Agawam School Committee tables inclusion facilitator post, cites special education turnover concerns

School Committee · Meeting of June 9, 2026

Agawam School Committee honors two dozen retirees and tables a new inclusion facilitator job description over special education staffing concerns. At the June 9 meeting, Member Mr. Perry moved unanimously to postpone SCR 26-47, the approval of a job description for an inclusion facilitator, to the June 23 meeting, citing "concerns about the number of resignations over the past year in the special education department among our paraprofessionals." The committee approved 7-0 a companion job description for an academic supervisor for grades 7 through 12, accepted a $960 donation from East Hampton Savings Bank's Giving Tree Program for Phelps Elementary, and locked in Symphony Hall as the venue for the Class of 2027 graduation on June 12, 2027.

Superintendent Martin presented summative evaluation evidence showing chronic absenteeism among non-high school students fell from 19.4 percent to 16.2 percent between 2024 and 2025, while the high school rate dropped from 49.2 percent to 42.2 percent, still well above the district's stated goal of below 20 percent. Six warrants totaling approximately $4.28 million, including a $3.5 million payroll warrant, were approved unanimously.

In the full story:

• Retirement Recognition
• Superintendent's Notes
• Student Representative Report
• Unfinished Business: Inclusion Facilitator Job Description Tabled
• Unfinished Business: Academic Supervisor Job Description Approved
• Business Meeting: Minutes and Warrants
• The complete report — 2,445 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of June 9, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.