SCHOOL COMMITTEE: Malden Public Schools Accountability Report outlined at Mondy meeting

School Committee approves MHS future trip to Costa Rica; announces MPS AI Community Forums through Technology Committee

By Steve Freker

There was an iconic 1980s television commercial for Wendy’s burgers where the familiar refrain was always, “Where’s the beef?”

Following an initial presentation on the Malden Public Schools Accountability Report from the Mass. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) by Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Komal Bhasin, a Malden School Committee member had a different take. “Where’s the math?” said Ward 5 member Elizabeth Hortie, in reference to the latest Grade 10 results from Malden High School. “I sat here in April and asked, along with Vice Chair [Jennifer] Spadafora what was being done to improve our mathematics [instruction]. We didn’t think it was enough and now we have this.”

Ward 5’s Hortie was referring to Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) results from Grade 10 students, which DESE reported has decreased in achievement numbers. Malden was among the 91% of all districts statewide that showed a decrease in mathematics MCAS test scores.

Hortie said that there was not a separate Director for mathematics budgeted in the Malden Public Schools for FY26, this school year. “We have a STEM director, one of them, not two, and no director for math.” The acronym STEM represents Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Malden has one STEM director for grades K-12 who has been in place since July 1. Nearly all of the Gateway Cities like Malden, Everett, Revere, Chelsea and others have Directors with the same title, STEM Director, though Everett has a Mathematics Director for Grades K-8.

On the fact that Malden does not have a Director of Mathematics, and the 2025 MCAS mathematics results, Ward 5’s Hortie continued, “I have two children who attend Malden High School and that’s not what I want for them.”

“I have neighbors who have children in grades 6, 7 and 8 and when they say ‘I don’t know about Malden High,’ I can’t say to them ’everything is great,’“ said School Committee member Hortie.

Assistant Superintendent Bhasin responded to the School Committee member’s remarks by reiterating that many steps were already taken and in place to support and expand instruction in mathematics at Malden High School. Included were more math coaches (teacher assistants), increased instructional time with the elimination of 99% of the “Direct study” periods at Malden High School and a new Director of Intervention and Support Christina Balter-Scarlatos, who is also focusing on mathematics as well. The intervention, Asst. Superintendent Bhasin reported, included “greater allocation of central office time to math and science support than in prior years.”

Also included in the additional focus on math and science, according to Asst. Superintendent Bhasin are:

— A more consistent approach to intervention

— Reallocation of grant funds to hire more math assistants

— Targeted professional learning aligned to implementation of high school math curriculum

— Grant-funded Open Science-Ed curriculum training opportunities

The MCAS results were from 10th graders only from the spring of 2025, about 400 students of the 1,870 at Malden High School in all. Malden was among the state leaders in attendance for the MCAS testing; between 98-99% of all who were required to take the test did fulfill the requirement.

One factor that was not mentioned at the meeting Tuesday was that this was the first time in 31 years that a passing score in MCAS testing was not required for eventual high school graduation. A number of reports indicate this might have been a factor in the massive number of districts, 91%, which showed a decrease in scores.

Another part of the DESE report had some very favorable news for the Malden Public Schools: The ACCESS Testing scores, which is testing 100% taken by English Learners, who make up between 25-30% of the Malden High population. DESE reported that across the board, at Malden High and in all grade levels, ACCESS Testing showed “significant growth, well beyond peer district and state trends.”

Malden School Committee approves Tornado Travelers trip to Costa Rica

Malden High School educator Shauna Campbell Valade has been organizing the Tornado Travelers Club for the past nine years, supervising many trips involving hundreds of local students. On Monday night, the Malden School Committee approved what is expected to be another exciting trip, this time in the spring of 2028 to the country of Costa Rica.

Ward 4 School Committee member Elizabeth Hortie expressed her endorsement for the trip, noting her own two children will be attending this trip and that she has also attended parent informational meetings on this trip.

School Committee Vice Chairperson Jennifer Spadafora also endorsed the trip after receiving assurance it would be covered by trip insurance up to one year for full refund if it had to be cancelled. “We appreciate all the time and commitment you put into this program,” Vice Chair Spadafora said.

The School Committee approved the Tornado Travelers trip to Costa Rica by a unanimous vote.

Malden Public Schools Community Forums on AI set for October 21 and October 27

Ward 6 School Committee member Joseph Gray announced at Monday’s meeting that the Technology Committee he chairs is hosting two Artificial Intelligence (AI) Community Forums in the coming weeks. According to Ward 6’s Gray, the meetings will encompass:

— An Overview of Malden’s use of Instructional Technology

— Introduction to AI

— Opportunities for sharing and discussion

The Community Forums are set for:

— Tuesday, October 21, an in-person meeting at the Beebe School, 556 Pleasant St., from 6:00-7:30 p.m.

— Monday, October 27, Virtual Zoom Meeting from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Link address: bit.ly/4q4upxw.