Everett superintendent reports nurse staffing gains, new field-trip policy and $200,000 Sheehy Trust gift

Superintendent Bill Hart told the Everett School Committee on Dec. 15 that the district has increased full-time nursing staff to 21, enabling med-delegation and the immediate resumption of academically focused field trips with appropriate medical support.

Hart said the district's new practice'which he described as effective immediately'requires principals to justify trips as connected to curriculum, plan in advance and ensure nursing coverage so buildings are not left short when students travel. "Effective immediately, there is a new practice in place and our students will be able to go on field trips that are connected to curriculum and instruction and with appropriate medical support as needed," he told the committee.

The superintendent credited the health department and Human Services director Sabrina Ferricano for recruiting nursing staff and said the district had relied on outplacement nurses during a prior staffing shortage. Hart said med-delegation training for non-nursing staff requires a minimum number of full-time RNs, which the district now meets.

Hart also described a pilot attendance intervention that will begin in January: planned home visits and on-site conversations for students with chronic absences. He said teams of two'ideally a teacher and either a guidance counselor or social worker'will visit families in a non-punitive effort to reengage students. Funding for the pilot will use Title I/III funds and may be supplemented by an external grant, the superintendent said.

The superintendent highlighted other programs: an IT internship where seniors and juniors assist the IT department with device troubleshooting (the district is exploring academic credit), and a Student Solve STEM event that partnered students with industry mentors from companies such as Liberty Mutual and National Grid.

On funding, Hart asked the committee to accept a $200,000 gift from the Mary T. Sheehy Trust, which he described as "the single largest donation in the history of the district." He said the trust envisions $10,000 scholarships to be awarded annually and left eligibility decisions largely to the superintendent and the high school principal; the committee accepted the gift as part of a bundle of donations by roll-call vote 9-0. Hart said the remaining funds will be held by the Everett Public Schools Foundation to earn interest and extend the gift's long-term impact.

The committee also voted to accept several other donations and competitive grants, including a $45,000 Social Emotional Learning grant from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and a federally funded $42,000 MassGrad Promising Practices grant to support academic enrichment during breaks and summer programs.

Hart closed by reminding the public about upcoming events (the winter gala concert and a donor reception) and reiterating that safety drills, including ALICE training with police and fire partners, will continue under state and federal guidance.

The committee took favorable action on the Sheehy gift, the DESE SEL grant and other routine items during the meeting; details of each vote are recorded in the committee's roll-call and motion records.