The Easthampton School Committee met for their regular meeting on Dec. 9 at City Hall.
Photo credit: E-Media
EASTHAMPTON — The School Committee’s Dec. 9 meeting opened on a reflective note as Chair Laura Scott recognized member Timothy St. John at what would be his final meeting on the board.
Scott praised St. John for his leadership and hands-on approach, calling him “an exceptional human being and a member of an exceptional family,” noting that he “never asks anyone to do something that he wouldn’t do himself.”
She added that St. John encourages others to do hard things and be uncomfortable sometimes, qualities she believes strengthened the committee’s work.
Other members echoed those sentiments. Member Linda Markee said she was “really happy we’ve had an opportunity to work on School Committee together.” Sam Hunter added an appreciation for St. John’s willingness to step in and ask important questions, while Megan Harvey noted that when problems arise, St. John walks to it and asks how he can help.
St. John thanked the committee for the “depth of the work” it commits to, expressing gratitude for the collaboration during his tenure.
The meeting then shifted to updates from district staff, including a presentation from Parent Engagement Coordinator Jean Libby on the rollout of ParentSquare, the district’s communication platform. Libby said the tool is already helping streamline messaging, offering “clear and inclusive communication” for families. The district has used the platform to announce snow days and send reminders about early dismissals. Report cards, forms, and permission slips will also be delivered through the app.
Libby added that StudentSquare, the student-facing version of the platform, is beginning to take hold at the high school, particularly among clubs, sports teams and student groups. Hunter commented that he has enjoyed being able to communicate easily with all of his son’s service providers through the app.
In policy matters, the committee completed second readings of minor updates to the district’s graduation requirements and a new competency determination, officially adding both to the policy book.
A first reading was also accepted for the Middle School Pathways Exploration Policy, a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requirement that describes how the district will introduce career and technical education opportunities to students in grades 6-8. The model outlines a sequence of self-discovery for sixth graders, exploration for seventh graders and planning for eighth graders.
Member Eric Guyette observed that while the framework is comprehensive, it can be difficult to ask young adolescents to think concretely about future careers.
“There’s no perfect way to ask ‘What do you want to do forever?’” he said.
Scott added that the district should ensure students also receive consistent information about options available at Easthampton High School.
The committee’s next meeting, on Jan. 2 at 5 p.m., will focus on annual reorganization.
