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Votes at a glance: Whittier Tech approves transfers, school improvement plan, personnel appointments and bus pay increase
Summary
The Whittier Regional Vocational Technical School Committee approved FY25 transfers, the 2025–26 school improvement plan, two school nurse appointments and a $5 per-route bus driver pay increase; committee also approved calendar changes and other routine business.
The Whittier Regional Vocational Technical School Committee approved a series of routine financial and personnel items during its meeting, including year-end transfers, the 2025–26 school improvement plan, two school nurse appointments and an increase to bus driver route pay.
Business manager Miss Cosmus presented the FY25 variance report and explained year-end transfers to balance accounts, noting a zero increase in health insurance, about $1.5 million in capital-skills grants and one-time purchases such as buses; the committee approved the transfers. The committee also voted to authorize student activity account procedures after confirming the high school does not maintain a separate checking account.
The committee approved the 2025–26 school improvement plan after hearing from Principal/Assistant Superintendent Mr. Leanus about safety measures, a hybrid pass system to improve hallway accountability, and efforts to boost student co-op placements. Mr. Leanus told the committee the district strengthened co-op supports in recent years by creating a co-op handbook, clarifying protocols, increasing teacher liaison work and scheduling more site visits.
The committee approved superintendent-recommended personnel actions: appointment of two school nurses, Jennifer Herald and Jennifer Karen, effective August 2025. Members confirmed these appointments replace existing positions and that office support for the nurses remains in place.
On transportation, the committee voted to raise bus drivers' per-route rate by $5, as recommended by the superintendent. Members recorded the motion and approved it by roll call.
Other approved items included adjustments to the 2025–26 meeting calendar (moving the November meeting to Nov. 5 and the February meeting to Feb. 25) and subcommittee assignment updates. The committee also voted to enter executive session under MGL chapter 38, section 21 to discuss strategy for negotiations with a wastewater treatment plant operator and adjourned from that session.
Votes were recorded by roll call for each item during the meeting; all motions in this set of items were recorded as passing.
