===PAGE 1=== 1025 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, Massachusetts 01462 978 582-4100 ~ fax 978 582-4103 Lunenburg Public Schools Dr. Jodi Fortuna, Superintendent of Schools MEETING MINUTES SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, December 17, 2025 LMS Room D#132 7:0 0 – Hybrid School Committee Superintendent Anthony Sculimbrene Chair - Present Dr. Jodi Fortuna Laura Brzozoski , Vice Chair - Present Emily Young Secretary - Present Mandy Gilman , Member - Present TBD , Member - Recording Secretary Courtney Fuller Guests : Christopher McNamara – Business Administrator , Julianna Hanscom-Director of Special Services, Yanina Burns-Athletic Director, Tim Santry-LMHS principal, Norman Yvon-THES Principal, Carla Squier-Primary School Principal In accordance with the requirements of the Open Meeting Law, please be advised that this meeting is being recorded and broadcast live over the Lunenburg Public Access channel, on Facebook Live on the Public Access Facebook page. (http://www.facebook.com/Lunenburg-Public-Access-Cable-157427270975305/ ) and will be uploaded to the Lunenburg Access YouTube after the meeting. The agenda lists all the topics which may be discussed at the meeting and those reasonably anticipated by the Chair. Votes may be taken as a result of these discussions. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by Open Meeting Law 1. Call to Order at 7:00 by Dr. Fortuna 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Public Comment Brian Lehtinen, 88 Beachview Road, member of the Select Board. As the school committee liaison last night ’s select board meeting, we voted to approve sending a letter to the tri-board members. Mr. Lehtinen reads the letter out loud. Nancy Charbonneau, Arbor Street , Ms. Charbonneau comments on the emails she has sent to Dr. Fortuna and Mr. Sculimbrene regarding the current reading informatio n, I want to thank them for thoughtfully answering questions regarding reading levels for the elementary school students. I also want to thank Ms. Sarfde for her response and opening up the conversation about literacy. Ms. Charbonneau shares her concerns about the current reading levels in Lunenburg and is interested in partnering with the schools in any way possible to support. In a future meeting, can you share with the parents and the community the systems that you currently have in place to help the students close the gaps in reading for the students that are either well below or below the reading levels? Can you also share information on how you are implementing the tier one reading support so hopefully we can prevent as many students from falling behind in reading? How can community members, such as myself, partner with the schools to assist in helping the students and their literacy skills? A parent Myra, Arbor Street, also addresses the committee to express her concerns with her son in the first grade, while I take accountabilit y and do what is necessary to support my children and help them succeed. I make sure to help them with reading at home. While my son is receiving the reading support he needs, I am concerned that not all students that qualify for intervention are currently able to access it. I wanted to ===PAGE 2=== 1025 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, Massachusetts 01462 978 582-4100 ~ fax 978 582-4103 bring this forward in a spirit of collaboration in advocacy of all learners. I want to thank you for all you do for our students. Dawn Gearin, 9 Crescent Terrace I have lived here for 32 years and I have had many different roles within the school and community. My big goal is to make the point that the athletic director job needs to be full time. I am living the nightmare of having a full time job cut and then I could be expected to do both of those full time jobs, I am lucky enough that I don ’t have too, that Greenhouse job was full time job at one point. From a coach ’s perspective, I cannot believe what an amazing job Yanina is doing, and I know this from a coach ’s perspective, because I coached this Fall, it was seamless. From the educator ’s perspective, she is at school doing a great job also. I feel bad for her, it is almost inhumane what is happening to her, because of the hours she is working. I am supporting her as she is doing a great job, but my big shout out is that the athletic director needs to be a full time job. How does it affect me? As a coach, when I need the AD in the morning, I don ’t want to reach out to them because she had been there until 9 or 10 the night before, I struggle as a coach to get what I need when I need it. As an educator, thank God, we have the other two administrators that are helping and pulling up the slack, which is unfortunate for them also, having more stuff dumped on them, but again I cannot get in touch with her until she gets to school, this is too much for one person. If you know anything about that job, you know it is a full time job, the fires you put out every day with parents, kids, and coaches alone is a nightmare. Managing the budget, gym, the fields, the transportation and the weather. In the past they have tried to have it be an educator , and those poor kids, that had that teacher, they were out almost 70 different days that is not fair to the kids. You have a great person working their tail off doing a great job at both of these, because she would never not do a great job. I am here to express the importance of the position being full time. Sports are a big part of kids ’ lives, more importantly if we lose sports, we will lose a lot of great kids. Ms. Gilman As a member of the committee, I would like to report, I do not receive a lot of the communication either, I don ’t know what is going on, whether only the chair gets the communication. However, Mr. Lehtinen, regarding what I think you are referencing, I knew nothing about it either, no email, no information, and I want the Select Board to know that. 4. Chairs Report – Mr. Sculimbrene reports he received an email from Mr. Yapp on December 7 th , and he indicated that he had a change in his job and is no longer able to serve on the school committee. Anyone that is interested in being on the school committee please let Dr. Fortuna or I know. 5. Student Representative Report None 6. Review and Approve Minutes a. 10/15/25 Ms. Gilman makes a motion to accept the minutes, Ms. Young seconds the motion, all approve 7. Review and Approve Line Items, Transfers, Warrants a. Line Item Transfers None b. Warrants 12/3/25 – 12/12/25 $217,820.97 c. Donations – None 8. Superintendents Report Dr. Fortuna shares spotlights and highlights. Looking ahead to 2026, I am excited to announce an addition to the Central Office leadership. We are preparing to welcome Mr. Johnny Reid, a doctoral resident from Harvard University to our team. From July 26 to April 27 th , Mr. Reid will serve as a key administrative asset , working directly under my mentorship, while providing his own unique insights. With a strong background in entrepreneurship and deep commitment to student and teacher wellness, Mr. Reid is poised to be a vital resource for our community. We are eager to ===PAGE 3=== 1025 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, Massachusetts 01462 978 582-4100 ~ fax 978 582-4103 leverage his expertise to support our district strategic goals. This will be the second year I will work with Johnny, I also did his fellowship year with him, and he is really an outstanding candidate who will bring a lot to the district. 9. New Business Action a. Winter Athletics Report Ms. Burns supp lied the committee some documents regarding the athletics breakdown from 2024-2025, as well as details on the position of an Athletic Directors role and responsibilities, we have added a winter cheer team which has been great. Ms. Burns gives the committee a synopsis of information provided. The committee has a back and forth conversation regarding the Athletic Director position. b. Budget Workshop – Initial Draft FY 27 Budget The committee has been provided some documentation regarding changes that have occurred and how this is reflected in the budget, including proposed expenses. The committee discusses level service budget information. Ms. Squier shares that all buildings are struggling, we are really feeling it this year the repercussions of all of the cuts over the past few years. We cannot cut anything else. Mr. Santry has put together a list of prioritized positions for the next year, and reiterates we have lost over 30 section s of class availability and it is really hard on the students to not have the array of class offerings. The ELL position is discussed, we currently have 71 ELL students and it is explained how the needs of the students are determined. 10. Old Business Discussion a. Q & A FY 25 Budget No public comment. Ms. Gilman put together a statement from the committee regarding the FY25 budget. Ms. Brzozoski makes a motion to accept the statement regarding FY25 variances and changes, and allowing changes to be made by the chair as long as the message and tone remains the same, Ms. Gilman seconds the motion all approve. 11. Subcommittee Reports Ms. Gilman reports the PTO is selling blankets for $30, we have about 20 left. Saturday is the SpongeBob movie, we have a few tickets left, and we are close to selling out. Our special someone dance is the first weekend in February, if anyone would like to sponsor us, we are still looking. Ms. Brzozoski, the Middle School Advisory council met yesterday, we talked about the bridge program, consistent enrolment numbers, need for intervention numbers, and budget. I also got a tour of the green house, it is amazing. 12. Public Comment None 13. Topics for Future D iscussion meet with Mr. Beardmore regarding the track, borrowing capacity with the town that is not related to overrides. 14. Adjournment Ms. Brzozoski m akes a motion to adjourn at 9:20, Ms. Gilman seconds the motion all approve Respectfully submitted, Courtney Fuller