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Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE)

Board Documents — February 2024

Regular Meeting

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
135 Santilli Highway, 3rd Floor
Everett, Massachusetts 02149
Tuesday, February 27, 2024, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Posted: 2/22/2024 9:00 a.m.

Statements from the Public*
Comments from the Chair
Comments from the Secretary
Comments from the Commissioner

Routine Business:

Approval of the Minutes of the January 23, 2024 Regular Meeting

Agenda Items:

  1. School Counselor of the Year Presentation and Discussion

  2. Lifetime Achievement Awards: Beth Kontos, Tom Scott, and Dan Warwick Discussion

  3. Charter Schools: Voluntary Return of Charter for City on a Hill Charter Public School and Amendment Request Regarding Grade Span Discussion and Vote

  4. Charter Schools: Amendments to Grade Span (Boston Green Academy Horace Mann Charter School), Charter Region (Community Charter School of Cambridge and Prospect Hill Academy Charter School), and Consolidation of Charters (Hampden Charter School of Science East and Hampden Charter School of Science West; and UP Academy Charter School of Boston and UP Academy Charter School of Dorchester) Discussion and Vote

  5. Education Budget Update: Governor's FY25 House 2 Budget Proposal Discussion

  6. Transition and Appointment of Acting Commissioner Discussion and Vote

Executive Session to Discuss Litigation: 12:30–1:00 p.m.

Executive session to discuss strategy with respect to the following litigation matters, as an open session may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the public body:

  • Open Meeting Law complaints filed on or about January 23, 25, 30, and February 18 and 20, 2024 — review per 940 CMR 29.05(5)

  • The open portion of the meeting before the Board goes into executive session will be livestreamed and recorded. The Board will not reconvene in open session following the executive session.

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Members

  • Ms. Katherine Craven, Chair, Brookline
  • Mr. Matt Hills, Vice-Chair, Newton
  • Dr. Ericka Fisher, Worcester
  • Ms. Ela Gardiner, Wellesley, Student Member
  • Ms. Farzana Mohamed, Newton
  • Mr. Michael Moriarty, Holyoke
  • Ms. Dálida Rocha, Worcester
  • Mr. Paymon Rouhanifard, Brookline
  • Ms. Mary Ann Stewart, Lexington
  • Dr. Patrick A. Tutwiler, Secretary of Education, Andover
  • Dr. Martin West, Newton

Jeffrey C. Riley, Commissioner
Secretary to the Board

*The Board welcomes public comment on matters within its purview. Accordingly, the Board makes available a maximum 30-minute period at its regular meetings for persons in the audience to address the Board for no longer than 3 minutes. Written material of any length may be submitted. Preference will be given to persons who seek to address the Board on specific agenda items for the upcoming Board meeting. Agendas for upcoming Board meetings are generally posted 5 days prior to the meeting on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education's website. Persons wishing to speak are strongly encouraged to submit their request before the day of the meeting; contact information is provided below. Preference will be given to those who submit requests by 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday preceding the regular Tuesday meeting. If time permits, the Chair will allow members of the public who have not contacted the Department in advance to speak in the public comment period; those individuals must sign in prior to the start of the meeting. The Chair may limit the number of speakers due to time constraints and may increase or reduce the time allocated per speaker. While there is no requirement to submit comments in writing, a speaker who elects to do so should submit 15 copies of their comments prior to or at the meeting for distribution to Board members. Requests to address the Board, written comments, and other inquiries may be transmitted by mail, e-mail, fax, or telephone to: Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149, Phone: 781-338-3112, Fax: 781-338-3770, Email: BoardofEducation@mass.gov . Please make any requests for special accommodations or interpretation services at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting.

Last Updated: May 16, 2024

 
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Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149

Voice: (781) 338-3000
TTY: (800) 439-2370

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