[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6084647,"mediaKeyId","2909448-07155e8e96a8dee6e5ddce3b9ce59b8b","parentId",2909448,"title","School committee amends graduation policy to clarify math pathways, participation and IEP rules","audioSeconds",2700,"startMs",3442000,"endMs",6142000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2909448-07155e8e96a8dee6e5ddce3b9ce59b8b&start=3442&end=6142","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2909448-07155e8e96a8dee6e5ddce3b9ce59b8b/thumbnail_3442000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6084647/Massachusetts/School-committee-amends-graduation-policy-to-clarify-math-pathways-participation-and-IEP-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6084647-1cd3e3eda638831defef97c29f3b8809/orig.mp4?Expires=1770980136&Signature=d9C2GOEzoCJRz~3LZ7UipIdqSs3pgx95s2xhtQ09vn3dt~a54Pxf41bSiSmwMAD4IQxNsz-iV6nYrQLdUn2bShqBHXSRvECWB~7OA-NMn6DyFbvUxUW4poKnyW38LTNVyISzW20rhhNULi9tMU9kKlCyXfpBiZdmjwVJZUU5uvFYfEeYXpiGh~ABUDj5H8Rd7MOBJlN9f3tp-oOPimuh72X3UU9VaoxwF-k4xbSqaKGmJ6cF9lHwSFWqw2P7dTei~5gVKdKrDG8lo6uhUf~WBjz1q0uo43r6WHyXUSF9vc3io5QSXAT8HZafun0PSR2jvPiYj6ZTSTs8q5s91QQ8jA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Medford Public Schools, MA","date","2025-04-09T00:00:00Z","article","The Medford School Committee voted to approve amended language to Policy IKF, which clarifies who participates in graduation, specifies math pathway requirements by class cohort and restates that decisions for students in substantially separate programs are made through the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Galusi told the committee the changes were intended to respond to stakeholder questions and to provide clearer guidance for students and families. “All students that receive a diploma or a certificate of completion will absolutely participate in graduation,” Galusi said.

Key clarifications: The amended language makes explicit that participation in the graduation ceremony is for all Medford High School students who have received a diploma or a certificate of completion. The policy also lays out local math requirements by graduating class: for the classes of 2025–2027, students must pass Geometry (or Integrated Math 1 in ninth grade) and Algebra II (or Integrated Math 2 in grade 10); for the class of 2028 and beyond, students entering as freshmen must pass Integrated Math 1 (CP or honors) and Integrated Math 2 (CP or honors) by grade 10, reflecting the district’s integrated math pathways.

The policy addition reiterates that decisions about students in substantially separate programs are made through their IEP teams and restates the diploma requirements (12 required credits plus a competency determination). Committee members also discussed community service expectations: the language clarified a 60‑hour community service expectation across high school, with an ideal distribution of roughly 15 hours per year.

Amendments and process: Member Reinfeld suggested wording changes to replace the header “Further considerations and next steps” with “Additional considerations” to reflect that the text is part of policy rather than an external guidance document. The committee agreed to include the clarified language in the policy and to post the relevant materials for community review; members asked staff to confirm what pages are posted and where they are available online.

Related resolution on health/PE flexibility: Separately, the committee adopted New Business (2025‑11), filed by Member Graham and co‑sponsored by Member Reinfeld, directing the administration to deliver a recommendation to the committee by June 1, 2025, proposing increased flexibility in the health and physical education graduation requirement. The resolution text asks administration to prepare to implement approved changes for the 2025–26 school year if the committee approves them. Member Graham framed the request as an effort to provide schedule flexibility and additional elective access for multi‑sport student athletes and others with out‑of‑school activities.

Vote and next steps: The amended IKF language was approved by motion and will be returned to the agenda as required by committee policy for subsequent readings; the health/PE recommendation is expected from administration by June 1, 2025.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Medford School Committee Regular Meeting - 4.7.2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Medford School Committee approved amendments to Policy IKF to clarify who may participate in graduation, math pathway requirements by cohort and how IEP teams determine diploma outcomes for students in substantially separate programs.","taxTitle","Medford Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",71102,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6084651,"School committee approves $25.8 million bond for McGlynn, Andrews HVAC replacement",565,4589000,5154000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2909448-07155e8e96a8dee6e5ddce3b9ce59b8b&start=4589&end=5154","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2909448-07155e8e96a8dee6e5ddce3b9ce59b8b/thumbnail_4589000.jpg","/articles/6084651/Massachusetts/School-committee-approves-258-million-bond-for-McGlynn-Andrews-HVAC-replacement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6084651-111bc21d074e89c4ad33c20ac235ddaf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770980136&Signature=kct4xPx-YO78nhqdVeTbNpgvUJs-zNE~ljJJCdlzGEizNemQrkdxKdeHKTj~UWam4bT7JMkKTMdMXJ-wZLxqAj4YEir3Spf83ms-PGM62Xcl~YVhdUPP8PtMupLQ1NTkX2DizMKr5~iv1IXAR4n9Csy4zeOPZhNE1TjZbt1VX8od4V7muO-IIhIOLTbOjyzEC~XQmMzED1uGyh77pdhDvBs77cztjFLotTHfLS001aFBWWVpZ6v94XGwExpolhTBTjhP-67nt-ftq2pL7LRPS~326l6xney-fbRsa4EN0LJQ2NKsovBWSU97PAnWA5VmA7d9CbuBf-FDKacE-7OP-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Medford School Committee voted to approve a $25,775,000 bond request to replace and upgrade heating, ventilation and air‑conditioning systems at McGlynn and Andrews schools, a project administrators said will reduce energy use and modernize aging equipment.

The committee approved the bond after staff outlined construction and other costs, contingency planning and timelines. Assistant Superintendent Peter J. Cushing said the district has requested $5 million for a pre‑purchase of long‑lead equipment and that the work aims to have new systems on site and installed before students return in the fall. “This project … will also serve as a significant energy reduction for the city,” Cushing said.

Why it matters: Administrators said the project replaces equipment nearing 25 years old, includes mandatory accessibility work triggered by the scope of construction and is expected to carry an operating budget impact in future years. Cushing said the district estimates about $1.8 million in annual debt service for principal and interest by fiscal 2027 tied to the bond repayment.

Details: Staff presented a construction budget and related expenses: total construction costs were listed at about $19,279,000, with a broader construction budget near $22,945,533; an owner’s construction contingency of about $687,000; designer and construction‑phase design costs of roughly $1,300,000; and owner’s project management fees (JLL) of around $484,000. Other project costs include commissioning (about $500,000) and IT room HVAC replacements for the two schools that are part of the package.

On accessibility, staff said approximately $619,000 in ADA upgrades are included in the project scope as currently proposed; an additional roughly $2.3 million in accessibility work was described as too costly for this phase and staff said they intend to apply for state variances for those items. “We fully expect that we will get them,” a district representative said regarding the variance requests.

Incentives and contingencies: Project managers said the district expects to pursue Mass Save incentives estimated at about $2.2 million; those are structured as reimbursements, meaning the district must pay costs up front and receive incentive payments later. Staff also described more than $2 million in contingency funds to cover potential tariff impacts and overtime/second‑shift work if schedule pressures require accelerated installation.

Solar option: Administrators discussed, but did not include, rooftop solar as part of the bond package. Brenda Pike and planning staff said solar could be added later as an alternate if project costs come in under budget. “The best value in terms of getting the benefit from the solar is if you own it yourself,” a planning official said, while acknowledging a power‑purchase agreement or lease is another option used elsewhere.

Budget impact: Cushing warned the committee that debt service on the bond will affect future budgets: “When we hit fiscal year ’27, this is a $1,800,000 hit on our budget for return of principal and interest,” he said, noting the district and city budget will need to accommodate that expense.

Vote and next steps: The committee approved the bond request by recorded roll call as recorded in the meeting (affirmative votes: 7; absent: 1). Staff will proceed with procurement, permitting and variance applications as outlined.

","The Medford School Committee voted to approve a $25,775,000 bond request to replace HVAC systems at McGlynn and Andrews schools, approving construction budgets, contingencies and ADA work while seeking variances for higher-cost accessibility items and considering future solar options.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6084645,"Medford Public Schools seeks search‑committee volunteers and input for two central‑office hires",328,3396000,3724000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2909448-07155e8e96a8dee6e5ddce3b9ce59b8b&start=3396&end=3724","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2909448-07155e8e96a8dee6e5ddce3b9ce59b8b/thumbnail_3396000.jpg","/articles/6084645/Massachusetts/Medford-Public-Schools-seeks-searchcommittee-volunteers-and-input-for-two-centraloffice-hires","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6084645-c473bad72faf27919fe811f15f925308/orig.mp4?Expires=1770980137&Signature=UDKO1ze07rBUgVQ--S3XTM5AMh~UYUfU93amn17FQtc0BwTrnEwCtg5C04qdk2YB-ts0lSeD7Meq62hkFgY3Xjq5wu928sj4JuMkLswyaj5u5FyDKu9p0tT7kIeyWk3YoMMwJQZw9QGKHXTZa2f9YjxV-krNks5Q5UBnjwVeQG8cKxlhPyIaTZLid~9XjEb9edTYC8Ow9CLHsmo-m6fnPgz9vBXzag6cUebGS84RwWdqQM1BdeHY5nR0KfkYCY~652cru0DgXnkfFOMT7Is6uLYBi51RAtjeu5dxqFILHawBn4nnlsa4ystctfv3Qs474iiac9Oa3x3C4~jLSYcEBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Interim Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Galusi told the School Committee that the district has opened searches for two key central‑office positions: assistant superintendent for academics and instruction, and director of English Learners. The assistant superintendent will oversee curriculum and instruction across pre‑K–12; the director of EL will plan, coordinate and support instruction for students for whom English is a second language.

Why it matters: Both positions shape district curriculum and services for large student populations. The committee was told the roles require broad stakeholder input, and that each search committee will include a school committee representative.

Process and timeline: Galusi said the district has sent two separate surveys — one for each role — to solicit interest in serving on the search committees and to collect initial feedback on candidate qualities. The first round of screening interviews will be conducted by the appointed search committees; final rounds will follow and the district will keep the community informed of committee composition once members are selected. “We are looking for interest in people to serve on the search committee,” Galusi said.

Staffing note: Galusi said Paul Teixeira, who currently holds the assistant superintendent position, was recently named superintendent for the Provincetown School Department and will leave Medford Public Schools effective June 30, 2025.

Participation and next steps: Galusi said the assistant superintendent search will be co‑facilitated by Galusi and Joan Bowen, director of student services; the EL director search will be co‑facilitated by Paul Teixeira and Nancy Sherman Hudson, principal of the Atuck Elementary School that houses a newcomer program. The district plans additional outreach such as roundtables and targeted surveys to gather further input from students, staff and caregivers.

No formal committee action was taken during the presentation; the administration asked committee members and community volunteers to complete the surveys and said it would announce the search‑committee membership once selections are made.

","Interim Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Galusi outlined the search process for an assistant superintendent for academics and instruction and for a director of English Learners, including surveys for committee volunteers, stakeholder input opportunities and planned co‑facilitators.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

School committee amends graduation policy to clarify math pathways, participation and IEP rules

School committee approves $25.8 million bond for McGlynn, Andrews HVAC replacement

Medford Public Schools seeks search‑committee volunteers and input for two central‑office hires