Samantha Hurley

At the Everett School Committee meeting on Monday, June 1, 2026, Chairperson Samantha Hurley opened the session with, “Good evening, everyone,” and stated, “We do have a quorum.” She led the pledge, saying, “If everyone can join me in saluting the flag.” Early in the meeting, she thanked attendees and framed the occasion by saying, “As chairperson of the Everett School Committee, I can think of no greater privilege than standing before you to recognize and celebrate the outstanding achievements of our students,” and later, “Thank you for your continued investment in the future of Everett Public Schools.”

Hurley managed the meeting’s procedural business throughout. She announced and put to vote the motions to open public comment and later close it; both passed. She then recognized the student representative report, thanked Emma Perry for it, and the committee voted to accept the report and place it on file. She also moved the meeting out of order to take up the Everett High School spotlight, announced that the item was before the body, and called for a vote to invite Principal Braga and the team forward; that motion passed.

The committee then proceeded through additional items under Hurley’s direction, including the superintendent-related presentation and the invitation of Miss Whitson before the committee. Hurley asked, “Any questions or comments for the superintendent?” and later handled the motion to excuse the guest, which passed. She brought forward the wellness policy item, asking, “Could we entertain a motion for the acceptance of the Everett Public Schools district wellness policy?” The committee approved that motion. Additional votes passed on the finance and negotiation subcommittee report, and on submitting bills and payroll in the amount of $2,271,989.40. She also announced that there was no unfinished business, no new business, and no hearings scheduled.

Before moving into executive session, Hurley interrupted briefly to recognize the Class of 2026 seniors and student TV crew, saying she wanted “to take a moment to recognize the outstanding class of 2026 seniors who are with us this evening.” She then presided over the motion to enter executive session and adjourn in executive session to discuss litigation strategy; the roll-call vote was 10-0 in favor. She declared, “We have entered executive session,” at 7:45 p.m.

On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, School Committee Chair Samantha Hurley opened the Everett School Committee special meeting/public hearings at 6:06 p.m. She stated, “All members present, we have a quorum,” and led the flag salute. She also clarified that Committee member Jeanne Cristiano was attending remotely, meaning “all voting has to be done by roll call this evening.”

Hurley then called for the next order of business and recognized the motion, made by Mayor Van Campen and seconded by Mr. Lamonica, to open the public hearing on the fiscal 2027 budget. She announced, “The first public hearing is now open.” Before public comment, she explained the hearing procedure, citing the committee’s rules on public hearings and stating that “the chairperson shall recognize members of the general public wishing to address the school committee.”

During the budget hearing, Hurley managed the public comment process and noted there were no additional speakers on the sign-up sheet. She asked three times whether anyone else wished to speak in favor of the fiscal year 2027 budget, then thanked the audience and moved the meeting forward. She recognized the motion by Mayor Van Campen, seconded by Miss Cornelio, to close the budget public hearing. She then recognized a motion by Mr. Barros, seconded by Miss Garren, to refer the FY 2027 budget to the committee’s regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, May 4, 2026.

Hurley next opened the public hearing on school choice. She later recognized the motion by Mr. Barros, seconded by Miss Babcock, to close that hearing. The motion passed, and she announced that “The public hearing on school choice has officially ended at 6:28PM.”

At the end of the meeting, Hurley recognized the motion by Mr. Barros, seconded by Mr. Lamonica, to adjourn. The record indicates the adjournment motion passed by a 10-0 roll-call vote.

At the April 16, 2026 Everett School Committee Budget Committee of the Whole, School Committee Chair Samantha Hurley opened the meeting by welcoming attendees and stating, “Nine members present. We do have a quorum.” She led the salute to the flag and announced that Jeanne Cristiano was attending remotely, so “all votes have to be done by roll call.” She also noted that Committee member LaMonica sent his regrets and reminded members of the rules of order, including that members should “respectfully address the chair” and keep remarks focused on the matter under discussion, “because we are talking about budget.”

Hurley introduced the budget materials and pointed out the student artwork included in the books distributed ahead of the meeting, telling members to “Please take time to look at that.” She also offered birthday wishes to Mr. Barrett. During the budget presentation, she framed the process as a public step in the district’s planning and presented the FY27 budget overview. She explained that the budget was built around preserving services and minimizing classroom impact, stating, “While we could not maintain all staff levels, all programs and services for students were preserved” and “Above all, we took every step to minimize the direct impact on the classroom.” She emphasized that the budget was “a strong investment in students, families, educators, programs, and people.”

Hurley addressed enrollment projections, Chapter 70 funding, and the district’s use of those projections for staffing and budget decisions. She noted that special education transportation funding is contributed by the city and kept outside the operating budget, and explained that the chart of accounts had been expanded “to promote transparency” and to mirror DESE reporting requirements. She also highlighted the pressure from rising obligations and declining state funding, saying the Chapter 70 formula “is, I think, ready to be looked at to be changed.” She invited questions throughout the presentation: “Any questions, input?”

The committee took two votes during her portion of the meeting. The first was to invite the assistant superintendent of finance and the team to come forward; it passed 9-0 by roll call. Later, a motion to recess for 10 minutes also passed, and Hurley announced, “We are in recess.” After returning, she confirmed quorum again and invited Mr. Barrett to continue.

Toward the end, she recognized a speaker who referred to prior detailed conversations about follow-up options and praised the superintendent for considering multiple options before a decision was made. Hurley concluded by thanking Ms. Babcock, Ms. Cardillo, and “Joanna Garren and the superintendent.” The motion to adjourn passed unanimously.

At the Everett School Committee meeting on Monday, April 6, 2026, School Committee Chair Samantha Hurley presided over multiple agenda transitions, recognized speakers, and announced vote results. After the student representative report, she thanked Ms. Perry and stated, “Motion has been made and seconded to accept the report of the student representative and place it on file,” then announced, “The ayes have it. Motion passed.”

Hurley also helped move the meeting out of order for the school spotlight. She announced, “Motion has been made by vice chair Barrows, seconded by Mr. Mayor to suspend our rules and take Roman numeral six item number two, school spotlight, Albert N Parlin School out of order and invite our guests before us,” and again declared, “The ayes have it. Motion passed.” During the spotlight, she recognized presenters and, from the chair, thanked the guests: “If I may from the chair, just thank you for coming this evening. I enjoy your uniforms.” After confirming there were no further questions, she said, “Motion has been made by vice chair Barrows, seconded by Ms. Cornelio to excuse our guests with the customary thanks and return to the regular order of business.” That motion passed by voice vote; the recorded vote was yes.

Later, Hurley directed the superintendent to continue with the agenda and acknowledged staff and committee members during discussion of the career technical education program advisory committees. She also opened discussion with “Any further questions for the superintendent?” before closing the question period when none remained.

On the MyCAP item, she called for a roll call vote after a motion was made and seconded. The committee then voted to refer the proposed fiscal year 2027 school department budget, and Hurley announced, “The ayes have it. Motion passed.”

At the close of the meeting, she handled routine business items, including motions to waive readings, accept subcommittee reports, submit bills and payroll dated 03/31/2026 in the amount of $2,692,327.76, and adjourn. Vice Chair Barrows moved adjournment, and Hurley noted the meeting ended at 7:29 PM.

At the Everett School Building Committee meeting on April 8, 2026, School Committee Chair Samantha Hurley participated in several procedural actions and votes. Early in the meeting, she moved approval of the meeting minutes, saying, “Mr. Chair, I would like to make a motion to approve the meeting minutes as amended due to some clerical errors.” The motion was approved, and Hurley voted yes.

Hurley also took part in the committee’s review of the monthly invoices. She seconded the motion to approve the monthly invoice package for March 2026. That motion also passed, with Hurley voting yes.

Later in the meeting, Hurley moved to open public comment, stating, “Motion to open public comment.” The committee approved that motion as well, and Hurley voted yes.

Across the meeting, Hurley’s recorded activity was focused on routine committee business: correcting and approving the minutes, advancing approval of the monthly invoice package, and formally opening public comment. She did not appear in the extracted record as raising substantive questions, offering extended discussion, or staking out a position on any contested project matter. Her actions were procedural and consistently supportive of the motions before the committee.