Committee approves grants and CPC request, accepts minutes and moves into executive session on HEA bargaining

The Harvard School Committee on Sept. 22 approved several grants and routine items and concluded public business by moving into executive session to discuss collective bargaining strategy with the Harvard Education Association (HEA).

The committee approved four PTO grant requests — including funding for a second-grade musical (TIGER), a senior class trip to see the musical Fun Home, a sixth-grade Zoom concert and fourth-grade poetry books — by roll-call vote, 4–0 (move: Amy Morton; second: Dr. Katharine Covino). The committee also approved two Harvard Schools Trust grants for a TBHS faculty book study and kindergarten classroom furniture (move: Dr. Covino; second: Liz Joyce), again by roll-call vote of 4–0.

Dr. Linda Dwight and Ms. Joyce described a plan for the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) to consider a recreational van purchase if Park and Rec partners with the district; the committee approved the CPC application 4–0 (move: Ms. Morton; second: Dr. Covino). The committee approved the Sept. 8 minutes without objection.

At the meeting’s close, Chair Abigail Besse moved that the committee enter executive session to discuss strategy concerning collective bargaining negotiations with the HEA; the motion passed by roll-call vote 4–0 (move: Ms. Morton; second: Dr. Covino).

Why it matters: the grants support curricular and enrichment activities across grade levels, the CPC decision advances a partnership option for townwide transportation needs, and the executive session begins a confidential bargaining discussion between the district and the HEA.

What’s next: approved grants will proceed under the district’s grant-management process; Park and Rec will hear the recreational van proposal on Oct. 8; the committee will conduct executive-session bargaining discussions outside the public record.