🏫 School Committee 6-5-25 AI Recap

Below is a summarized version of the School Committee meeting, organized by timestamps and speakers, focusing on key points raised during the discussion in Reading, Massachusetts. This summary condenses the discussion into major themes, speaker contributions, and decisions, avoiding excessive detail while retaining the essence of the conversation. Timestamps correspond to the video linked at the bottom.

🏆 Staff Recognition & Awards

🕒 2:16–55:30

Milestone Service Awards

🕒 4:08–11:22

• 3 Years (Professional Teacher Status): 24 educators recognized.
• 10 Years: 22 staff members honored.
• 20 Years: 18 staff members celebrated.
• 30 Years: 3 educators received special recognition and gifts.

Retirements

🕒 11:22–12:56

• 5 retirees honored with certificates and public appreciation.

Distinguished Staff & Teacher Awards

🕒 12:56–39:54

• 30+ individuals honored across roles:
  • Teachers, special educators, counselors, food service, custodians, IT, and facilities.
• Recognized for:
  • Leadership, mentorship, student-centered practices, innovation, resilience, and inclusivity.

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📚 Student Achievement

🕒 1:05:13–1:13:01

ARC Student Writing Awards

• 9 elementary students published by American Reading Company.
• Students received awards and checks.
• Genres included nonfiction, historical fiction, and traditional tales.

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🏫 School Committee Meeting

🕒 55:30–End

Agenda Overview

🕒 1:02:59–1:05:13

• Chair: Tom Wise
• Topics: Public comment, student writing celebration, consent agenda, reports, policy updates, superintendent evaluation, reorganization.

Consent Agenda & Reports

🕒 1:15:40–1:18:06

• Consent agenda approved.
• Student report: Graduation, sports updates, final exams.

Liaison Reports

🕒 1:18:06–1:19:39

• Killam Building Committee: Contracts approved, 27 design meetings scheduled.

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🏷️ Joshua Eaton School Renaming Proposal

🕒 1:19:39–2:09:16

Background

• A formal request was submitted by students and community members to rename Joshua Eaton Elementary School due to its namesake’s familial ties to slavery.
• The proposal aimed to rename the school in honor of Cato Eaton, an enslaved man who lived on the Eaton family property and served in the Revolutionary War.

Student Advocacy

• Students and alumni, including Laura Richard (author of a historical book on Joshua Eaton), advocated for the change.
• They emphasized the emotional impact of attending a school named after someone associated with slavery and the importance of representation and historical reckoning.
• Advocates noted that Cato Eaton lived on the land where the school now stands and served in the Revolutionary War, making him equally deserving of recognition.

Committee Deliberation

• Committee members praised the students’ advocacy and acknowledged the importance of confronting difficult historical truths.
• Several members, including Shawn Brandt and Erin Gaffen, supported honoring Cato Eaton but were hesitant to remove the name of Joshua Eaton Jr., who died at age 19 in the Revolutionary War and was not documented as a slaveholder.
• The committee emphasized the distinction between Joshua Eaton Sr. (a documented slaveholder) and Jr., and the lack of evidence tying Jr. directly to slavery.
• Members discussed the need for broader community education about Reading’s history of slavery and the potential to honor Cato Eaton in other meaningful ways.

Public Comment

• Community members offered diverse perspectives:
  • Some supported renaming to reflect modern values and honor Cato Eaton.
  • Others urged preserving the existing name while finding alternative ways to recognize enslaved individuals in Reading’s history.
  • Concerns were raised about setting a precedent for removing historical names and the potential loss of context.

Outcome

• A motion to accept the nomination to remove the name “Joshua Eaton” failed (1–5 vote with Lara Durgavich as the lone vote).
• The proposal did not move forward to the advisory committee stage, and the school will retain its current name.

Next Steps

• The committee expressed strong interest in:
  • Exploring other ways to honor Cato Eaton.
  • Developing educational initiatives to teach students and the community about Reading’s full historical narrative.
  • Considering naming other facilities or programs after Cato Eaton or other historically marginalized individuals.

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👩‍🏫 Human Resources & Staffing

🕒 2:11:21–2:22:19

HR Systems & Efficiency

• Red Rover system saved $13,000 and improved substitute tracking.
• ARCs Ed automated training compliance.
• Staff appreciation events enhanced morale.

Paraeducator Compensation

🕒 2:22:19–2:21:44

• Approved increase in hourly rate for short-term coverage from $15 to $20.

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📈 Learning & Teaching

🕒 2:23:05–3:29:13

Early Literacy & DIBELS

🕒 2:23:05–2:42:00

• 80%+ of students meeting benchmarks in most grades.
• Identified areas for improvement (e.g., second grade cohort).
• Enhanced family communication and summer learning resources.

Curriculum Reviews

🕒 2:42:00–2:49:05

• Secondary science: Shift to inquiry-based, NGSS-aligned instruction.
• High school social studies: Focus on historical thinking.
• ESL: New curriculum and improved ACCESS scores.
• Upcoming reviews: Middle school social studies, 7–8 math, elementary science.

High-Quality Curriculum Implementation

🕒 2:49:05–3:25:00

• ARC Core (K–5): Lit Labs, Writing Revolution, teacher collaboration.
• Amplify ELA (6–8): First year of implementation, common assessments, pacing adjustments.
• Illustrative Math (K–6): Learning Labs, UDL strategies, new common assessments in 2025–26.

ESL Program Impact

🕒 3:25:00–3:29:13

• 61% of multilingual learners met ACCESS growth targets.
• Chronic absenteeism among ML students dropped significantly.
• Family liaison role improved engagement and support.

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💰 Financial Planning

🕒 3:29:13–3:35:29

Special Education Reserve Fund

• Approved transfer of up to $225,000 to the reserve fund.

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📜 Policy Updates

🕒 3:36:00–3:41:39

Approved Policies

• GCBB: Clarified principal employment and evaluation.
• GBEBB: Defined rules for crowdfunding and online fundraising.
• GCBC: Updated supplementary pay plans for professional staff.

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🧑‍💼 Superintendent Evaluation

🕒 3:41:39–3:48:10

Dr. Thomas Milaschewski Evaluation

• Rated “Exemplary” across all standards.
• Recognized for:
  • Visionary leadership
  • Academic innovation
  • Staff empowerment
  • Equity and inclusion
  • Data-driven improvement

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🔁 Committee Reorganization

🕒 3:48:10–3:50:00

New Leadership

• Chair: Shawn Brandt 6-0
• Vice Chair: Carla Nazzaro 6-0