Holyoke advisory team finalizes May community forums to gather input on superintendent and communications

Gabriela (Gabby), facilitator for the community advisory team, said the group will hold two in-person community forums on May 19 — 4:30–6 p.m. at Kelly Elementary School and 6:30–8 p.m. at Holyoke High School — and a virtual session on May 21 to gather community feedback on communications and the qualities the community wants in an incoming superintendent.

"The 2 big goals that we really have, collecting some information on communication and what the community really wants for communication, but then also really focusing on gathering community input about the qualities and skills of the incoming superintendent," Gabby said while reviewing the agenda and planned format for small-group conversations and bilingual materials.

Organizers said the events will offer food, interpretation, childcare support and bilingual slides. Sessions will start with food and table connections, a short history and purpose overview, and then break into table discussions guided by four focus questions: what works and what could improve about district communications; what is going well in Holyoke public schools; what could be improved; and what qualities and skills are important for a superintendent as Holyoke transitions from receivership to local control.

Discussion format and logistics were a major focus. Organizers plan 5–7 community participants per table, poster paper at each table, 15 minutes per question, and a gallery walk so participants can see posters from other tables. Facilitators or table scribes will record responses and the advisory team will synthesize themes from the in-person and virtual sessions to make recommendations.

Committee members debated whether participants should rotate between questions or remain at the same table. Mildred, a committee member, said participation numbers and language access influenced her preference. "My my my main concern is participation. So we need to get this out to the community... I think every group should hear all 4 points," she said, urging organizers to prioritize broad outreach and ensure language-specific tables remain cohesive.

Organizers discussed outreach strategies to boost turnout, including flyers, coordination with the mayor's office, direct partner outreach and a person-to-person model that asks principals, teachers, union representatives and community groups to invite families directly. A committee member listed local groups to contact, including Esperanza, Lasa de Familias and Homework House, and another suggested engaging unions and school staff to invite families through direct contact.

A committee member raised a separate but related concern about state-level timing: the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) was meeting the same night, and the committee was told the Secretary of Education (interim commissioner Dr. Tutwiler) would be at a 5:00 p.m. meeting. Committee members asked organizers to track DESE developments and coordinate follow-up communications with the city and school committee as needed.

Organizers said they are revising the survey to match the in-person questions, setting up registration for the virtual session, and preparing bilingual materials and interpretation plans. They circulated a sign-up sheet and asked members to indicate which session(s) they could staff and which languages they could facilitate to ensure Spanish and Haitian Creole access where needed.

The advisory team did not take a formal vote during the meeting; instead members agreed to move forward with the logistics described, conduct targeted outreach, and collect and synthesize community input after the events. Organizers asked members to share contacts and help distribute flyers once available and said they would send a follow-up email with sign-up instructions and materials.