Longmeadow School Committee accepts $1.6 million in FY26 grants, authorizes $35,000 appropriation for middle‑school personnel matter

LONGMEADOW, Mass. — The Longmeadow School Committee voted unanimously on Sept. 8 to accept $1,600,000 in FY26 grant awards and to authorize a $35,000 appropriation from the school choice revolving fund to cover costs related to a personnel matter at the town’s middle schools.

The grants acceptance, presented to the committee by the finance subcommittee, includes a $35,000 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Hate Crimes Prevention Act grant pursued by Nilda Irizarry and funding that the district previously received in earlier years. The finance presenter told the committee the district is carrying some entitlement grants forward and that the total FY26 grant package is $1.6 million.

The appropriation motion allocates $35,000 from the school choice fund to address expenses tied to a personnel matter involving Glenbrook Middle School and Williams Middle School. The finance subcommittee recommended that the appropriation be used for professional development, legal costs, and expenses for a third‑party investigative firm the district engaged for the matter.

Both items were moved and seconded on the floor and passed by roll call. Committee members voting yes were Emily Hanson, Zach Verdin, Nicole Schwenaire, Kate Bean, Jamie Hench, Adam Rosenblum and the committee chair (recorded as voting in the affirmative). The meeting record shows unanimous approval for both the grant acceptance and the appropriation.

Superintendent and finance staff told the committee there were no surprises in the FY25 closing reports and that the district expects routine carryover of some entitlement grants into FY26. The finance presenter said the FY25 general fund spending closed the year close to budget without major issues, and that revolving accounts are being monitored.

The committee did not elaborate further on the personnel matter in open session; the appropriation was described as a fund source to cover potential costs that may arise while the matter is resolved. The finance subcommittee will track expenditures against the appropriation and report back to the school committee.

The committee packet lists the grants memo dated Aug. 27, 2025 as the source document for the FY26 awards. Committee members were told more budget and policy work tied to district priorities will continue at upcoming subcommittee meetings.