Stoneham School Committee Approves Senior Privilege, Transportation Account, and Superintendent Goals

STONEHAM -- October 16, 2025, Stoneham School Committee approved senior privilege, a new transportation revolving account, and Superintendent Dr. Kristen DeFrancisco's year-one evaluation goals at its October 16 meeting. The committee voted unanimously to allow qualifying seniors to leave campus at 1:57 p.m. during the flex period, provided they maintain at least a 70 percent quarterly average, have fewer than three outstanding detentions, and honor teacher-requested flex overrides; High School Principal Brian Lombardi said the program could begin the following Monday. A revolving account was established to collect a $60-per-month-per-child voluntary transportation fee from approximately nine to ten families through the Uni Pay platform. The committee also accepted an $8,500 Stoneham Bank donation for the middle school math and robotics teams and approved three field trips: a French class trip to Montreal in April at $780 to $850 per student, the annual senior day trip to New York City on March 20, and the four-day sophomore Washington, D.C., and New York City trip April 18-22. All six principals presented standardized school improvement plans anchored by a shared district goal to develop a six-to-eight-item tier-one instructional practices rubric. DeFrancisco's two professional goals, centered on leader credibility and instructional core development, were adopted unanimously, with a mid-year check-in planned for February and a full evaluation in May. The committee entered executive session on collective bargaining with the SEA bargaining unit and did not return to open session.