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Date: 6/29/2022
LONGMEADOW – As the first meeting after the June 14 Town Election, the Longmeadow Public Schools (LPS) School Committee reorganized itself on June 21. Nicole Choiniere was selected as the chair of the body, while Mary Keane was named vice chair and Kevin Shea was chosen to be the committee’s clerk. It was also the first meeting for two newly elected committee members, Julie Morgan and Zach Verriden.
School Committee member Mary Keane reported that the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative (LPVEC), which provides buses for LPS, had submitted an amendment to the transportation contract. The collaborative proposed a $6,500 surcharge per bus to counteract the inflation in the cost of the vehicles. Keane said that despite the districts in the collaborative being “surprised” by the unanticipated increase, the surcharge was accepted because it would be difficult to get a better deal if the districts went out to bid. She also noted the district would not have received another company’s buses in time for the 2022-2023 school year.
In other contract news, the School Committee approved contracts between LPS and the Longmeadow Education Association’s assistant principals (Unit B), school nurses (Unit C), clerical staff (Unit D) and non-union specialists (Unit E). The contract will be in effect for three years.
Information Technology Director Kimberly Florek was welcomed to the district. She came to Longmeadow from Hampshire Regional School District and began work on June 13. Florek said she has “admired” LPS “from afar,” and was happy to be a part of the district. In Longmeadow, the IT director serves both the school district and the town departments.
Superintendent M. Martin O’Shea announced that Blueberry Hill School Principal Amy Stec had submitted her resignation, citing a new professional opportunity.