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School committee approves robotics and arts field trips, ratifies custodial contract; several routine votes pass unanimously
Summary
At its Feb. 27 meeting the Walpole School Committee approved multiple out-of-state student trips for Walpole High School programs, ratified a memorandum of agreement with custodial and maintenance unions and approved routine warrants, donations and minutes. All recorded motions passed unanimously.
The Walpole School Committee on Feb. 27 unanimously approved out-of-state field trips for Walpole High School student groups and ratified a memorandum of agreement with custodial and maintenance staff, among other routine votes.
The committee approved a waiver of the 30-day notice requirement and the trip request for the Walpole High School robotics team to attend a competition at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston from March 13–15, 2025. The committee also approved the team’s travel to Houston, Texas, for the FIRST World Tournament from April 13–20, 2025. Brian Gaffey, the high school robotics coordinator, told the committee the program will bring about 35 students to the two competitions and described the season as “very exciting” as students prepare robots and related presentations.
The committee approved a waiver of the 30-day notice and then approved an out-of-state field trip request from the National Art Honor Society for a visit to the Rhode Island School of Design art museum on March 22, 2025. TJ Bergeron and Ryan Conlin, co-advisers, said about 20 students are expected to travel by commuter rail and that these trips teach students independent travel and cultural exposure.
The committee voted to ratify a memorandum of agreement between the Walpole School Committee and custodial and maintenance bargaining units represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 93, Local 1957. The committee described the process as cooperative and praised the custodial staff for their work during the pandemic and since.
Committee members also approved warrants, donations and meeting minutes presented at the meeting. Motions to approve payroll and accounts-payable warrants, accept donations to several schools and approve minutes from prior meetings passed by voice vote as recorded in the meeting transcript.
All of the recorded votes in the meeting were unanimous where tallies were given. Several motions were moved and seconded by committee members and carried without recorded opposition.
