Parents raise registration, band programming and safety concerns at Malden School Committee meeting

During public comment at the Malden School Committee’s Sept. 13 meeting, residents raised multiple operational and safety concerns and asked the district for clearer communication.

Amanda Maffeo, a Salemwood teacher, asked that committee members who do not have a school in their ward adopt representation responsibility for Salemwood. Parent Mustapha Chawqui said he first registered his child with the Parent Information Center in May and did not realize a physical report was a requirement for enrollment; he described long lines and urged that children be allowed to start school while paperwork is completed. District staff later apologized and said family liaisons will contact families with incomplete applications and that an online registration portal is planned.

Eden Garhart‑Smith asked whether Linden STEAM Academy will have band this year or next, urged more communication about the decision and called for expanded after‑school programs; the transcript includes her questions but does not record a specific program decision or timeline.

Bonnie Littlejohn raised a safety issue at Beebe School, saying there are no crossing guards at Elm & Hawthorne and Highland Ave & Elm during drop‑off and pick‑up, and that special‑education bus drop‑offs occur near a crosswalk; the meeting record does not contain a recorded remedy or timetable for addressing the crossing‑guard concern.

Jason Giacoppo asked about pooled COVID‑19 testing; district staff indicated letters about pool testing would be sent home to families and that vaccination clinics would be available at school sites through Cambridge Health Alliance.

The committee did not record formal votes tied to the public‑comment requests in the provided transcript; several operational responses were given as staff commitments to follow up or to provide additional information at future meetings.