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Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE)

Board Documents — April 2023

Regular Meeting

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Westford Academy
30 Patten Road, Westford, MA 01886
Tuesday, April 25, 2023, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Posted: 4/20/2023 5:13 p.m.

Statements from the Public*
Comments from the Chair
Comments from the Secretary
Comments from the Commissioner

Briefing

Routine Business:

Approval of the Minutes of the March 28, 2023 Regular Meeting Vote

Agenda Items:

  1. Welcome from Westford Academy

  2. Higher Education for Students with Disabilities: Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative (MAICEI) Discussion
    Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative

  3. 2023 Milken Educator Award Recipient: Leigh Beson Presentation and Discussion

  4. Proposed Amendments to Educator Licensure Regulations, 603 CMR 7.00 Initial Discussion and Vote to Solicit Public Comment
    Attachments:
  5. Lawrence Public Schools Update Discussion

  6. Education Budget Update: House Ways and Means FY24 State Education Budget Recommendations Discussion
    Attachment:

Other Items for Information

  1. Report on Grants Approved by the Commissioner

Executive Session to Discuss Litigation: 12:30–1:00 p.m.

Executive session to discuss strategy with respect to the following litigation matters, as an open session may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the public body:

  • Family Freedom Endeavor, Inc. et al. v. Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education, et al., Hampden Superior Court Civil Action No. 2179CV00494; MA App. Ct. No. 21-J-599
  • Frigon et al. v. Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education, et al., Suffolk Superior Court Civil Action No. 2284CV00344-E
  • Open Meeting Law complaint filed April 3, 2023; review per 940 CMR 29.05(5)

The open portion of the meeting before the Board goes into executive session will be recorded and live-streamed.
The Board will not reconvene in open session following the executive session.

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Members

  • Ms. Katherine Craven, Chair, Brookline
  • Mr. Matt Hills, Vice-Chair, Newton
  • Ms. Tricia Canavan, South Hadley
  • Ms. Darlene Lombos, Boston
  • Ms. Farzana Mohamed, Newton
  • Mr. Michael Moriarty, Holyoke
  • Mr. Eric Plankey, Westford, Student Member
  • Mr. Paymon Rouhanifard, Brookline
  • Ms. Mary Ann Stewart, Lexington
  • Dr. Patrick A. Tutwiler, Secretary of Education, Andover
  • Dr. Martin West, Newton

Jeffrey C. Riley, Commissioner
Secretary to the Board

* The Board welcomes public comment on matters within its purview. Accordingly, the Board makes available a maximum 30-minute period at its regular meetings for persons in the audience to address the Board for no longer than 3 minutes. Written material of any length may be submitted. Preference will be given to persons who seek to address the Board on specific agenda items for the upcoming Board meeting. Agendas for upcoming Board meetings are generally posted 5 days prior to the meeting on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education's website. Persons wishing to speak are strongly encouraged to submit their request before the day of the meeting; contact information is provided below. Preference will be given to those who submit requests by 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday preceding the regular Tuesday meeting. If time permits, the Chair will allow members of the public who have not contacted the Department in advance to speak in the public comment period; those individuals must sign in prior to the start of the meeting. The Chair may limit the number of speakers due to time constraints and may increase or reduce the time allocated per speaker. While there is no requirement to submit comments in writing, a speaker who elects to do so should submit 15 copies of their comments prior to or at the meeting for distribution to Board members. Requests to address the Board, written comments, and other inquiries may be transmitted by mail, e-mail, fax, or telephone to: Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148, Phone: 781-338-3112. E-mail: BoardofEducation@mass.gov . Please make any requests for special accommodations or interpretation services at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting.

Last Updated: April 25, 2023

 
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