School Committee votes to extend School Supt.’s contract

By Neil Zolot

The Everett School Committee extended Superintendent William Hart’s contract from June 30, 2028, to June 30, 2031, with Cost-of-Living Adjustments retroactive to July 2024 and an increase of $3,000 in a retirement account. “We felt he’s done a great job and is deserving,” Committee Chair and member at-Large Samantha Hurley said after the vote at the School Committee meeting on Monday, October 20.

“I want to thank the School Committee for this vote of confidence,” Hart reacted.

The extension follows the release of an evaluation of Hart’s performance at the last School Committee meeting (October 6) on which it was rated as exemplary, and an Executive Session vote to extend his contract the same night. “I thought it was a good opportunity to review the contract,” Hurley explained.

In other business, the members discussed “social and emotional protocols in response to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the community,” an item introduced by Ward 2 member Joanna Garren and Ward 4 member Robin Babcock related to ICE taking custody of a 13-year-old male Parlin School student and taking him out of the state after he was arrested on Thursday, October 9, by local police because he allegedly threatened another student and was found in possession of a knife. “There’s a lot of fear going around,” Garren said. “The School Committee only has a certain amount of control over what the federal government is doing, but there are ways to support students and make them feel safe. It doesn’t matter what their immigration status is. Kids are there to get an education.”

“This is impacting the people in our community,” Babcock added. “It does create fear.” She cited the Family Education Right and Privacy Act (FERPA) as a tool the City and School Department can use to protect students.

Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Dennis Lynch reported that, in adherence to FERPA, in reports to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) students’ immigration status is omitted. “We are not here to enforce anything outside our purview,” he said. “We do not enforce immigration laws; we don’t care about immigration laws, nor should we. We don’t ask about immigration status. We have a right to educate a student regardless of their background.”

He confirmed fear in the community and among students and their families, leading some to skip school. “We are being compassionate about attendance but still try to get them the education they need,” he informed the members. “We’re trying to do what’s best for our students regardless of the circumstances inside or outside the building.”

“The best thing we can do is what we’re doing, supporting the student and his family,” Hart added. “No one wants to see a student taken out of the community regardless of the circumstances. We hope for his safe return to Everett.” He also noted that attendance the day after the arrest was “an insignificant drop,” which he feels is surprising because it was the Friday before a long weekend, with Monday, October 13, being Columbus/Indigenous People’s Day.

On behalf of ICE, a statement from Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin reads the juvenile “posed a public safety threat with an extensive rap sheet including violent assault with a dangerous weapon, battery, breaking and entering and destruction of property.”