PTO Meeting Minutes

hardy pto agenda minuteS

February 11, 2026

Q&A session with superintendent liz homan & school committee member Laura Gitelson

Arlington Public School budget presentation - open forum to the public for commentary occurring/occurred on dates below:
- 12 February 2026
- 24 February 2026
Two budget scenarios have been prepared: override passes vs. override fails
- Background - Proposition 2.5 limits municipal tax revenue growth to 2.5% annually without a voter-approved override. The town of Arlington has a limited commercial tax base which increases reliance on overrides.
- The initial list of reductions was shared on 8 January 2026 and the full list of budget reductions was shared on 12 February 2026
If override passes:
- Approximately $1.5M reduction from next year’s plan. Reductions include:
  - Central office consolidation
  - Reduction in specials/specialists
  - Reduction in enrollment which will equate to a reduction in staffing
If override fails:
- Significant decrease in staffing & support systems put in place for students including:
  - Class size increases
  - Reduction of instrumental music and athletics
  - Social work & counseling
  - Eliminating multilingual learning
  - Reducing range of AP classes available in high school
  - Out year risk for FY27 - service hours for librarians; removed from Minuteman library organization
  - Out year risk fr FY28 - potential closing of Fox Library
- The aim is to preserve student-facing services, avoid paraprofessional cuts, and maintain special education caseload quality where possible. For more information visit: yesforarlington.org
- To make a campaign donation: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/keep-arlington-strong or make a check payable to 117 Lake Street, Arlington, MA 02474

MEETING MINUTES

Principal’s Report - Gretchen Saunders

- Very successful kindergarten caregiver volunteer section
  - Caregivers were able to help students with crafts; hoping to replicate with other activities including math games, etc.
- Introducing a new math approach: Building, Thinking Classrooms - more interactive and engaging for students; problem solving done in groups and fosters collaboration and strategy sharing
- Instructional Leadership Team (ILC)
Teacher Representative Reports - Emily Vecchione & Laura Ribiero
- Kindergarten
  - Finished weather unit;
  - Held expo for families to visit classroom
  - Starting unit on living and non-living things;
  - learning sight words & learning about 3-D shapes
- 1st Grade
  - Completing sun, moon stars, module
  - Participating in Kindness Week and practicing acts of kindness
  - Will be doing kindness activities and crafts in buddy program with 3rd grade
- 2nd Grade
  - Held craft expo
  - Finished fossil module
- 3rd Grade
  - Finishing frog module
  - Writing freaky frog essays
  - Preparing for parent expo in March
  - Next module is literary classics - Peter Pan
  - Have been watching winter olympics themed movies as reward for winning tickets
- 4th Grade
  - Finished module on animal defense mechanisms
  - Beginning American Revolution module is next
  - Reading through brochures on US regions
- 5th Grade
  - Creating narratives for e-books
  - Participated in author celebration with families;
  - science experiments: growing mold on bread - teaching about plants and decomposers
  - field trip booked for the Kennedy Center
  - 17 June is the Moving On ceremony
- Library
  - Hosting a digital learning specialist that will be teaching grades 3-5 about coding and robotics
  - K-2 is learning how to balance time on and off electronic devices, device safety, and private & personal information

Committee Updates
- Treasurer - Brian Gibree
- Fundraising - Lisa Morella
  - Successful Goldfish Swim outing - 20 swimmers participated & $200 was raised for PTO
  - Sponsors for Multicultural Fest - Russian School of Math; plan on tapping next year as sponsor for Steam Fest
  - Auction - great items available and ready to launch
  - Potentially adding more fundraisers before the end of the year
    - Teacher Experience raffle will be done after February break
- Enrichment
  - Ms. Shyne requested to have author Stan Tucker
    - PTO will have to discuss costs
    - Could apply for AEF grant to have him during next school year
  - Chris Poulos - scheduled for 6 March
- Safe Routes to School
  - Sign contest is still open
  - Roll to School event will be pushed to spring
- DIG/Green Team
  - Pine Ridge Coat Drive
    - Collection bin will be on Lake Street near the school
    - If caregivers have resources to help with some of the miscellaneous costs, reach out to DIG@hardypto.com
  - Committee is collaborating with with Hardy After School Program for winter sewing project
  - Committee is looking into a potential grant opportunity with Arlington Garden Club
- AEF
  - 15 April - next cycle grant deadline
  - Continuing scholar grants - due 25th of each month
- Events
  - Hour of Code week of 23 Feb 26
  - March Treats
    - Working on collaboration with Dunkin Donuts for donations
  - Literacy Night - Wednesday, 18 March 26
    - Theme will be "Pets"
    - volunteer sign up to be released soon
  - Book Fair - March 16-20
    - Committee looking for volunteers
    - shopping will only be allowed before and after school
  - 5th Grade Skate Night - TBD, but planning for March
  - Steven Cates Camp
  - Teacher Appreciation Week - May 2026