School committee approves multiple grants, FY27 calendar and a new director for innovation schools

The Springfield School Committee approved several funding and administrative items during its Feb. 3 meeting.

Grants and earmarks: The committee voted to accept a $28,859 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Student Health Grant (FC710) intended to expand gardening and early-childhood integration in classrooms. The committee also approved a fair-share earmarked grant (transcript phrasing: “550, thousand dollars,” FC2517) to support facilities, multilingual learner resources and arts at targeted schools, and an Executive Office of Education earmark (transcript phrasing: $510,000, FC2517) to fund audiovisual infrastructure, fire-alarm equipment replacement and ADA accessibility improvements at several schools.

Budget calendar: The committee adopted the FY27 budget calendar, described by the superintendent as comprehensive and balanced and updated after subcommittee feedback. Vice Chair Naylor said the public input session is scheduled for March 4 and that the subcommittee meeting will be held April 8; materials will be posted on the Springfield Public Schools website and shared through libraries, neighborhood councils and community centers.

Personnel: The committee approved creation of a new position, executive director of innovation schools, intended to oversee the transition of eight schools returning from the Springfield Empowerment Zone, safeguard autonomies granted under that program and support staff and students during reintegration.

Votes at a glance: Minutes approval (12/18/2025) — motion passed by roll-call with recorded yes votes and one absence; DESE Student Health Grant (FC710, $28,859) — approved; FC2517 fair-share earmark (~$550,000) — approved; Executive Office earmark (transcript phrasing: $510,000) — approved; FY27 budget calendar — approved; Creation of executive director of innovation schools — approved. In each case a vote was recorded by roll call; Miss Hurst was noted absent during these votes.

Committee members thanked state legislators and staff for their work in securing funds and noted that several items had been reviewed in subcommittee prior to the full-committee vote. The meeting record does not show objections to the motions; each listed motion passed by roll call.