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Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE)

Board Documents — November 2024

Special Meeting

Friday, November 15, 2024, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The meeting will be held virtually
BESE live stream link: Vimeo: MADESEstream

Posted: 11/12/2024 5:05 p.m.

Agenda Item:

  1. Call meeting to order

  2. Career Technical Education (CTE) Admissions Study Session: Session 2 Discussion
    BESE CTE Admission Study Session 2, November 15, 2024

  3. Adjourn

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Members

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

Dr. Russell D. Johnston, Acting Commissioner, Secretary to the Board

Special Meeting

Monday, November 18, 2024, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The meeting will be held virtually
BESE live stream link: Vimeo: MADESEstream

Posted: 11/12/2024 5:05 p.m.

Agenda Item:

  1. Call meeting to order

  2. Career Technical Education (CTE) Admissions Study Session: Session 3 Discussion
    BESE CTE Admission Study Session 3, November 18, 2024

  3. Adjourn

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Members

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

Dr. Russell D. Johnston, Acting Commissioner, Secretary to the Board

Regular Meeting

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Holyoke High School Auditorium, 500 Beech Street
Holyoke, MA 01040
Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Posted: 11/13/2024 10:10 a.m.

Statements from the Public

Comments from the Chair

Secretary Opening Comments:

  • Question 2 — Elimination of MCAS as High School Graduation Requirement
  • Reflections on the work ahead

Commissioner Opening Comments:

  • Review of the Board's Special Meeting on Friday, November 15, 2024 (Career Technical Education Admissions Study Session: Session 2)
  • Review of the Board's Special Meeting on Monday, November 18, 2024 (Career Technical Education Admissions Study Session: Session 3)
  • Question 2 — Elimination of MCAS as High School Graduation Requirement

Briefing

Routine Business:

Approval of the Minutes of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Special Meeting, 10/28/2024, and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Regular Meeting 10/29/2024.

Agenda Items:

  1. Welcome from Holyoke Public Schools and Holyoke Transition Plan Update Discussion
    Moving Forward Together, A plan by Holyokers, with Holyokers, for Holyokers

  2. Update on Commissioner Search Process — Discussion

  3. Educational Vision Update and Advancing Student Learning — Discussion
    DESE's Educational Vision and Advancing Student Learning, BESE Update November 19, 2024

  4. Board of Elementary and Secondary Education FY2026 Budget Proposal and Report from the Board's Budget Committee Discussion and Vote

  5. Commonwealth of Massachusetts Virtual Schools: Funding Initial Discussion
    Commonwealth of Massachusetts Virtual Schools: Funding, November 19, 2024

  6. Felix Commonwealth Virtual School Return of Certificate Discussion and Vote

Other Items for Information:

  1. Report on Scheduling of Comprehensive District Reviews

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Members

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

Dr. Russell D. Johnston, Acting Commissioner
Secretary to the Board

The BESE meeting will be livestreamed and recorded.

*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.

Holyoke High School requires that all visitors sign in. Visitors should go to the main office to sign in and provide a valid photo ID.

Last Updated: December 3, 2024

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

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TTY: (800) 439-2370

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