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Longmeadow School Committee elects Nicole Schouler chair in annual reorganization; Hanson named vice chair
Summary
At its June 23 reorganization meeting the Longmeadow School Committee elected Nicole Schouler as chair and Emily Hanson as vice chair, appointed Kate Bean clerk and assigned members to subcommittees; members also approved building-use requests and voted to enter executive session on collective bargaining.
The Longmeadow School Committee completed its annual reorganization during a June 23 meeting, electing Nicole Schouler as chair for the 2026–2027 year and naming Emily Hanson vice chair.
A member moved to nominate Nicole Schouler for chair; the motion was seconded. Roll-call votes recorded in the transcript were: Kate Bean — Yes; Jamie Hench — Yes; Nicole Schouler — Abstain; Emily Hanson — Yes; Mr. Bryden — Yes; Ms. Gazaille — Yes. The chair declared the motion carried and announced the committee’s new chair.
The committee then named Emily Hanson vice chair by roll call (Ms. Rowe — Yes; Matt Kessel — Yes; Zack/Zach — Yes; Emily Hanson — Abstain; Jamie Hench — Yes; Kate Bean — Yes; presiding speaker — Yes) and appointed Kate Bean clerk (vote recorded with one abstention by the appointee). Members also allocated seats on standing subcommittees — curriculum, evaluation, policy and finance — and confirmed representatives to outside bodies including the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative and the Special Education Alliance of Longmeadow (SEAL).
Two administrative signatory motions passed: the committee appointed a member to sign payroll and accounts payable warrants, with roll-call votes recorded in the transcript. Separately, the committee approved a three-item consent agenda for summer building use — two Park & Rec soccer camps (June 29–July 2 at the high school and July 6–7 at Blueberry Hill Elementary, each ~100 participants) and a Rays of Hope parking request for Oct. 18 — without discussion.
At the end of the public meeting, the committee voted to enter executive session under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30A, Section 21A, Purpose 3, to discuss strategy related to collective bargaining and a memorandum of understanding (MOU); the committee did not reconvene in open session.
Actions recorded in the meeting (motion text and recorded votes appear as shown in the transcript):
- Motion: Nominate Nicole Schouler as chair (mover not specified in transcript; second by Ms. Hanson). Vote as recorded: Bean — Yes; Hench — Yes; Schouler — Abstain; Hanson — Yes; Bryden — Yes; Gazaille — Yes. Outcome: approved.
- Motion: Appoint Emily Hanson as vice chair for 2026–2027 (mover not specified). Vote as recorded: Ms. Rowe — Yes; Matt Kessel — Yes; Zack/Zach — Yes; Emily Hanson — Abstain; Jamie Hench — Yes; Kate Bean — Yes; presiding speaker — Yes. Outcome: approved.
- Motion: Appoint Kate Bean as clerk (mover/second recorded). Vote as recorded: multiple Yes votes with the appointee recorded as Abstain. Outcome: approved.
- Motion(s): Appoint signatories for payroll and accounts payable warrants (motions made and seconded). Votes recorded with multiple Yes votes and some abstentions by the affected member. Outcome: approved.
- Motion: Approve consent agenda (building-use requests). Outcome: approved by roll call.
- Motion: Move to executive session (collective bargaining, MOU; consider release of executive-session minutes). Outcome: approved by roll call; meeting adjourned to executive session.
Why it matters: Annual reorganization sets committee leadership and committee assignments that shape agenda prioritization and oversight for the coming school year. Appointments to external bodies and signatory designations affect the district’s operational continuity and its representation on regional education partnerships.
