School Committee - Regular Meeting

evening i'll call to order meeting of the special meeting of the salem school committee taking place on july 15th 2026 at 7 pm this meeting is taking place in person at 29 highland avenue room 227 in salem in person is the primary method for public access to this meeting secondary participation is available if technologically feasible through salem access television or through the zoom link posted in the meeting agenda Those who wish to listen to this meeting with Spanish or Portuguese interpretation, please follow the instructions posted in the meeting agenda. We have two items on this evening's agenda. Our first is vote to ratify the successor contract for three years of the AFSCME local 294 collective bargaining agreement.

I'll make a motion to ratify the successor contract for a term of three years with AFSCME local 294 collective bargaining unit.

I'll second.

Motion made by Member Cornell, seconded by Member Miranda. Under discussion, Member Cornell.

Yeah, I would just like to highlight for those of us who are not on the bargaining team that we had a really collaborative and respectful process where we were able to highlight the really great work of our facilities workers, kitchen workers and our clerks. And I want to thank the negotiating team, particularly Tracy Campantis. We got through it. pretty quickly um and I think we uh I think we all really uh agree on the value and essential work that that those folks do for the district that often goes unseen so it was a great process and um great work by everybody so thank you any further discussion

Seeing none, on the motion to approve the ratification of the successor contract, all in favor, please raise your hand. Any opposed? None opposed, the matter carries unanimously. Our next item is a deliberation and potential vote to appoint the next superintendent for Salem Public Schools, subject to the successful negotiation of a contract. So this evening, I will open up the floor for discussion amongst the members who wish to share their thoughts, reactions, and feedback to the process to this point. And I want to start by just thanking everybody in our community who was engaged in this process from the screening committee those who participated in the finalists visits to our with the when they were in our district who provided feedback after the public forums who responded to the online surveys. It was a really I think a thoughtful process and also one. that resulted in a pool of candidates of very strong candidates who reflect the fact that our district is in a strong place as well and all that's been done to get our schools to the place where we are which is a credit to i think our educators our team at central office the members to this committee i'm grateful to all of you as well and also especially to our school families the students and their caregivers who have really made salem i think A shining example of what the gateway city district and what any public school district in Massachusetts can be and the result and I think our opportunity to select from among 3 exceptional finalists. So that being said I will open the floor to any member wishes to share their thoughts with their colleagues. Number Cornell.

I will start I just wanna I at the risk of beating a dead horse I wanna again think the the subcommittee because we had really excellent candidates and this is a very difficult choice I was very impressed with all three of them and they really bring three unique perspectives and unique skills to the role. So I just want to sort of highlight that. I was very impressed with Dr. Allen's approach to equity, approach to community building. I you know his experience in those rounds. I think he really is a person who appreciates the community that we have here in Salem. And Mr. But I really appreciate this. His very precise and and like drilled down discussions about curriculum and student growth. I thought that was really impressive. And with Dr. Walsh I appreciate his experience, particularly in urban districts, particularly with bilingual education. Also really appreciate his approach to community outreach. I could see him in this community. So that said, of those three candidates, I really think we can't go wrong, but I'd like to see DR WELSH IN OUR IN OUR COMMUNITY AND AFTER THAT WAS AFTER RE-WATCHING ALL OF THE INTERVIEWS ALL OF THE COMMUNITY FORUMS RE-READING EVERYTHING YOU KNOW JUST WANT TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT HOW DIFFICULT THE DECISION THIS IS I THINK FOR ALL OF US BUT ALSO INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT OTHER FOLKS HAVE TO SAY MEMBER MIRANDA

Yeah, echoing that, this was really hard, a really hard decision, and I just have some words to say about each of them. In terms of Mr. Bhat, obviously he has, like, deep systems knowledge, and his approach seems to be very thoughtful and curious, which I appreciate. I really appreciated how he... named structures that produce inequitable outcomes and he seems to have a really clear understanding of that and and I appreciated his focus on transparency when it came to the budget process and and also relationships and I think any district would be fortunate to have him Dr. Jorge Allen, his interviews I think really challenged all of us to think super deeply about leadership, dignity, and who we imagine in positions of authority. As a black man, an immigrant from Panama, a multilingual leader, somebody who spoke so incredibly powerful about students and people. He represented possibilities that mattered deeply, I think, to all of us, and I'm sure spoke to many of our staff and families. Some of the moments stayed with me and will stay with me, specifically from Dr. Allen. When I asked about what it would look like for him to step into the role as the superintendent, not having had experience as an assistant superintendent or a superintendent. I really appreciated his follow-up email where he said that he wasn't coming into this work as a finished product and I think we can all relate to that as leaders here like I certainly am not a finished product. And that might have been one of the most impactful things I heard from any candidate during this search. It really reflected what I think is humility and self-awareness and a deep commitment to continuously learning. I was struck by how reflective he was and how his interview and his participation in this process caused us to think beyond traditional assumptions. Whether he was talking about multilingual learners as assets rather than challenges, or families as experts, or support and accountability as two halves of the same whole, he invited us all to be more introspective during this process, and he has a remarkable ability to ask us to examine our own thinking, and I found this incredibly compelling. um and ultimately tonight i'm choosing to support dr thomas welch because i believe his combination of instructional leadership of leading an urban school district as a regional superintendent experience supporting multi multilingual learners commitment to dual language programming systems planning, vision for innovation. I really think that that best aligns with where we're at today in Salem and where I hope that we're headed. What resonated with me from him, and sorry, this is very long, What resonated with me was his emphasis on students being known and his comments around equity beginning with instructional quality and that our schools need to be places where every child feels safe and seen. and that our community should be active partners in this work. I was incredibly encouraged by his commitment to protecting dual language education while ensuring that it remained fiscally sustainable and his clear understanding of district-wide planning and his desire to build strong relationships with both the school committee and the community at large. So that's all I got and I am excited to hear from my colleagues as well.

Thank you. I appreciate this thoughtful conversation and I will reiterate what was said about the process in general. Thanks to all that were involved, the screening committee, to the candidates, to the schools that opened, the community, to our candidates. We're looking for a unicorn here, and we cannot replace Dr. Zreik, and we can, even though Salem is a city of magic and witches, we cannot conjure up the pieces that we like as much as we've been talking about that. We do have three really strong candidates in front of us this evening, and it has been, well, not actually in front of us this evening, but that we're discussing this evening. And it has been just a really insightful, thorough process. I'm very proud of this process that we went through and the candidates that we have. I'm going into this looking at who is the right person for right now. I would like to speak quickly to all three candidates because I do feel like they all had strengths. Something that Member Miranda just said about Dr. Allen's responses had moments that will stay with me. And that really, really sums it up. I really... had a good think with his responses. I really loved his vision as well for the 10-year looking out there of locally rooted, globally ready, and all students be prepared with two languages. I thought that was really amazing. mr bott i really enjoyed his insightfulness his preparation he really seemed to have a a personable connection with the not just the community but with the community of educators as well seemed super prepared and really focused on the student-centered opportunities and what was needed to get those forward mr welch again also very prepared very insightful very um just, I would think, ready for this job on day one. And his vision that all students will succeed, that educators will stay. And I really liked his really tall goal to be the best district in the state of Massachusetts, because you got to always reach for the stars. And I believe in that. And I just want to sum up that I do think we have three really strong candidates, and I really tried hard to go into this with a very open mind, perhaps a little too open this evening. I had two top candidates. I will say, in my mind, my top candidate is still Andrew Bhat as choice, but I'm open for conversation. As stated, I think all three candidates bring strengths. I do believe Mr. Bhat was the strongest candidate, and this was purely after the school committee interviews themselves. I'll be transparent that it went back and forth in my head a few times. I feel the community support is very much there behind Mr. Welch. I just want to have the conversation as well about Mr. Bhat. I feel his experience really closely aligns with what Salem needs at this point in our journey. He has the history of running a district a budget large capital projects moving them forward and you can just hear in his conversations that he really understands from the the staff and educator perspective as well his interview it was was very details I will not get into specific examples shared during the interview or get much longer but I just feel that it really shared a real understanding of the support that the superintendent must provide to students to staff in the community in order to succeed that said I am I'm open to discussion as well I know I'm not making things much easier but thank you

Member Hoffman. We should just do one. Yeah.

I echo what everyone is saying and I want us to also with all these interviews, I gained so much information that I want us to also keep in the forefront of our brains because every single candidate had a great idea, I just felt like as they talked, I was like, oh, yeah, that, I like that idea. Like, I wish we could just have all three of them, or like combine them, like you said, like magic, but we can't. But I do echo what about Dr. Allen and Dr. Welch. I also had two top candidates, and I have gone back and forth all week, well, yeah, since the last one. I'm also... My number one is Andrew Bott. I think to echo what Meg said, but also the things that were important or I feel are important is our, we talk about inclusion and equity and our values. And I really felt like he brought all of that because when he spoke, he didn't just speak of our multi-language learners. He also spoke of our black students, our special education, our LBGTQ. He talked about accountability, and that's super important to me. I feel like he has also done his work with racial equity, and I think he spoke to that. And I think he has a vision that encompasses all of what Salem is. And then, sorry, I lost my place. What I also appreciated was his student forward thinking. I loved what he said about when he talked to the students that weren't our AP students. And I hope going forward we don't ever just have our AP students talking to a candidate. I would like a well-rounded group of students ones that are struggling, special education, basically like the committee that we had looking at the candidates. He talked about his approach to problem solving. He had clear answers and finding solutions. He's very collaborative. I know I also feel like the community and everyone is really behind Dr. Welch, but I just feel like where we're going in Salem and what needs to be taken care of as we move forward is that lens of equity and inclusion. So yeah, I guess, but I'm willing, I'm here for this. It's not easy.

Member Baez?

I'll reach for my phone. So I want to start with Jorge. So I think that Jorge is deeply student-centered and equity-driven. He understands that equity is not just a value. You talk about it, but it shows up in the decisions that we make and the resources that we need to protect for our students and the way that we listen to our students and our families and educators. Jorge was very inspiring because he brought both heart and a clear vision for making sure every student, especially those who are underserved has the support and access and opportunities that they deserve. And that's the kind of unit that I would like for our schools. And I think Dr. Walsh and Bart could do the same. What stood out for me about Tommy Walsh was his genuine commitment to putting students first and making sure every student feels seen, supported, and prepared. and what comes next. I appreciated the way he spoke about listening to our families and our educators and our community while still being willing to make thoughtful decisions for the district. And I believe he would bring a steady, inspiring, and collaborative leadership to the role of superintendent.

Member Manning? I think I have no... I have to maybe just go in the highlights. I think the highlights were for Mr. Walsh or Dr. Walsh. I don't know. I guess they were there. I just miss them in some of the More pat answers, I think. I don't know. I don't, I didn't particularly like the answers. And I know I wasn't in person, but I was watching every minute of it at home. And I did watch it. And I did watch it over again. And I just didn't really care for the way he answered. I mean, if he's picked, I'll support him. you know i won't tell him that um but um i think i think it's true uh i just i'm not sure i i don't know there was just something about him that i didn't i really didn't couldn't warm up to i guess is the is the point um Jorge, the man from Panama, I really liked him. I think he can do a really good job. I think he will be a really good candidate in like five years somewhere else. I think he's not ready for really the big time. I think he's got the heart that we want, you know, and that sort of thing that we're looking for, but that we're not we're not ready to just put all our you know coins in the heart i think we need him to have some time in a smaller district or someplace as an assistant superintendent someplace that he's looking to to go for um and so that is my choice and robots but um i really like I liked everything about him. I liked his presentation. I liked his, he answered every question. He took his time. He didn't rush through it. He didn't do it in like an hour. He did it in like almost two. But he was worth the time. He was, he had an answer for every question. He answered, I thought, well, on all of them. He was, I guess I would say, really answered them well. He answered them the way I wanted him answered. And I think that that's a huge piece that he was able to come in and answer them all, take his time doing it, and then go home at the end and sent the letter in later. So I just think he did a good job on everything. And I'm glad that he's applying, and I hope he gets it. That's it.

I echo some of what folks here have said that, you know, we have three phenomenal candidates. I think Dr. Allen's passion and commitment to equity and I think his, more than just his own lived experiences, but I think his, clearly how centered that is and what he wants to bring to the work that he's chosen to do is incredible. I THINK WOULD BE AN INCREDIBLE ASSET TO ANY DISTRICT FORTUNATE TO HAVE HIM IN A LEADERSHIP POSITION. I AGREE, I THINK DR. ALLEN IS LEADING WITH TRUE PASSION AND TRUE CONCERN AND COMPASSION FOR EVERY STUDENT THAT IS IN HIS RESPONSIBILITY. and beyond that I think he understands you know what the needs of a district with a high share of multilingual learners would be. I thought that Mr. Bott was a someone who had a deep grounding in instructional leadership. He understood a lot of the challenges that our district is facing everything from standards-based grading to what's coming down the pike with curriculum. And I think that Dr. Welch has the ability to forge important connections throughout our community and build engagement with people who may not feel seen or heard right now. I appreciated his passion as well, his enthusiasm. And I also think his experience as an urban district leader, not just in Massachusetts but also in California, brings a diversity of experience that is valuable. that he understands. I was particularly drawn to his recognition that as we head into this next strategic plan, the lens through which every decision we make being focused through that and how the portrait of a graduate is a reflection for every student, not just, to your point, Member Hoffman, I think students who we may think of as being the ones that are typically centered in decisions. The idea of building trust with community. So I appreciate all the feedback from folks here tonight. I think we do have three phenomenal candidates. I don't know if members want to share feedback or reflections on others' comments. Yeah, Member Cornell.

I would just like to add that I think like in a perfect world we have a candidate and we're all completely in agreement and I think the fact that we've where we are all very respectful and appreciative of the candidates who came in front of us and we aren't exactly all on the same page but I I am really proud of the fact that we are still all very values aligned and are kind of like at a certain point we're like splitting hairs between really qualified human beings who will come in here and serve this district really well so I really appreciate hearing hearing how everybody got to the position or to the decision that they've made. And I also feel really strongly that whoever is, you know, sits in that seat is going to be supported by all of us. I have so much faith and respect for the faith and respect for the central office staff, for our teachers and staff. So it's you know, if we if we're if we have our vote is all over the place. I don't think that's the worst thing.

Member Stott.

I just want to agree on this topic. That's a specific point that, yes, I mean, splitting hairs is a good term. It's really like what were the negatives and even any negatives or red flags were still not to me glaring, which is what is making this decision hard for me. I was blaming it that I'm a Gemini, but I think it's just because we have good candidates in front of us. And I agree, our values do seem to align in the conversation, and 100%, whatever happens, I know that the next superintendent will have the full support of this body, hopefully have the full support of the community, of the school community, of the students, and I know we'll hit the ground running. And I'm excited for what's next. Getting there is never easy, though, and I do appreciate everyone's conversations around it.

Member Miranda.

I guess I just want to add throughout all of the interviews, I think we probably all saw like, you know, we saw different paths in the leaders that were in front of us and different experiences. But then we also as individuals saw different strengths. And I was very disappointed there were no neck tattoos, but I'll get over it. And I really do hope that our students see something about, like, diverse candidates in this process. I hope they saw that leaders can apply and be a part of a process regardless of the different lived experiences, of the languages that they speak. And I fully agree with Member start that I regardless of what the outcome in is I will support whichever leader to the best of my ability.

Any further discussion.

I would like to make a motion to select doctor Tommy Welsh as our next superintendent. Subject to.

The negotiation of a contract and negotiation of contract.

A second.

There's a motion to appoint Dr. Thomas Welch as the superintendent of Salem Public Schools, subject to negotiation of a contract. Motion was made by Member Cornell, seconded by Member Miranda. Under discussion, any further discussion? Member Stott.

I'm just going to make one more comment because I know how this works. And Dr. Welch is a very strong candidate that I think will be able to hit the ground running day one. Coming in this evening, my top candidate was Mr. Bott, who I also think would have that happen as well. Or have that energy as well, but I wanted to go in Unified it came in with an open mind this evening and I They were like this close to close. So I just wanted to make that comment before before voting this evening Any further discussion

Seeing none on the motion. This is a roll call vote. So we'll start member bias.

Yes.

Member Cornell.

Yes.

Member Hoffman.

Yes.

Member Manning.

No.

Member Miranda.

Yes.

Member Stott.

Yes.

And myself, yes. That's 6 votes in favor, 1 vote against the motion. Motion carries. Do we have another motion? Motion to adjourn. No.

No. I DIDN'T LOOK AT THE AGENDA. MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING THE SUPERINTENDENT CONTRACT.

I'LL SECOND. MOTION IS MADE TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE DISCUSSION OF SESSIONS TO PREPARE FOR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH NON-UNION PERSONNEL, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. THE COMMITTEE WILL NOT RETURN TO OPEN SESSION. Motion is made by member Cornell second member Miranda. A roll call vote member Cornell. Yes. Member Hoffman. Yes. Member Manning. Yep. Member Miranda. Yes. Member Stop. Yes. Member Bias. Yes. And myself. Yes. And the executive session will take place in room 222.