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Whittier School Committee approves routine minutes, finances, trips, policies; sets mileage rate and moves to executive session
Summary
At its Jan. 14 meeting the Whittier Regional Vocational Technical School Committee approved Dec. 10 minutes, the treasurer's report, two overnight student trips, set a 72.5¢ mileage reimbursement rate effective Jan. 1, approved regional nominees and policies, and voted to enter executive session to discuss litigation.
The Whittier Regional Vocational Technical School Committee completed a series of routine motions and votes at its Jan. 14 public meeting, approving minutes and financial items, authorizing student overnight trips, adopting a standard mileage reimbursement rate and voting to enter executive session on litigation.
Minutes and financials: The committee approved the Dec. 10, 2025 minutes on a motion by Mr. Fitzgerald, seconded by Miss Carpenter. The treasurer's December financial report and payment of bills were approved (motion by Miss True, seconded by Mr. Murphy) by roll-call vote; members present voted in the affirmative.
Overnight field trips: The committee approved two overnight field-trip requests submitted during the superintendent's report: a two-day trip to Gillette Stadium for six students to participate in the Mass Restaurant ProStart competition (two teacher advisors) and a cosmetology trip to Londonderry, New Hampshire for the American Institute of Hair Color (dates listed as Feb. 2 and Feb. 9 for separate classes). Motions to approve were made and both passed on roll-call votes.
Mileage rate: The committee set the 2026 standard mileage reimbursement rate at 72.5 cents per mile (motion by Miss Lowel, seconded by Mr. Fitzgerald). Committee members asked about the effective date and were told it applies beginning Jan. 1.
Appointments and policies: The committee approved regional advisory council (RACK) nominees and alternates submitted by member towns (names and town designations were read into the record). Mr. Fitzgerald moved and the committee approved listed policies on second and final reading.
Executive session: On a motion by Mr. Fitzgerald, seconded by Mr. Murphy, the committee voted to enter executive session to discuss litigation strategy, with the chair stating that open session discussion could be detrimental to the committee's litigation position and that the committee would not return to open session.
Vote at a glance (as recorded in the meeting): - Approval of minutes (Dec. 10, 2025): motion Mr. Fitzgerald; second Miss Carpenter; roll-call — unanimous yes. - Payment of bills/treasurer's report: motion Miss True; second Mr. Murphy; roll-call — unanimous yes. - Overnight trips to Gillette Stadium and Londonderry: motion Mr. Murphy; second Mr. B; roll-call — unanimous yes. - Standard mileage rate (72.5¢): motion Miss Lowel; second Mr. Fitzgerald; roll-call — unanimous yes. - RACK nominees: motion Mr. Fitzgerald; second Mr. Wolf; roll-call — unanimous yes. - Policies (second and final reading): motion Mr. Fitzgerald; second Miss Lel; roll-call — unanimous yes. - Motion to enter executive session on litigation: motion Mr. Fitzgerald; second Mr. Murphy; roll-call — unanimous yes.
The meeting record shows the committee moved on to scheduled items after public comment and approved the listed motions before adjourning to executive session.
