank you also for the grace you have shown by bowing out. You have shown our city that it's okay to change direction and allow others to step up. There are a few people in Washington DC who should probably look at you, um, as a good example of that. Thank you for all that you've done for Melrose.
▶ 34:56 Enjoy your next chapter. You deserve a very relaxing long moment rest. Thank you, Sal. Thank you Madam Chair. Um, Paul and I met in person for the first time back in February of 2014, so that I could ask him to support House Bill 1589, which would codify equal access to services for all trans and non-binary people within the commonwealth. While he appeared supportive, yet hesitant at first, he learned and grew and became one of our most ardent supporters. Together with his colleagues, they eventually codified my right of access to the world. I will never forget being, I will never forget being granted access, special access to the balcony overlooking the chamber floor at the State House. While this was debated when Rep Mike Day made his maiden
▶ 36:10 speech in support of trans rights on the floor, and the house ultimately voted in favor of our rights, rights that most of you take for granted. And then Paul ran for mayor. It's a tough job. And he had little time to learn on the job as we were thrust into a pandemic and then a budget crisis, and then a very contentious CBA negotiation. These last four years, this term has been a lifetime. I, I often tell people that being on the school committee is akin to constantly putting out fires when a crisis happens. I remind colleagues that this is the only the crisis of the day and it's remained so until the next crisis. Through it all, Paul has helped see us through to the other side, always providing cityside context,
▶ 37:05 guidance when able and often a point of view that I had not considered. I learned a lot from you and I'm honored to call you friend. Thank you. It was withy. So I remember our conversations when I was debating if I should potentially run for school committee. And I can say with confidence, you're someone that absolutely influenced me to take the plunge. And you said, and it runs in my mind all the time, the time is now Dory. I was like, well, right. Um, and I thank you for that. And I feel like over the course of my short tenure alongside you, it's, it's been a ride. There's been a lot of things that we've experienced and I just have learned so much from you in that entire process. And the thing that always can sticks with me is just
▶ 37:56 Jennifer McAndrew: how you show great care to the people of Melrose and to this community. Everyone matters. And that's incredible. And I'm sure I'll keep calling you 'cause I'm sure I'll have a ton of questions. I don't think that will probably ever change, but I'm so thankful to serve alongside you and really grateful to learn from your leadership. Thank you Ms. McGann. Thank you Mayor Broder. So it's such a bonus. You become elected mayor, and then you're also on the school committee. Um, and I know Tuesday nights are your favorite part about being the mayor. Um, but truly, um, if a person running for mayor knows anything about the job, they will never go into it thinking it's going to be easy. And I know you certainly didn't think that it would be,
▶ 38:47 Jennifer McAndrew: but it's also fair to say that you knew quite a bit about the challenges and opportunities you were walking into when you were sworn in. And then Covid hit, as my colleagues have mentioned within a matter of weeks, the management of the city. Its services, its health, and its people in a global emergency became not only your administration's mission, but your legacy. Those were scary and sad and painful times. Mel Ians lost loved ones and battled sickness and deep loneliness. And you took that on in the biggest ways, which many of us saw. But also the smallest ways, which many people did not see in situations like that. No one gives out credit for the near misses for the better than it could have been.
▶ 39:30 Jennifer McAndrew: And maybe that's right. But this commu community owes you a great deal of thanks and admiration for your leadership during that time and during the recovery from the pandemic, which in some ways we are still dealing with our schools were and remain deeply impacted. And it has been clear that your aim, even under less than ideal conditions and with not enough resources, was to serve kids always. I wanna thank you personally for your leadership and for your friendship. And please come back and visit us on Tuesday nights. You don't have to stay for the whole meeting. Thank you, Paul. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, mayor Broder, you love all things Melrose. There is no question about that. And it's cons, a consistent hallmark of everything you do.
▶ 40:16 Margaret Raymond Driscoll: You are everywhere all the time, interacting with the community. And you give so much of your personal resources to our community in a w such a wide variety of ways. You care about our citizens and what their lives are like. And you want the best for us all. You also brought us as safely as possible through a pandemic with a new superintendent, which was also hard to build. Trusting reliable relationships when everyone is wearing a mask and on zoom is virtually impossible. And you worked very hard at that. You also brought a sense of humor and a lightheartedness, which sometimes was very much needed. And so you would lighten it up when we were all in a very dark and dismal place. And I'm very grateful for that.
▶ 41:01 Margaret Raymond Driscoll: I'm, um, like my colleagues, tremendously grateful for your service and all that you must give up. Uh, when you take on a role, a leadership role in public service, there is such, uh, an opportunity to lose parts of who you are, but you have remained true to who you are, um, among the pressures and the difficulties and the challenges that you have faced and that you have, uh, watched us face and participated, um, in our decision making over the course of, uh, of your tenure here. So again, I am very grateful and, uh, as uh, my colleagues have said, I'm grateful to call you my friend. And at this time I would invite you to say a few words if you so choose. Few, few emphasis on the few, just a few
▶ 41:57 Paul Brodeur: Specialty. So I had an opportunity to speak at a, um, at the Mass Mayor's meeting, which is, uh, you know, the dinner and the folks who were leaving, uh, say goodbye. And it tends to be I value this so much and I loved it so much. I took a little bit of a different approach. Um, start with a quote, um, not from Dickens, but from, uh, LBJ, president John, who was once asked at a press conference if the pressures of the presidency get him down. And he responded, no. At my worst times, I, I think about it and I always realize it could be worse. I could be a mayor. So there is that. And then some folks know I found a big box of stuff in the office. Um, you know, within the last, within a month
▶ 42:45 Paul Brodeur: or so, I've shed a little bit with, with two of you. And we think, oh, it was, it was the worst of times. It's unprecedented. It's all that jazz. Well, I found two very interesting pieces of paper. One was a memo from Dr. Erta, who was then the superintendent to the senior administrative staff to tell them to how to prepare for an imminent teacher strike. And the other thing I found was a file about yay big, uh, involving the schools and public health about, um, the potential swine flu pandemic with instructions. Do you know, sneeze in your hour, wash your hands all the time, don't really get close to anyone or any of that jazz. So I'm not sure any of us really knew. The people who come to it right, are new and,
▶ 43:32 Paul Brodeur: and they try to, uh, you know, you just try your best to to to figure it out. And that's what, you know, I think we've all tried to do. Um, Liz, that moment was probably the best moment of my public life. It was a time where, um, not that it wouldn't have happened without me, but to be there and to be a part of it, knowing it made a difference, and you teaching me that made a big difference for me. It made a big difference for the lives of a lot of people. So, kudos, kudos to you. Um, in terms of the community, I do wanna say, I do wanna say thank you because, um, I've said this before, um, in terms of my school serves, a lot of broders have gone through, are still going through. Um, but I had the opportunity as mayor
▶ 44:17 Paul Brodeur: to have a front row seat for the graduation of four broders in a row, uh, including both of my sons. And, um, even most mayors don't get to do that. And, um, that was, that was really special and a real opportunity that the, this community gave me among many, among many. But it's probably the one that matters to me the most. So thank you all and you'll more or less see me around. Thank you so much Ms. Der. Thank you, Paul. One last thing, um, we'd like, I'd like to read this on behalf of the committee, uh, during the pandemic and throughout your time as mayor and as a school committee member, you have always looked for ways to support the city of Melrose in the broadest possible sense. You've been especially tireless in your advocacy
▶ 45:06 Jennifer McAndrew: for the non-profit community. And that especially has included the arts community. No easy task ever, especially during a global emergency. We know that melrose's arts culture and nonprofit organizations also support many of the students of the Melrose Public Schools quite directly in many instances. And we honor and appreciate those partnerships and investments as we know that you do too. And so the committee members have personally made a donation in your name to follow your art community studios to support their work with children and the arts. Thank you, Paul. Thank you so much. That means a lot to me, you know that, but that means a lot to me. Very grateful, very grateful. Mr. SEL members, would you like
▶ 45:50 to share some thoughts? I'm Mr. De S's service. Mr. O'Connell. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, Liz, we started as competitors, uh, couple of losers in 2013 and, uh, winner winner chicken dinner and a couple of winners in 2015, happily. Um, and over the past eight years, which as we all know in school committee years, it's like dog years. So we've served together for 56 years now. Um, we've become friends and, um, I'm grateful for that. And, um, and I'm better for the association and we all are as a committee, so I'm greatly appreciative of that. Thank you Mayor Broder. To kind of add on to what I said a a bit earlier, I remember that night, and I think I remember two years from that night when you thought you lost
▶ 47:00 Paul Brodeur: and it turned out you won. And that was, that's better than the other way, right? Uh, that is for sure. But, um, to, to what you said earlier, um, running for office as a transgender woman is different and something that we would not, uh, understand. There's a limit to that. You know, you can walk in someone's shoes and to that extent, we all, we all come in here with a desire to serve the kids, do the best we can for every single student under our care. And even some students that maybe aren't necessarily Melrose Public School students, but still matter to us. So you, you've done more and it's been harder because it is not easy to do what you've done, to put yourself out there in a very public way
▶ 47:54 Paul Brodeur: and not just be a leader for the schools, for the students, but through the state and in some respects throughout the country, um, that shows what advocacy is all about and the power a single voice can bring to the table. Um, the community will miss that. I don't think it will entirely go away for two reasons, because you're not going anywhere and because you have opened doors for others to step into important roles, uh, and that's gonna pay dividends long af long after we're gone, that's for sure. So thank you very much for your service. Thank you, Ms. Rossy, Thomas. Elizabeth, thank you so much for your dedication and commitment to Melrose Public Schools. Uh, I think you've helped to accomplish
▶ 48:46 so much in your eight years on the committee, but my fondest memory of you was when I joined the school committee six years ago, when you were working so hard and strategically and going around to every PTO and teaching everyone about the school budgets. And this is when we had, uh, we had a superintendent who liked to keep bur cards close to the vest. So you're like figuring out that budget in spite of a little bit of a lack of transparency. Um, but you worked so hard and so strategically to teach people and to teach people and go and do so much outreach. And that's, and explain how the budget, you know, is, is created and why, why the money's appropriated from here and there, and dah dah dah.
▶ 49:30 And you were so scientific about it, which is how you approach everything really, right? But I, I really think that that was one of the reasons why the override passed. You know, you really did some of the lead work up to it. A lot of other people did a lot of work too. But I want to thank you so much for that thoughtful work and the role modeling you did about the budget for me at that time. Um, I also really enjoyed working with you on policy issues, um, hearing you discuss enrollment issues, talking about the BB school, um, union issues and your perspective always added to our discussions and deliberations. And I just, um, can't thank you enough for being the courageous role model that you are too.
▶ 50:11 So tip my hat to you, Miss Withy. This is tough. Um, so I remember when I first got elected, you met me at the Horseman Playground and you gave me a Roberts rule book and I thought to myself, awesome. I have some reading to do, probably should continue to brush up on that. Um, but it was that moment where I felt like You Were there for me from the beginning and I felt your support from every turn and every moment as I've learned the ropes, I've watched you ask really tough questions. I've watched you advocate for what is best for kids. And I've also consistently seen you push our district to be better. And honestly, that has been a gift in and of itself to sit shoulder to shoulder. I've looked at you a few times today
▶ 51:06 Jennifer McAndrew: and been like, it's real hard that you won't be here. But I know that you're 100% gonna do incredible things in Melrose and that you'll always be here. Our community is better because of your leadership. I'm better because I served with you and I learned underneath you this year in policy and planning. And more importantly, I feel like we've all benefited me particularly 'cause I can call you a good friend. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, the first time I met Liz Desal, I still remember it was at kindergarten parents night at the Roosevelt School. And now those two little munchkins are in their first year of college. At that time, I never would've predicted that I would end up here on the school committee,
▶ 52:00 Jennifer McAndrew: but I actually think I would've probably predicted that Liz would. Um, it's really hard for me to condense all of this. And so I challenge myself today to think of one sentence to describe Liz's service to Melrose. And this is it. Liz Desal is the bravest person to represent this community in public office. And I really wish it wasn't the case that to be fully and authentically yourself in public life carried risk for some people. But we all know that it does. And Liz knows it too. And Liz's family knows that too. And yet here she is doing the long slog of being on the school school committee for 56 years. All the extra work, all the hours, all the extra advocacy, all the people who come to her for help
▶ 52:53 Margaret Raymond Driscoll: for eight real human years. Liz, your leadership will be felt because of the good work you did here for students. But it is also felt because of the example you set and the path of progress. You have paved for so many who are watching and learning from you, including me. Thank you, Uh, Liz. You are one of the most direct speak truth to power people I have ever known. You are honest all the time, and that is difficult and very brave. You are devoted to students and you put them above all else. You put yourself in their shoes work to imagine their experience championing their wins and commiserating their losses. And you feel them all in your core. You are steadfast, true, compassionate, and caring.
▶ 53:42 You have taught much more than you've learn needed to learn on this journey. In addition to being grateful for your service, I'm grateful for the human being that you bring every single day and you'll be sorely missed. And I also am glad to call you my friend. Would you like to offer any words? It's easier to speak after you had a a little bit of sip of water. I wanna thank you all for sharing this journey with me. This committee has been part of my daily life for the last eight years, 56 maybe. And while I do feel strongly that I'm leaving the district and the committee in a better place now than when I first joined, I also know that there are some very real, very serious issues still to be managed.
▶ 54:46 But I trust that you all can and will prevail and I'll have pompoms outside cheering you on the entire way. Don't ask for the tutu. I'm just so proud to be with you all and to have gained a second. Family. Families don't actually leave. They just sort of hide out in the back room and jeer on occasion. I'm happy to be that back room jeering aunt for you. Awesome. Thank you all so very much. Friends and colleagues alike. Thank You. Thank you Mr. Sel. Mr. O'Connell members, beginning with Paul, would you like to share some thoughts on Mr. O'Connell Service? Did you wanna go first? Oh, um, why is Ed on the school committee? Um, I think It'd be time for rebuttal course, but I think Ed is on the school
▶ 56:07 Paul Brodeur: committee because of his, uh, I hate the word tireless, but tireless commitment to civic education, to the civic enterprise to, uh, leading by example. Ed has, um, always been engaged with our students, with the, with the enterprise of bringing kids in for our, for our student representatives, um, being active politically and, um, even outside the community when you know, that kind of that call for civic engagement for that the politics at its best has kind of come around and has been at the, at the head of the table. Uh, and I know how much it means to him to, to, to be a student of history, to be a student of politics, but to use that, um, almost as, as an advocation or a ministry to bring people to the table, uh,
▶ 57:08 Paul Brodeur: in a, in a positive way. And we, so the reason why it is the distressing that you are leaving is because we will miss, we as colleagues will, will miss the, the engagement. But the community, particularly our young folks, need leaders that are going to engage them and not just engage them in the issues, but in how to conduct yourself. Um, I, a lot of people shy away from the term politician. I've always found that frustrating. It's, you know, it's, it's always meant to be derogatory. Uh, I sir call you a politician because it is a calling and it is the way you have conducted yourself that makes it an honorable profession. An an an honorable ministry. And again, that I think that passion translates so much into our younger generation that again,
▶ 58:18 the entire community, our future is better off for that particular focus on your service. And I am grateful for it. Thank you, Ms. Rosa Thomas. Um, let, one thing I wanted to mention to all three of you too, as a final remark before I go into, uh, what I wanna say, this, this part is supposed to be focused on me, Jim, it's coming to you. It's coming. It'll be there in a second. MTV cover mic, Clear mic. Where's the hook? Right. Um, so being on a school committee is like having a brand new elected sibling group. It's, uh, sometimes we have driven each other a little crazy, but we've also known that we are all in this together through thick and thin, knowing that we all want the best for students, faculty,
▶ 59:05 and families that we serve within the Melrose Public Schools. Um, when I went to my mask orientation to become a school committee member, um, that training with Jen McAndrew in January of 2017 as newly minted members, they taught us about the usual matters such as policy, budget, school funding, union bargaining issues, but we were never trained on how to manage a pandemic. So we all handled a historic moment together and will always be family from that experience. And only this group of folks really know what it was like to make the key decisions that we did. And that's why I'll always hold a special place in my heart for my brothers and sisters on this committee. Now to Mr. O'Connell, um, you served on this committee
▶ 59:55 for somewhere between eight and 56 years. Um, during that time, there were so many wonderful successes. Oftentimes you were actually serving as our school committee chair Dooling those moments. Um, two, the two very special moments that come to mind about you is that, oh, when the override passed in 2019 and when our school district and superintendent Tamar were highlighted in the Washington Post for the excellent moves we were making regarding competency-based education or personalized learning, and you were quoted many times in there and sounded very smart, I still remember it. Um, I also, um, wanna to mend you for serving as a school committee chair as on the, during the most uncertain and stressful time at the very beginning of the pandemic.
▶ 1:00:42 It was a very dark moment, but you never lost your sense of humor. Your sense of humor is outstanding. And I'm gonna miss that so much on the, on the committee. And I love, I will always remember how much you really cared about the faculty and family and students to improve outcomes for all students as well as the, your, your passion and engagement in civic life. Um, and that your commitment to that. So I'm gonna miss you and thank you, my friend, for your tremendous service to Melrose Public Schools. Thank you Mr. Desal. Thank you Madam Chair. Ed. We have been on parallel tracks since 2013. Uh, as, as you pointed out, we ran together then and lost 91 votes, but who's counting? Uh, and then ran again in 2015.
▶ 1:01:39 And yes, I thought I lost by 25 votes, but we won. And the rest, as they say, is history. Some may not recall, but Ed said almost nothing in committee for the first year of service. Rob Dolan called me the Clarence Thomas of the school committee. He did indeed back when Justice Thomas never spoke. He listened and you learned and you leaned in. It became chair of the school committee in 2019. And I want to apologize for my part in making an already challenging position even more so. He handled the role with grace and a plum and we as a committee were stronger for it. We've not always been on the same side of an issue, but I can always count on him to be well-reasoned and with sound argument ever.
▶ 1:02:33 The consummate counselor, I always admired his gift of gab as he could eloquently describe even the most simplest of topics provided he had a long enough time to do it In. Just as an aside, I remember sitting on the stage at the Roosevelt for the candidate forum in 2013. He was too over from me. And there was a question, I don't remember what the question was. All I remember was that Ed started talking and I thought, I don't think I can fit that many high quality words in a sentence. I will miss working with you here in this chamber for the betterment of our school district and always with the desire to improve outcomes for our students. As was pointed out, your focus, uh, on civics and civic engagement with our students, um,
▶ 1:03:37 and, uh, working alongside you to help build, um, our student representatives. It has been an honor, a pleasure, and I'm so proud to call you my friend. Thank you for everything. Thanks. Thank you Ms. Withy. Hi. You have supported me for two years. What may some people might not know is when I first started, um, I got the gift of a mentor and that has truly been your role. You went to that MASC training with me. You let me ask you 900 questions as I sat next to you, which for anyone that watches knows that I tend to ask a few. Um, and any question I've ever had, you, you answer and you take the time and you take the care. And you've done that not only for me, but for this entire committee, for the student reps
▶ 1:04:42 that consistently come and for the community. You make people feel seen, you make 'em feel heard, and you make them feel respected. And I am incredibly grateful personally for that. We also finally got a chance to chair something together. And what an experience going in and having us, I think sit side to side, shoulder to shoulder and figure out how can we ensure that we have a superintendent search committee. That one really allows for strong input from community members. And also at the end allows for the person or the folks that we're interviewing to feel really positive about our community and who we are too. That is one thing that I will cherish the amount of conversations we had, the amount of work
▶ 1:05:31 that we did together, because I felt like it was this moment where I've been asking so many questions and then we were leading alongside. I also just wanna name, you've always kept me smiling, and your humor helps to make any moment that might be slightly uncomfortable, a little less so. And so for full disclosure, for folks that are here in the room or watching, I may have told my colleague Ed that I might have a hard time tonight, and he may have ensured that I had tissues in the form of toilet paper, just in case. But it's those moments where I feel like we can loaf, we can laugh, we can joke, and we can ultimately think about what's best for kids, what's best for this community that I will hold dear.
▶ 1:06:17 Jennifer McAndrew: And I think many others will. And once you're assigned a mentor in my world, it's continued for life. So keep your phone handy 'cause I'm not going anywhere and I certainly hope you aren't either. Thank you Ms. McAndrew. Thank you. So I started making a mental list of everything Ed has done for the school committee during his years, and then I realized it would take up my entire time and then some to list 'em all out. So I took a different approach. Um, ed and I have a running occasional commentary with each other called, was that our worst meeting? Um, several, several high points in that litany, let me tell you. But now that you're moving on, we actually have the full data set of meetings.
▶ 1:07:10 Jennifer McAndrew: Um, and so I think we have to give the prize to drum roll, the Dante's Inferno. That was the hybrid meeting on the second floor of the Horace Mann school on one of the hottest, it's hot, hottest, hottest days of the summer, Complete with a WebEx intruder who would not be silenced, which birthed the quote. I will find you and I will mute you at O'Connell. Um, but what I really want us to remember about that meeting was not the heat or the noise or the tension, but the moving through, the pushing forward. Because whatever the highs and lows, my overwhelming feeling of working with you, ed, has been that we will get through this. And there have been too many times when that has had to be our necessary frame.
▶ 1:08:06 Jennifer McAndrew: The strength of this particular committee, this group of people here, is that even when things are the most challenging for our schools, for our community, even when we disagreed with each other, we also know that we are going to stay together, work together, work it out, and move ahead. And in my view, no one embodies that and no one carries that spirit for us more than Ed O'Connell. And I'll miss you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. O'Connell. The citizens of Melrose will never know the extent of your positive impact on us. All this work can be punishing, yet you are tireless. This work can be, uh, depleting, yet you remain standing tall. This work can test our faith in others. Yet you believe and trust
▶ 1:08:54 Margaret Raymond Driscoll: and never lose hope in the process. You have led this group at the outset of the pandemic when we didn't know whether we, our families or our school community would even stay alive. You have served with great honor and dignity. I will miss your steady hand, your outrage at injustice and your superior witt and humor, which I think has been mentioned by everyone. So the community should know that it's just funny. It's just funny. And we need that. And I thank you for being who you are and all you've given us and you, you'll be profoundly missed by us all. Thank you. Would you like to say a few words? Sure. Uh, lemme start by saying, this is really probably the best wake I have ever been to. And a, uh, uh, a political funeral.
▶ 1:09:46 Funeral director's dream this, uh, three dearly departed and one, uh, fell swoop. Um, But let me say, as, uh, Paul, Liz and I, uh, approach the on-ramp or the off-ramp to the Rainbow Bridge as it appears, uh, that it has truly been an honor and a privilege, uh, to serve in this capacity. And I, I will always be grateful for having had the opportunity. Uh, and on a personal note, um, and I've said this, uh, many times of late to each of you and, and to all of you collectively, I have and hold, uh, a great deal of affection, um, uh, for each of you, uh, and for Ms. Hogan, uh, too, uh, and for Ms. Lindquist, um, and, um, for Ken Kelly, uh, and John Macero and all of the superintendents we've served with, um,
▶ 1:10:43 Jennifer McAndrew: as Jen, uh, has mentioned, uh, we've been through a lot together. And I, I guess that's what it, it's about. Um, but I, I really do feel strongly about that and, uh, I will, uh, cherish that always. Thank you. Thank you so much, Ms. Thank you. Um, Liz and Ed, I'd like to read this on behalf of the whole committee over the past eight years, you each have made countless contributions to the Melrose Public Schools through your advocacy, your time and energy, your leadership, and your votes On this committee. You have represented us in negotiations, on committees, in hiring, and on statewide initiatives. The amount of time you have given is astounding, and it also must be said that you served through some
▶ 1:11:30 Jennifer McAndrew: of the most challenging times in recent memory, most notably during the pandemic. None of this is said to demand credit or notoriety, and certainly neither of you seek that. And though you each have led in different areas, as we talked about tonight, there is a through line of your service together, and that is the elevation of student voice on the committee and in the district, as well as your leadership on civic education and advocacy around a comprehensive and inclusive social studies curriculum. And so the committee members have personally made a donation in your names to the Melrose High School Permanent Scholarship Fund to support a scholarship to a student who has shown leadership in civic action or social studies.
▶ 1:12:13 Margaret Raymond Driscoll: Thank you, Liz. And Ed, that's great. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you very much Ms. McAndrew. And one final comment, and one of you made it, but I would like to amplify that there were a couple words spoken tonight. Um, one is family and one is siblings. And I love them both because for those, uh, at home who have not had the great good fortune to serve on, uh, a board or a commission or any kind of organization, were you oppressed into service in a way that, uh, in which you must lean up against each other so no one falls. That is what has been done in this room on so many occasions, and we all consider it such a huge opportunity and privilege to serve our students in that way,
▶ 1:13:07 Margaret Raymond Driscoll: because if we fall, we let them down. And not one person in this room has ever let down a student. So I'm grateful to you all, and I know the community is tremendously grateful to you all. And with that, seeing that there is no more business for this evening, I sense that Mayor Broder would like to make a motion to adjourn. Um, that would be correct. Madam Chair. Motion to Adur. Very good. Recognized as a motion to adjourn. Is there a second? Made by Ms. Dessel Seeing no discussion? All in favor? Opposed? That motion carries unanimously or adjourned.