School Committee approves facilitated retreat on March 30 despite objections from some members

The Northampton School Committee voted March 2 to hold a facilitated retreat on March 30 with facilitator Tracy Novak of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC), after an extended debate in which some members objected to using a MASC-affiliated facilitator.

Why it matters: The retreat was scheduled to focus on the committee’s rules of procedure and norms. Some members said a neutral facilitator would help the newly constituted body work through procedural and interpersonal issues; others said a MASC facilitator could carry organizational perspectives that would bias the discussion.

Vice Chair Bartoli, who brought the item forward, said the retreat would explicitly focus on editing the committee’s rules of procedure and norms and that the retreat was within the vice chair’s purview. “At this point, given the rules of procedure, the retreat is the purview of the vice chair, and so, I do intend to go ahead with the facilitator from MASC,” Bartoli said.

Member Stein objected to that choice, saying he would not participate if MASC’s Tracy Novak facilitated because he viewed her affiliation as carrying a particular perspective. “I would not be comfortable participating in a retreat facilitated by [a MASC facilitator],” Stein said, arguing that a facilitator tied to MASC could influence the framing of rule changes.

Other members pushed back against Stein’s position. Member Reese, who led the search, said MASC facilitation is a widely used, no-cost option available through membership and that the group could set ground rules for the facilitator’s role. “MASC has best practices,” Reese said, adding that Tracy Novak had agreed to facilitate and that the committee could request that the facilitator limit participation to process guidance.

The motion to hold the March 30 retreat facilitated by Tracy Novak was made by Vice Chair Bartoli and seconded by Member Mahoney. The clerk conducted a roll-call vote. The clerk announced 7 yes, 2 noes and 1 voting present; the motion carried.

The committee also discussed alternate dates (the week of April 13 — including April 13, 15 and 17) and scheduling conflicts with standing subcommittee meetings; members agreed to follow up with a poll and additional calendar checks before finalizing logistics.

What’s next: Committee staff will send a scheduling poll and confirm logistics for the March 30 retreat; several members said they would only attend if conditions around facilitation were made explicit.