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Date: 3/10/2022
LONGMEADOW – The Longmeadow School Committee met to discuss a variety of agenda items including a member resignation, conditions of middle school buildings and masking in schools at their March 1 meeting.
In a recent statement, Vice Chair Bronwyn Monahan announced her resignation from the School Committee effective in June. Monahan took the time to thank both the public and the committee for their support over the last four years.
“It has been a pleasure to serve as a member of the Longmeadow School Committee over the past four years. Although the last two years have been challenging for all of us due to the pandemic, I am very proud of the entire community of Longmeadow, especially the students. Even when faced with this unprecedented adversity they still did their best to carry on in an extraordinary manner,” said Monahan.
She noted that she was disappointed to be leaving, but knew it was necessary.
“I am disappointed that I’ve had to make this choice, but it was a necessary one. I have high hopes that the remainder of this school year will continue to be as normal as possible and that students can return to their regular routines and lives,” she said.
Many members of the School Committee thanked Monahan for her service. Superintendent Martin O’Shea took time to offer gratitude as well.
“We’ve been honored and indebted to work alongside Bronwyn and there’s an incredible amount of work that happens behind the scenes to prepare and get ready for meetings and, so, thank you Bronwyn for leading this district and leading this community through some really challenging years,” said O’Shea.
O’Shea then spoke on the middle schools in the town. He said that Longmeadow was on the agenda for the March 2 meeting of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to discuss future renovations and improvements.
“It’s a signal that we have received a staff level recommendation from MSBA officials to the MSBA board to consider Longmeadow for entrance into the eligibility period to address the needs of our two middle schools and that’s really exciting news,” said O’Shea.
He called it a very hopeful sign and said that he would continue to inform the public and the committee of updates.
Since then, on March 2, O’Shea sent out a message to Longmeadow Public Schools families and staff announcing that the MA School Building Authority Board of Directors voted to invite Longmeadow into the MSBA’s Eligibility Period. According to O’Sheas message, during the 270-day Eligibility Period, the district will work with the MSBA to fulfill several requirements including forming a Building Committee, completing a district enrollment study and executing an agreement to complete a feasibility study. “Upon completion of these requirements the district would be considered for an initiation into a Feasibility Study phase of the MSBA capital pipeline,” he wrote.
Back in the meeting, the conversation then shifted to COVID-19 and masks in schools. Beginning March 3, masks are now optional for all students Grades Pre-K through 12 in Longmeadow Public Schools.
According to O’Shea, distancing standards will also likely become more flexible with this unmasking and the decline of COVID-19 cases.
“We’re in a really good place right now. We didn’t see a post-vacation uptick or at least we have not seen that yet. In fact, there are only two active student cases in the district right now, so that’s really good news and it does tell us that we can be more flexible with the distancing requirement,” he said.
He said that these changes are bringing a sense of normalcy back to the schools after a hard two years.
“I think you’re getting the sense that things are returning to normal. Sports, music, school plays… You just have this sense that things are very, very normal especially in terms of those activities that engage students after school. It’s great stuff and we’ll continue onward. I appreciate the committee’s support and leadership as we’ve gotten to this juncture. It’s an encouraging time right now and we’ll continue to monitor,” said O’Shea.
As another positive change and step in the right direction, the School Committee approved the arrival of a foreign exchange student from Germany for the 2022-2023 school year. The student will be in Grade 11.
“We’re excited to once again be in a position to host foreign exchange students and, perhaps, another sign that we are returning to a level of normalcy that we all like and enjoy,” said O’Shea.
Those interested in viewing the School Committee meeting in its entirety are encouraged to visit the LongmeadowTV YouTube page.
Managing Editor Payton North contributed to this article.