The committee’s approval of the revised policy JKAA on timeout, seclusion, and restraint of students followed updates to state laws and recommendations from legal counsel. The Director of Special Education explained that changes were necessary due to updates in how timeout and seclusion are defined in both public and private school settings. The updated policy aligns with Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) recommendations but differs by focusing on policy over procedural detail. It’s designed to allow the district’s leadership to manage procedures. The policy was adopted in an expedited manner, bypassing the usual first reading, to meet a legal deadline before the new school year begins.

On another front, the committee voted to accept a fitness court as a gift from the Town of Townsend. This decision came after discussions with town representatives and legal advisors to draft a memorandum of agreement. The fitness court, secured through a grant by the town’s Recreation Department, is intended for educational purposes and will be available for use by residents of Townsend, Pepperell, and Ashby outside school hours. The committee approved three motions: to accept the fitness court gift, to enter into the agreement with Townsend, and to authorize the School Committee Chair to sign the agreement.