The Silver Lake Regional School Committee met onThursday, Sept. 5, for the first time since the school year began. Mark Guidoboni provided a SAFER update. He told the Committee that a Facilities Director notified the subcommittee that there were several HVAC failures throughout the buildings that could result in a loss of heat. “Come budget time next year, we’re going to have to make some decisions on these units and facilities going forward,” he explained. He explained that there may be some available funding sources.
He turned things over to Director of Finance and Operations Sarah Hickey to elaborate. She said, “As you know, there were changes in personnel and Mike Lawless, Director of Facilities, and I pretty much got up and running in January and so the money that was voted for the FY24 capital projects, we weren’t really getting going on spending in the spring and summer and so what I put together for you is a spreadsheet that has the fiscal year of when something was voted, what the project was, what the budget was, what has been expended, and then any balance or shortfall.” She continued, “Mike and I brought an idea to SAFER about having a comprehensive facilities study done and Mark mentioned HVAC repairs… we’re required by law to provide heat.” Hickey said that they were hoping to use the $100,000 for FY25 and the excess for FY24 unspent projects to fund a comprehensive study to guide the discussions of the Capital Committee in the future. She said that any money not spent on the study would go toward HVAC repairs. She added, “One of my big concerns since I got here is priorities of projects and I have to be honest with you, I sort of hit the roof when I found out that we spent a half a million dollars on tennis courts and we have portions of the building where the heat doesn’t work.”
Guidoboni explained, “I would like to vote to use the excess funding from the projects at $42,442.00 and the other revenue… so a total of $142,442.00… for an HVAC and comprehensive study.” Committee Chair Gordon Laws questioned whether it should be voted on as it wasn’t explicitly stated in the agenda. Committee member Jason Fraser said that since it was part of a subcommittee report the Committee could vote to accept the report with the recommended movement of capital included. Committee member Paula Hatch made a motion to reallocate the dollars in the capital plan for a comprehensive facility plan with the remainder of the funds being used for HVAC fixes. The Committee voted in favor of the motion.
Guidoboni also discussed the possibility of moving the administration building. The first of the three options is an $8 million, 8,000 square ft. building. The second option is renting or purchasing an off-site facility in one of the towns for around $1.8 million. The third option is to build a 4,000 square ft. annex adjacent to the existing building.
Guidoboni told the Committee that Kingston recently discussed establishing a school zone as a result of a safety audit that was done. He explained, “we didn’t have authority to have a school zone in the past. High schools did not qualify and our middle school was set too far back from the street to qualify… we went through this when we built the schools almost twenty years ago… the State changed the rules and allows high schools now to have school zones,” he explained. He said that Kingston voted in favor of putting a school zone together in front of the schools complete with a flashing sign. He said that they are looking for different funding sources to pay for the sign, etc. Guidoboni said that the Kingston Town Administrator said he has found all but $10k to $20k of that money. Guidoboni asked the Committee to vote to support a school zone along Pembroke St. in the mornings and afternoons. The Committee voted unanimously in favor of it.
Proposal for EV Charging Stations
The Committee listened to a presentation on a proposal for EV charging stations to be installed on the Silver Lake campus. A representative from Innovus Power told the Committee that they have installed about 1,000 ports in 15 different states. “There is a limited window that is closing on fast-charging rebates,” he explained. He further said that if they just did a station at the high school, they would offer a 20 percent profit share, but if they did one at the Kingston Elementary school as well, it would be 30 percent.
Asked where the stations would be located, they said there were two options. One would be on the corner of 27 and the senior/upper parking lot. The other option would be the first six spots next to the admin building. There was some concern discussed regarding safety issues with random people wandering around the school grounds while school is in session. The representative said that anecdotally people tend to sit in their car on their devices while charging. Asked about cost, it was said that the only potential cost would come with needing to ensure the spaces are free and clear of snow.
The representative said that the application submittal is not obligatory. “We can get you in line, but you don’t have to move forward even if you get an approval… the downside is if we miss the window, we miss the window,” he explained. The Committee voted in favor of submitting the application since it doesn’t bind them to a decision either way. Laws said, “I can tell you from my own personal standpoint… I am extremely interested in fighting even for nickels and dimes in terms of pulling in revenue and free cash flow given what could be… the challenges of our finances at the end of the year.” The Committee voted unanimously to submit an application “pursuant to further diligence, discussion, and final approval of the Committee.”
Potential Cell Phone Ban
Laws told the Committee that a concerned parent wrote to them expressing their desire for a schoolwide cell phone ban as has been adopted in other schools. Middle School Principal Becky Couet said that the policy in their school is that the phones need to remain in the students’ lockers. She said that a new teacher commented to her that he has never been in a school where he has never seen a phone until this one. Couet said that she doesn’t feel the need to have a stricter policy. High School Principal Michaela Gill said that they have a slightly laxer policy that prohibits phone usage during instructional time. Questions were asked regarding Apple watch usage, specifically regarding cheating. Gill answered that the teachers were savvy but noted that if a student really wants to cheat, they will find a way.
Principals’ Reports
Couet listed off some new teachers as well as a retirement. She said that she wanted to call attention to the front of the school and said that Amnesty ambassadors came in August to help organize the opening ceremonies for the school. She also said that she wanted to recognize the custodial efforts over the summer to get the school ready for the year.
Gill also provided a report. She recognized all of the student support and volunteerism that enabled them to do the Freshmen Orientation. She also asked the Committee for approval for an out-of-state spring trip to Carnegie Hall for chorus and band members. The Committee voted to allow the trip. Gill did note that any student who was accepted to perform wouldn’t be denied due to finances.
Gill told the Committee the Silver Lake Hall of Fame Committee reached out about fundraising for and creating a memorial on campus for Buddy Teevens. Teevens, who attended Silver Lake (Class of ’74), was the winningest coach in Dartmouth football history. He passed away last year. Laws said, “If you don’t know American football very well, Buddy Teevans was not just a great coach at Dartmouth, he actually changed the game across America. His practices of how he managed his team to reduce injuries and head injuries and things like that have generally speaking been adopted everywhere.”
Gill also said that an issue of MIAA eligibility came up for students who are now attending a state-sponsored virtual high school. She said that after investigating it they found out that permission could be granted for such instances. A Committee member asked if the same was true for charter and home school students. Gill said that home-schooled children were absolutely eligible to participate in district sports though she wasn’t sure about the charter school issue.
Gill said that the School Resource Officer Richard Allen has made many connections with students who might otherwise struggle to make meaningful connections. She said that he is heavily involved with boxing and several students have expressed interest and even attended the gym where he boxes. As a result of growing interest, the Police Department is looking to establish the Kingston Police Boxing Club which would be open only to Silver Lake students. The Committee voted to approve the request to share the flyer.
Student Representative Carissa Smith addressed the Committee. She told them that the first football game would be the following day. Spirit Week as well as an in-school Student Council retreat and NHS induction are both coming up soon. The main thing she spoke about was Silver Lake hosting the SEMASC (Southeastern Massachusetts Association of Student Councils).
Assistant Superintendent Report
Assistant Superintendent Tricia Clifford addressed the Committee. She said that she has been working on ESSER title grants to fund various things throughout the District. She also said that she worked on new teacher orientation on August 21 where they spent time discussing the strategy for district improvement.
Superintendent Jill Proulx spoke next. She said that in August they had a training with legal on new Title IX requirements. She introduced some of the new staff including Clifford, new Athletic Director Richard Swanson, and new Integrated Preschool Principal Sarah Chick.
SLEA Update
New Silver Lake Education Association (SLEA) President Jessica Drew addressed the Committee. She called their roles as educators more than a job saying it was a “passion and identity.”
Legislative Update
Committee member Jason Fraser said that over the summer he spent considerable time working with the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators (MAVA). He said there is a bill on the table that would create a blind lottery for CTE admissions. He said that MAVA is staunchly against the bill. “The ultimate goal is to increase funding for CTE programming so every single student in the Commonwealth will have access to a seat in a CTE program if they so desire,” Fraser said.

Alan Ingram
Express correspondent
HALIFAX – The town will hold a Special Town Meeting on December 16 to address zoning changes, including a proposed MBTA Communities overlay district.
The Zoning Bylaw Review Committee has completed its work after a year-long process, presenting two main recommendations for consideration.
Board of Selectmen Chairman John Bruno explained, “We’re making two recommendations. One is a revision and updating to the current zoning bylaw. It’s very detailed.”
The proposed changes include reorganized sections, combined definitions, and updates to the site plan review process. A new section on accessory dwelling units has been added to match recent state law changes.
“And we added in a section on blighted properties, which gives the town a little bit more ability to deal with properties that have become an eyesore, become dangerous, that type of thing,” Bruno said.
The most significant proposal addresses the MBTA Communities law, which requires towns to establish a zoning overlay district allowing multifamily dwellings within a half-mile radius of train stations.
After reading a brief statement explaining his concerns with the mandate for an overlay district, Bruno described the proposed solution: “What we are proposing then is to place an overlay zone on this area, identifying Twin Lakes development property and certain abutting property to more precisely describe what is already in place.”
The proposed overlay district largely encompasses the existing Twin Lakes Condominiums development, which already supports multifamily housing.
“Since the law does not require that anything new actually be built, and since Halifax already has an area supporting a multifamily development, putting the proposed zoning change in place resolves any issue about compliance with the state decree,” Bruno explained. “I liken what we are proposing to giving a fresh coat of paint to an existing wall. Nothing of substance changes except what it is being called.”
Town Administrator Cody Haddad noted that the state has preliminarily approved the town’s plan, with only minor adjustments requested.
The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to submit the proposed zoning bylaw changes and the MBTA zoning bylaw changes to the Planning Board for a public hearing.
The Special Town Meeting on Dec. 16 will provide residents the opportunity to vote on these proposed changes.
Halifax is set to lose approximately $185,000 in annual revenue due to changes in state regulations regarding marijuana dispensaries. Haddad explained that the 3% impact fee the town had been collecting from two local dispensaries will no longer be allowed under new state regulations. “Between the two dispensaries for the last fiscal year was around $185,000,” Haddad said.
The Board voted unanimously to approve a new Host Community Agreement template for one of the dispensaries, Flower & Soul, which removes the 3% impact fee but maintains other aspects of the original agreement.
Haddad noted that the town believes the new regulations do not apply retroactively to existing agreements. “We feel as though the legislation and the regulations that change that 3% are not retroactively applied to host community agreements that were signed prior to that date,” he said.
In other business, the Board interviewed three candidates for a newly formed Town Government Study Committee.
The committee will review Halifax’s current governmental structure and potentially recommend changes.
Sandy Dolan, the recently retired town accountant with 15 years of experience, expressed her willingness to serve. “I have a lot of municipal knowledge, not just of the way municipalities run, but the way the town of Halifax runs,” Dolan said.
Mary Gravinese raised concerns about the committee’s potential time commitment. “Looking at two years of this, I could never commit to that,” Gravinese stated, emphasizing the need for efficiency. She had previously petitioned Town Meeting to increase the size of the Board of Selectmen to five members.
Jim Walters highlighted the importance of public input. “We need to have public meetings, talk to the people out in the town, send out surveys through whatever fashion we want to send out surveys, look for input and feedback from them,” Walters suggested.
Board member Jonathan Selig expressed enthusiasm for the diverse perspectives represented by the candidates. “I think some of the best committees don’t always agree on everything,” Selig noted.
The Board plans to keep the application process open until Sept. 18 and make appointments at their next meeting on September 24. One candidate is already scheduled to interview on the 24th.
Chairman John Bruno stressed the significance of the committee’s task. “This is a big effort. What we’re trying to do is consider reorganizing how government works in Halifax. And it’s not something that we can make a decision on quickly.”