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Gardner School Committee reorganizes officers, approves MSBA support and easement; consent agenda passes
Summary
At the Jan. 7 meeting the School Committee elected officers for 2025, approved a motion supporting an MSBA roof feasibility appropriation, granted an easement for Elm Street Safe Routes to School, removed a redundant school physician policy, and approved the consent agenda including $943,000 in grants.
The Gardner School Committee on Tuesday completed its annual reorganization, approved a school building appropriation support vote for the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), granted a city easement for an Elm Street Safe Routes to School project, removed a redundant policy, and approved the consent agenda.
Reorganization: Rachel Cormier was elected vice chair by roll call (7 votes). John Lafreniere was elected finance officer (7 votes). Robert Swartz and Jennifer Palavin were elected alternate finance officers (each named on a 7-vote roll call), and Anne Hurst was elected secretary (7 votes). The mayor presided over the reorganization.
MSBA support: The committee voted to recommend favorable action on the appropriation that will be presented to the City Council for a Gardner Middle School feasibility study and new roof project under the MSBA accelerated repair program. Attorney Filabian moved the motion; Robert Swartz seconded. The motion carried on a voice vote with no recorded opposition.
Elm Street easement: The committee approved donating easement rights for the Safe Routes to School grant project covering Elm Street (Cross Street to Temple Street). The motion was moved by John Lafreniere and seconded by Robert Swartz. A roll call recorded multiple "Yes" votes from committee members; the tally announced during the meeting was six in favor and the motion passed.
Policy removal: The committee voted to remove policy JLCADashE (position description of the school physician) after the Massachusetts Association of School Committees found the policy redundant. The motion to remove was made by Shannon Ward Layton and seconded by Anne Hurst; the motion carried by voice vote.
Consent agenda: The committee approved the consent agenda, which included $943,000 in grant funding: $18,000 to support multilingual newcomer students who are also facing homelessness, and $925,000 for leadership pipeline development in North Central Massachusetts. The agenda also accepted two donations: $1,250 from the Rollstone Charitable Foundation / Noah Gray Football Donation and $2,500 from Yen Yen Chinese Cuisine. Motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Mr. Siffrani and seconded by Robert Swartz; the motion carried by voice vote.
Ending: Several items approved Tuesday (MSBA support, the easement, and the consent agenda) are procedural steps that will allow the city administration and City Council to advance design and funding work; committee members said they will follow those projects as they proceed to the next steps.
