5/7/25 - Regular Business Meeting

Minutes of the 

Monson School Committee

Regular Meeting

May 7, 2025

Present: Chair Alison Morgan; Vice-Chair Jamie Murphy; Secretary Karen Nothe-Valley; Committee Member Colleen Flynn; Committee Member Peter Wiggins; Director of Business and Operations Leah Zippin; Interim Superintendent Roland Joyal and Recording Secretary Haley Ketterman 

Note: This meeting was video recorded. M-PACT-TV

Mrs. Morgan called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

Mrs. Morgan read off the MPS mission statement.

Superintendent announcements and updates : 

-Mr. Joyal acknowledged teacher appreciation week and thanked the teachers and staff for all of the hard work that they do daily as well as PTSA for everything that they did for the staff over this past week.

-Girls on the Run group at GV, Mr. Joyal thanked the group of students who participated as well as the mentors who helped with the run.

-Shoutout to all of those involved with the Special Olympics event last Friday. 

Minutes approval

December 13, 2024 - Executive meeting minutes for approval

Mrs. Morgan makes a motion to approve the meeting minutes. 

Ms. Flynn seconds. No further discussion.

Roll call was placed. 

Motion carries 5-0.

January 8, 2025 - Executive meeting minutes for approval

Mrs. Morgan makes a motion to approve the meeting minutes. 

Ms. Flynn seconds. No further discussion.

Roll call was placed. 

Motion carries 5-0.

March 24, 2025 - Tri-board meeting minutes for approval

Mrs. Morgan makes a motion to approve the meeting minutes. 

Ms. Flynn seconds. No further discussion.

Roll call was placed. 

Motion carries 5-0.

April 9, 2025 - Regular business meeting minutes for approval

Mrs. Morgan makes a motion to approve the meeting minutes. 

Ms. Flynn seconds. No further discussion.

Roll call was placed. 

April 16, 2025 - regular business meeting minutes for approval

Mrs. Morgan makes a motion to approve the meeting minutes. 

Ms. Flynn seconds. No further discussion.

Roll call was placed. 

Motion carries 5-0.

Public comment opened @ 7:09 PM

No one came forward to speak

Closed public comment @ 7:11 PM

Subcommittee and Liaison reports

-GBEBD - Crowdfunding: tabled 

New Business

Tracy Blanchard: Monson Public Schools Food Service update.

Mrs. Blanchard reported to the School Committee that for the month of March the Food Service Department served exactly 16,181 meals to the students between breakfast and lunch which is about 98% of our student body. Mrs. Blanchard touched base about the programs that the district utilizes for the Food Service Dept; such as the Summer Eats Program and the CPE program. Tracy also talked about the Fresh Fruits Program that took place this year at Granite Valley and was a huge success! Tracy briefly discussed the “Breakfast after the bell program” and that she is working alongside with administration to see the best way to roll this out without classroom disruption, but to also help ensure that students have breakfast daily. 

Mrs. Morgan asked about the meal size for students in the different grades and buildings. Mrs. Blanchard confirmed that the portions go by grade and age. 

School Choice Numbers: SY 25/26

Mr. Joyal discussed historical school choice participation for the district and that Monson tends to accept more school choice students than students who school choice out. The last school year Monson had 66 students in for school choice and 47 students who school choiced out of the district. The district has to report by June 1st if they will be participating in school choice next school year.

The School Committee asked about the 7th grade school choice number and accepting 3 students when the projected class size for 7th grade is 23-24 students per class. 

Ms. Nothe-Valley thanked Mr. Fontaine and Dr. Trivisonno for bringing the highest number of slots for the grades. 

Ms. Flynn makes a motion to participate in School Choice for the 25/26 SY. 

Mrs. Morgan seconds.

Discussion followed: 

Mrs. Morgan asked who decides on the exact number of students to be approved? Mr. Joyal said that at the next regular business meeting he can come back with the numbers per grade and go from there for the School Committee to approve the specific number of students per grade. 

Mrs. Morgan would like to revisit this topic in June. 

Ms. Nothe-Valley had some questions regarding why there are no school choice numbers for grade 6? Mrs. Morgan stated that it’s a combination of things between the makeup of the grade, typically the reading scores are lower and additional difficulties due to Covid. 

Roll call was placed 

Motion carries 5-0

25/26 School Committee Regular Business Meeting Calendar: 

Mr. Joyal presented the School Committee with a Monson School Committee Regular Business meetings draft. 

Mr. Joyal went over the calendar dates selected and Mrs. Morgan asked the committee their thoughts on changing the time from 7PM to 6PM? The committee thinks that the calendar is great for planning purposes and is ok with the time change.  

Mrs. Morgan makes a motion to approve the annual Monson School Committee calendar as presented by Mr. Joyal with Wednesdays at 6PM.

Mrs. Murphy seconds. 

Mr. Joyal reiterated that if anything should pop up the dates can be changed.

Roll call was placed. 

motion carries 5-0

Review of action items:  

Scheduled Meetings:

-May 8th Superintendent Interviews @ 5PM.

-May 12 Town Meeting @ 7pm - GV.

-May 13th @ 5pm Executive Session: To discuss contract negotiations regarding the Superintendent candidate.

-June 11th Regular Business Meeting @ 7PM

• Mrs. Morgan makes a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:05 PM (Mrs. Murphy seconds)

• Motion Carries 5-0 

Documentation for this meeting:

Agenda May 7, 2025 

Monson School Committee Regular Meetings Draft

Approved by Committee:

________________________________________

Ms. Nothe-Valley, Secretary