Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE)

Board Documents — April 2025

Special Meeting

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Mass Bay Community College*
Auditorium
50 Oakland Street
Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 02481
Thursday, April 17, 2025, 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Posted: 4/11/2025 4:00 p.m.

Agenda Items:

  1. Interview Finalists for Commissioner Discussion
    DESE Commissioner Candidate Finalists

Finalist Interview Feedback Form

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Members

  • Ms. Katherine Craven, Chair, Brookline
  • Mr. Matt Hills, Vice-Chair, Newton
  • Mr. Ioannis Asikis, Student Member, Brookline
  • Dr. Ericka Fisher, Worcester
  • Dr. Christina Grant, Cambridge
  • Ms. Farzana Mohamed, Newton
  • Mr. Michael Moriarty, Holyoke
  • Ms. Dálida Rocha, Worcester
  • Ms. Mary Ann Stewart, Lexington
  • Dr. Patrick A. Tutwiler, Secretary of Education, Andover
  • Dr. Martin West, Newton

Dr. Patrick A. Tutwiler, Interim Commissioner
Secretary to the Board

The BESE meeting will be livestreamed and recorded .

*Parking: follow signage for "Event Parking"

Written comments, and other inquiries may be transmitted by mail, e-mail, fax, or telephone to: Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149, Phone: 781-338-3112, Fax: 781-338-3770, Email: BoardofEducation@mass.gov . Please make any requests for special accommodations or interpretation services at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting.

Special Meeting

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Location: Livestream
Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Posted: 4/11/2025 4:00 p.m.

Agenda Items:

  1. Selection of Commissioner for Recommendation to Secretary — Discussion and Vote

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Members

  • Ms. Katherine Craven, Chair, Brookline
  • Mr. Matt Hills, Vice-Chair, Newton
  • Mr. Ioannis Asikis, Student Member, Brookline
  • Dr. Ericka Fisher, Worcester
  • Dr. Christina Grant, Cambridge
  • Ms. Farzana Mohamed, Newton
  • Mr. Michael Moriarty, Holyoke
  • Ms. Dálida Rocha, Worcester
  • Ms. Mary Ann Stewart, Lexington
  • Dr. Patrick A. Tutwiler, Secretary of Education, Andover
  • Dr. Martin West, Newton

Dr. Patrick A. Tutwiler, Interim Commissioner
Secretary to the Board

The BESE meeting will be livestreamed and recorded .

Written comments, and other inquiries may be transmitted by mail, e-mail, fax, or telephone to: Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149, Phone: 781-338-3112, Fax: 781-338-3770, Email: BoardofEducation@mass.gov . Please make any requests for special accommodations or interpretation services at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting.

Regular Meeting

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
135 Santilli Highway
Everett, Massachusetts 02149
Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Posted: 4/22/2025 12:40 p.m.

Statements from the Public*

Chair Opening Comments

Secretary/Interim Commissioner Opening Comments

  • Response to Federal Actions
  • Update on Commissioner Search
  • Statewide Graduation Council
  • Update on Holyoke Public Schools
  • Upcoming Teacher Appreciation Week

Routine Business:

Approval of the Minutes of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Regular Meeting, March 25, 2025

Agenda Items:

  1. Educational Vision and Advancing Student Learning Update
    1. Milken Educator Award Discussion
    2. Science/OpenSciEd Discussion
    DESE's Educational Vision, BESE Update April 29, 2025
  2. Massachusetts K12 Artificial Intelligence Task Force Recommendations Discussion
    Artificial Intelligence in MA K12 Schools

  3. Proposed Amendments to Regional School District Regulations 603 CMR 41.00 Initial Discussion and Vote to Solicit Public Comment
    Proposed Amendments to Regional School District Regulations 603 CMR 41.00 — Portuguese
    Proposed Amendments to Regional School District Regulations 603 CMR 41.00 — Spanish
    Proposed Amendments to Regional School District Regulations, 603 CMR 41.00
    Attachments:
  4. Education Budget Update Discussion
    Education Budget

Other Items for Information:

  1. Report on Grants Approved by the Commissioner

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Members

  • Ms. Katherine Craven, Chair, Brookline
  • Mr. Matt Hills, Vice-Chair, Newton
  • Mr. Ioannis Asikis, Student Member, Brookline
  • Dr. Ericka Fisher, Worcester
  • Dr. Christina Grant, Cambridge
  • Ms. Farzana Mohamed, Newton
  • Mr. Michael Moriarty, Holyoke
  • Ms. Dálida Rocha, Worcester
  • Ms. Mary Ann Stewart, Lexington
  • Dr. Patrick A. Tutwiler, Secretary of Education, Andover
  • Dr. Martin West, Newton

Dr. Patrick A. Tutwiler, Interim Commissioner
Secretary to the Board

The BESE meeting will be livestreamed and recorded .

*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, 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149, Phone: 781-338-3112, Fax: 781-338-3770, Email: BoardofEducation@mass.gov . Please make any requests for special accommodations or interpretation services at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requires all visitors to its office at 135 Santilli Highway to sign-in at the reception desk on the 3rd floor and provide a valid photo ID. Consistent with this policy, members of the public who wish to attend a Board meeting in person must sign-in at the reception desk with a valid photo ID.

Last Updated: April 30, 2025