[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6337779,"mediaKeyId","2271689-d6371019147105b5b1d9cc2af554cb05","parentId",2271689,"title","Votes at a glance: committee approves overnight field trips, two assistant-superintendent positions and other routine items","audioSeconds",256,"startMs",149000,"endMs",405000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2271689-d6371019147105b5b1d9cc2af554cb05&start=149&end=405","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2271689-d6371019147105b5b1d9cc2af554cb05/thumbnail_149000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6337779/Springfield-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-committee-approves-overnight-field-trips-two-assistant-superintendent-positions-and-other-routine-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6337779-9b765fb4dac76faa25c9edfc098f18e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771089103&Signature=nYTy21xVT-gfwZSd~vHHjSDwHJpq-b9BnxL8p2XcCRuOQO-TieJJWqLTg3f9XIZhx79aRMYkt2WKkjpvB6WZjcaZ4TcCx4rwDCRIfcEJlRnLONObxCttH-4HbExudCewTbT-z5GnQyiwzS-IuImr5~0vY~lnafyayasuHteHmJbwLWhCVy9sp5Az1iMcKr~vkuwtvISo2FwMCNKcVwGEVwf40cgJx8oX~~65l8JuI58rhGP180QHQCexJj2fCJM66xy2M57e2M-aNswZ34zMKMF5oPx38~iXJzJNLWtazCyXyx9iuAeoegu-U6pg7plEDPxexlFliyeRKZyza-bvGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Springfield City, MA","date","2025-02-12T12:16:55Z","article","The Springfield Public Schools School Committee on Monday approved several agenda items by roll-call vote, including overnight field trips, creation of two assistant-superintendent positions and additional routine business.

Key votes:

- High School of Science and Technology: Approved an overnight field trip to the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, Ga., departing June 23, 2025 and returning June 28, 2025. Motion made by Mister Gonzales; second by Mister Collins. Roll call: unanimous yes.

- Bowles Elementary School: Approved an overnight field trip to Redgate Farm in Asheville, Mass., departing June 2, 2025 and returning June 4, 2025. Motion made by Mister Gonzales; second by Vice Chair Monroe Naylor. Roll call: unanimous yes.

- Position approvals: The committee approved creation/approval of an assistant superintendent of community engagement, family empowerment and partnerships, and an assistant superintendent of curriculum instruction and professional development (a reconfiguration following Dr. Bausch’s departure). Motions carried on roll-call votes; motions and seconds recorded on the agenda and each passed unanimously.

Each of the above items passed on roll-call votes with no members recorded as opposing or abstaining.

Ending: These routine approvals clear the way for staff to finalize trip logistics and begin recruitment/hiring for the new administrative positions.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Springfield School Committee Special Meeting 2/11/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee approved two overnight school field trips, two assistant-superintendent positions and a set of routine personnel and program votes; roll-call votes were unanimous on the items listed.","taxTitle","Springfield City, Hampden County, Massachusetts","taxId",3703,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6337783,"Virtual-school enrollment falls below 1% cap; district reports roughly 208 students at Commonwealth virtual schools",434,1920000,2354000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2271689-d6371019147105b5b1d9cc2af554cb05&start=1920&end=2354","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2271689-d6371019147105b5b1d9cc2af554cb05/thumbnail_1920000.jpg","/articles/6337783/Springfield-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Virtual-school-enrollment-falls-below-1-cap-district-reports-roughly-208-students-at-Commonwealth-virtual-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6337783-46d39eb8eff87bd6cd7f78e5cbf34301/orig.mp4?Expires=1771089103&Signature=bkOumv0ob8bb2qsPftjqrPwVC3LHwi8A4nbUXkjHGZJQU2wdZkOvuSQcYUab-16qQCbl8vIkvxg41Cyw8tVhZOraTG36PFJgzhGAH-vrWV9x7uTGLxyLlr16wOCYUSXScWocexSRu6PvHzB0OxbOWaj2v6l1t3VI9QndBg9UvLFKSUDKf6mmHH6aIRul54sfQIU1CAaZ3Arjjlu3uXnOk7~LE8QOAmzHohrWsC6j5OZ6ZjGj~Q8SQG-WuS7-X9cZCtzNVR9-aU03zPzEKJfTF4~Qx36~aSbgY40E5xHyD2Y4~H-zpLB8aFsY3yowd~R9J7f8ECjLei1sk8uS8pJFAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Saint Lawrence reported to the Springfield Public Schools School Committee that the share of Springfield students enrolled in Commonwealth of Massachusetts virtual schools fell to about 0.88% from a peak of about 1.03% a year earlier, one year after the committee enacted a discretionary 1% enrollment restriction.

\"Number 1 is that there are no action required from you at all tonight,\" Superintendent Dr. Denaul told the committee as staff presented the update. She said the department estimates there will be about 50 seats available in Commonwealth virtual schools next year for Springfield families, \"on top of seats available in our Springfield Virtual School.\"

Chief Saint Lawrence told the committee the 1% cap remains in effect and that the department returned to provide the one-year status update requested when the restriction was adopted on Feb. 29, 2024.

Committee members asked about outreach and funding. Vice Chair Monroe Naylor asked whether the district is advertising the Springfield Virtual School; Dr. Denaul said chief Escribano was compiling a catalog of district schools and programs and that staff want to expose the roughly 208 students currently enrolled in Commonwealth virtual schools to the district’s own virtual option.

Committee members discussed funding flows. Staff said the $9,000-per-student pass-through is part of chapter 70 funding and school choice formulas; a committee member noted that the 208 students represent a funding transfer and characterized the figure as \"a little over $2,000,000\" in annual payments moving to Commonwealth virtual schools.

Chief Saint Lawrence said statewide Commonwealth virtual school enrollment declined about 2% from last year to this year, and staff said it was too early to predict a long-term trend. The committee did not take action on the update.

Ending: District staff will continue outreach to inform families about Springfield’s virtual program and provide additional grade-level breakdowns and data on request.

","One year after imposing a 1% discretionary cap on Springfield students enrolling in Commonwealth virtual schools, district officials reported the share fell from about 1.03% to 0.88%; staff estimate about 50 seats will be available next year and said the district wants to recruit students back to its own Springfield Virtual School.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6337788,"Committee delays final sign-off on school–police camera MOU, extends existing contract to March 13",1028,710000,1738000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2271689-d6371019147105b5b1d9cc2af554cb05&start=710&end=1738","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2271689-d6371019147105b5b1d9cc2af554cb05/thumbnail_710000.jpg","/articles/6337788/Springfield-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/Committee-delays-final-sign-off-on-schoolpolice-camera-MOU-extends-existing-contract-to-March-13","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6337788-80d202dfcaef5556554798701cc40898/orig.mp4?Expires=1771089103&Signature=TZB8tppM3GTSLKzCicMH8Y7bAVgV5tHKLZIU-aRe03u8mKJGzkMyOcB~IFQa3uBlssPifl7m5~6HlxNX4kFnIIOn92DilNOxkSq1jQJQFNozMAlnXr08M06cs23GERLpb2ZtF~QmuXYkx-c7foxxdZZMVnLb5IPaGbwHrK8sZQAgKIXogNLGHcfReozF7Q8M5uwY9iSM~u5-oxpTtR5jX56Nyh0oxGIrlvLh2ZdotiDxUUTl6aR3oEPm0AG0nidCXud1gJR8mM3wTxQIyhnBt2wzoiRood-4v-UTD9mD0YIxAbIzcPIE2U0TmMlxD8bTGR9lzZ9CjnwhBg60C65KfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Springfield Public Schools School Committee on Monday voted to extend the district’s current contract related to school security camera access to midnight on March 13, giving city and school attorneys time to resolve remaining language questions in a proposed memorandum of understanding with the Springfield Police Department.

Attorney Ian Keith (transcript: “attorney Keith”) and City Solicitor Steve Buoniconti told the committee they are close to finalizing language but that questions remained about clarifying access to exterior camera footage and codifying the practice of taking screen captures for law-enforcement purposes.

\"We were asking for a brief extension to be able to walk through the document,\" Solicitor Buoniconti said, adding that his office had been brought into the matter late and needs about two weeks to review the draft line by line. Attorney Keith said the outstanding items are \"clarification questions\" rather than substantive conflicts.

Vice Chair Monroe Naylor and committee members emphasized the community process that led to the draft MOU and the need for clear, plain-language provisions. Naylor said the document was created with community input and town halls and that attorneys had worked to ensure transparency and equity.

Police officials and attorneys explained the department’s current practice for exterior cameras, including that officers sometimes take screen captures of exterior footage to identify suspects and quickly pass images to responding officers. Attorney Keith said that practice \"has been a common practice and it's fine to go forward with\" but that the draft needed clearer language to capture it.

After discussion, committee member Mister Collins moved to extend the current contract until March 13 to allow both city and school counsel to finish reviewing the MOU; the motion passed on a roll-call vote.

Ending: The extension preserves the current arrangement while the parties finalize MOU language; staff and legal counsel said they expect to complete the review within about two weeks and return with a final document for committee approval.

","School committee members said they are close to agreeing on a memorandum of understanding with the Springfield Police Department covering camera access, but city and school counsel asked for more time to review language; the committee extended the current contract to March 13 by unanimous vote.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6337793,"School committee approves multimillion-dollar EPA electric-bus grant; questions remain about ownership and contractor role",115,420000,535000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2271689-d6371019147105b5b1d9cc2af554cb05&start=420&end=535","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2271689-d6371019147105b5b1d9cc2af554cb05/thumbnail_420000.jpg","/articles/6337793/Springfield-City/Hampden-County/Massachusetts/School-committee-approves-multimillion-dollar-EPA-electric-bus-grant-questions-remain-about-ownership-and-contractor-role","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6337793-64bcb93c42e1c9a1dba136e4dea16061/orig.mp4?Expires=1771089103&Signature=AwPSTqBC5TfaljpJoLXTEpooQ7bGKfOA5-jhep8c4GbbPT24Mc4qsGpc~UiqevjafC0AOqfvqa2mY-INtWrx2GzPrFeoOv-TOVWGqKu~rj7gDRiJWue7HhHTSJL84hIahC6986v-PvR8y10x5d0-V7Stnmw6lrkr1DgEi6iZwCCYkMbkkXGCLZbhgU-N--JYprPaN~dlmnC5mKb5aZbht2IXyFl5vCifAkqV0q19uGsPuJ8KCoWE-Bbnv~dKLf1bMPgURWRZUF3Te5pHWKM~qLwwFt0uHJY3IXdCY7DRya2QAmWmPz2OoMfseJJqCE6vOzACFi6bW1Erycfo-8Eb5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Springfield Public Schools School Committee on Monday approved acceptance of a multi-million-dollar Environmental Protection Agency grant intended to support the purchase and deployment of heavy-duty electric school buses and related charging infrastructure.

Superintendent Dr. Denaul praised the award as timely and aligned with the district’s environmental goals, saying, \"These funds are right on time.\" She credited school and city staff, and specifically thanked Chief Pat Roach for the grant application work.

The vote followed a presentation and questions about how the buses would be operated. Chief Pat Roach said the district will partner with First Student for operations and that, based on First Student’s other accounts, \"they will plug in the buses every night, and they also have some... plans for swapping batteries out when... a battery's running low,\" adding that buses would be charged between runs.

Vice Chair Monroe Naylor and other committee members pressed for clarity on vehicle ownership and longer-term contract implications. Naylor said committee members raised concerns in subcommittee about whether reliance on First Student for vehicles and charging infrastructure would effectively require the district to continue the contractor relationship after the current contract expires.

Mayor Sarno and others noted the grant's potential to reduce the district’s carbon footprint. But Sarno acknowledged broader fiscal concerns, saying discussions with city officials have considered the city's contract costs: \"It's a budget buster about $42,000,000,\" he said, noting that the city and school officials have talked about ways to reduce that cost and consider alternate approaches when the contract comes up for renewal.

Committee members also emphasized that deployment will take time. Naylor and others reminded the body that infrastructure work and fleet turnover are multi-year efforts. Roach confirmed the district has not yet drawn down any grant funds.

The motion to approve acceptance and expenditure as read on the agenda passed on a roll-call vote with all members voting yes.

Despite unanimous approval, multiple members asked staff to return with written clarifications about ownership, the contractual arrangements with First Student, and who would ultimately control and maintain vehicles and charging infrastructure when contracts expire.

The committee asked that those clarifications and any small language edits be completed before final implementation steps, with a timeline that several participants said would likely take years to complete.

Ending: The district will move forward under the grant while staff and city counsel continue to clarify ownership and contracting issues; committee members asked for follow-up details to be presented before major procurement or infrastructure commitments.

","The Springfield School Committee voted to accept a multimillion-dollar Environmental Protection Agency grant to support electric buses, praising environmental benefits while members pressed for clarification about vehicle ownership, long-term costs and the contractor First Student’s role.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: committee approves overnight field trips, two assistant-superintendent positions and other routine items

Virtual-school enrollment falls below 1% cap; district reports roughly 208 students at Commonwealth virtual schools

Committee delays final sign-off on school–police camera MOU, extends existing contract to March 13

School committee approves multimillion-dollar EPA electric-bus grant; questions remain about ownership and contractor role