School committee approves Quebec trip, three MOAs and temporary hiring flexibility; several items tabled

The Easton School Committee voted June 12 to approve a February 2026 foreign-travel trip for students, to ratify three memoranda of agreement with the Eastern Educators Association and to authorize the superintendent to make limited higher‑step hires for hard-to-fill positions without prior committee approval.

The committee approved the foreign-language trip to Quebec City, scheduled for Feb. 14–17, 2026. The motion to move the travel item up on the agenda and the final motion to approve the trip were made and seconded during the meeting; the committee approved the measure by voice vote. Miss Michael, who presented the trip, described it as “essentially the same trip that we did this year” and said it typically coincides with the Winter Carnival and includes visits such as an ice hotel, circus school and the Wendat Nations Village.

The committee also approved three separate memoranda of agreement (MOAs) with the Eastern Educators Association that extend existing arrangements for the 2025–26 school year: a one‑year extension to the Unit B contract (including a 2.5% cost‑of‑living increase); an extension of the flexible learning block (H block) at Oliver Ames for Sept. 2, 2025–June 30, 2026; and an extension for the Richardson/Olmstead wind block for Aug. 28, 2025–June 30, 2026. Each agreement had been ratified by the Eastern Educators Association prior to the committee vote and was approved by the committee by voice vote.

On hiring, the committee voted to permit Superintendent Kelly Cabral to offer starting salaries above step 7 on the Unit A salary schedule in narrowly defined circumstances for difficult‑to‑fill positions or candidates with specialized/dual licensure. Cabral explained that the contract permits hiring up to step 7 without committee approval and that, after COVID, applicant pools have shifted; she said the district sometimes receives very few applicants for some positions and that highly experienced candidates can be “courted by others.” The committee approved a motion to allow Cabral the temporary latitude to make offers above step 7 without prior school‑committee approval and to report hires and the rationale back to the committee afterward.

The committee entered executive session under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30A, Section 21(a)(2) to discuss collective bargaining strategy for the Eastern Educators Association (units A, B and C) and grievances; a roll call was taken to enter the session. During open session the chair announced the committee would table several agenda items—including personnel changes/retirements, the RFP explanation, breakfast/lunch fee review, policy first readings (AC and ACA), and approval of a grant contract with Great Minds—to a future meeting.

Votes at a glance - Foreign travel: Quebec City, Feb. 14–17, 2026 — approved (voice vote). Presenter: Miss Michael. - MOA, Unit B: extension to 06/30/2026, 2.5% COLA — approved (voice vote). - MOA, H block (Oliver Ames): 09/02/2025–06/30/2026 — approved (voice vote). - MOA, Richardson/Olmstead wind block: 08/28/2025–06/30/2026 — approved (voice vote). - Superintendent hiring latitude (steps above 7 for hard‑to‑fill Unit A positions): authorized; superintendent to report hires and justification at a subsequent meeting. - Multiple agenda items (5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12): tabled to next meeting.

The meeting record does not show detailed roll‑call tallies for the voice votes. The committee chair conducted most motions and called for voice votes; where recorded, seconding members included Loomis and Percio/Parseo. The committee chair also led a roll call to authorize the executive session under MGL c.30A §21(a)(2).

The committee’s approvals mean the trip planning, the MOA extensions and the superintendent’s hiring practice may proceed under the terms discussed; the superintendent is required to report back to the committee on any hires made above step 7.

The meeting also included substantive presentations and discussions on school improvement plans at Easton Middle School and Oliver Ames High School, and an overview of the superintendent’s summative evaluation process, all discussed elsewhere on the agenda.