School Committee approves IMDA pledge policy and ratifies substitute teacher agreement

The Springfield School Committee recorded two formal actions during Tuesday’s meeting.

First, the committee held the second required vote on the IMDA policy (the district’s Pledge of Allegiance and moment-of-silence policy). Superintendent Sonia Dennal noted the first vote was taken Nov. 6; Attorney Ian Keefe was present to advise. Attorney Murphy moved to approve the second vote; Mister Gonzales seconded. The clerk conducted a roll-call vote; all present members voted in favor and the motion passed.

Second, the committee considered and ratified a memorandum of agreement between the Springfield School Committee and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 14 59 on behalf of Springfield substitute teachers for the term 07/01/2025 through 06/30/2028. Superintendent Dennal introduced the agreement; Mister Collins moved to ratify and Miss Gresham seconded. A roll-call vote recorded yes votes from present members and the ratification passed.

Why it matters: the IMDA policy is a routine second vote on a local policy tied to school practice; the labor agreement sets terms for substitute teachers for a three-year term and will affect substitute staffing and compensation under the contract’s terms.

Vote details (as recorded): - IMDA policy (second vote): motion by Attorney Murphy; seconded by Mister Gonzales; roll-call recorded present members voting yes and Miss Monroe Naylor as absent; matter passes. - Substitute teachers MOA: motion by Mister Collins; seconded by Miss Gresham; roll-call recorded present members voting yes and Miss Monroe Naylor absent; matter passes.

Ending: both items passed by roll-call vote and will be incorporated into district policy and contract records; no further procedural actions were recorded on these items during the meeting.