was rescheduled due to a potential lack of quorum. This meeting is being called to order at 6:32. Please note this meeting is being livereamed on our YouTube channel and a recording will be available after the meeting's conclusion. Please rise and
join us for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
>> Thank you. Uh, I'd like to introduce our school committee members and admin attendance for this evening our meeting. Uh, on my right is Mr. Dupont and Miss Vice Chair, Miss Laura Conrad Labberto. On my left is Miss Hoy Thomas, Mr.
Selenus, and Mr. Guthro. And of course, uh, Superintendent Powers. Also in attendance is Miss Watson and recording secretary, uh, Mrs. McDougall and other members of the admin team. Um, with that, we will move on to our, uh, first
item on the agenda is going to be uh, open session. Um with that uh open session will be open for a period of 12 minutes uh allowing the community to provide feedback to the school committee
itself. School committee will not engage with the speaker and all comments will be limited to a time period of 30 seconds. I will give each speaker a 30 second warning just so you can wrap up your comments and be prepared. as well. You can submit any written statements to
Miss McDougall after open session uh in order to have them on the list. And I just went through that whole thing out of order. All right. >> No, not 30 seconds. No, that was just regarding full full comments, but I took
the the motion I took the number out of order on myself. So I'll take a motion to >> motion to begin with public comment and take the agenda out of order. >> So moved or second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you everyone. All right. We will
open public comment for a time period of 12 minutes. Lauren Bden, Bridgewater, Mass. Um, I know we're talking about the timeout policy tonight, so I wanted to shed some light on that because it's near and dear to my heart. I know firsthand what's firsthand what seclusion disguised as a timeout looks
like. My son was placed in a small closet or blue room at Bridgewater over 250 times in two years totaling over 25 hours. He was not allowed to leave the room to use the rest room and defecated on himself and left there to cry. He was only 5 to seven years old when this happened. I have shared with this
previously the trauma that has happened to my family over this. I want to see real change. These young vulnerable children with disabilities deserve better. If in the description a timeout is that a child is free to leave, I'm requesting the doors be removed to all timeout rooms and blue rooms. How does a child know they are free to leave with
the door shut? Not to mention, some children may have a disability and are unable to open the door or understand that they can leave or may be unable to communicate, especially non-verbal children that want to leave. I would like to see more open space be used and no staff member blocking the exit. With
the district's history of misuse of timeout rooms, I think the need for transparency is important here. In the policy, the district is still not going to get parents consent or inform parents of any timeout use. I think this is a huge mistake. I know we ask parents consent before using timeout rooms and I
would love to see the district do so as well. I also feel location of these timeout rooms or blue rooms matter. As Rainom Elementary, the blue room is on a clos is a closet off an empty classroom. It doesn't get more secluded than that. The district is dancing a very fine line with what timeout and seclusion is. To
be more transparent to parents, I feel showing the parents the blue rooms at an open house is important. I also don't see in the policy how long a child is allowed to be held in timeout or seclusion. With the case of my child, it was two hours in one day. How do you stop that from happening? There should
be time stipulations similar to those with restraints. At some point, an administrator should be informed and take part in the decision to continue the timeout. administration had no idea how often my son spent in these rooms until I expressed concern. Um, we need to stop what happened to my child and
others by being transparent, developing strong policies and procedures that limit use and guaranteed administrative oversight. The district needs to do better identifying the needs of these children with disabilities and change programming or placement for students when these rooms are constantly being
used instead of creating lasting trauma. This is a real time for change and I really hope the district moves away from the misuse of rooms and protects these vulnerable children. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any other members of the meeting of the
community for public comment? Barring none, we will close public comment at 6:37 and go back to the consent agenda. Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> Move the minutes as submitted. >> Motion by Mr. Dupont. Do we have a
second? >> Second. >> Second by Miss Conley Laborto. All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. Uh with that, just one follow-up piece. Uh Mr. Powers, do you want to just provide a quick summary on the Reed's quarterly
report? >> Uh sure. Yes. Uh obviously um Reach Collaborative is one of our special education collaboratives that uh we partner with. Um in terms of uh you know progress that they've made uh one of the their biggest achievements and accomplishments this past school year
was they opened a brand new building um over in the town of Norton. Obviously they had opened a brand new building in Middbor a few years ago and they've expanded that now to uh Norton. uh they had a long partnership with the Norton public schools to house their deaf and heart of hearing program and
unfortunately you know Norton just uh wasn't able to accommodate that space. So, the board of directors from Reeds um approved the the purchase of a building, an existing building in Norton uh that was renovated and has now opened a brand new facility, you know, and obviously we
have partnered with them in the past. Some of our students have attended uh Reeds uh for the deaf and heart of hearing program or or received their services. So, we're excited to continue that partnership. Um, and again, uh, you know, Reed just, you know, continues to provide top-notch service to our
students, uh, as well as our other collaboratives such as North River, um, and many of the other collaborives that we we use. Thank you, Superintendent. Uh, we'll move on to number four, correspondence. Uh, over the last uh, month or so, we received several correspondents from community members. Uh first one I will mention is we
received an email from community member on behalf of the CPAC regarding the district's policy for the implementation of regulatory amendments to 603 CMR46 and 603 CMR18 that is effective August 17, 2026. Uh and regarding participation of CPAC
members in the development of this policy, uh committee member was informed that subcommittee meetings do not have a public comment portion, but they were welcome to attend uh the meeting and the policy was sent to them in advance for feedback uh for the purposes of that meeting and uh the purpose of the policy
development. No feedback was provided. However, um they did make requests for procedures that the district noted that they would provide them uh once they are finalized and put forth. Uh the district also had an inquiry from a community member regarding a construction entrance that was cut uh dug off in one of the
school access driveways near North Street. Uh gated entrance to serve a private project. It was clarified that the district um that the entrance is not for the builder but for the Bridgewater Fire Department to access a fire hydrant if a fire ever broke out in the development during construction. Um and
last but not least, the district uh along with both towns also received an accommodations request which is currently review uh under review by the district. Uh and that is all in terms of uh correspondence. We will then now move on to administrative and school
committee reports starting off with the report of the superintendent. >> Thank you Mr. Lush. Uh yes, just a a very brief report uh this evening. Obviously uh this summer is a little different than last summer and I've shared that with with some of you and with the admin team. Um you know we are
again not preparing for worst case scenario we're actually in the process of bringing on some additional staff. Obviously every year we have you know staff members that retire or resign uh this year because of the support of the school committee in the towns and uh you know the state we're able to bring on a
couple more positions which is much needed. uh certainly is not going to solve all of our problems, but you know there's a a glimmer of optimism uh versus last summer where I think you know a lot of us felt a lot of doom and gloom. Um so we're we're in the process. We'll obviously have more information for you in August once all of our hiring
is done. We still have several positions that have posted. Uh but we are going through that. Miss Healey and her staff uh Mr. Chaka and the facilities department working on their summer capital projects uh as well and and Mr. Sean and his team uh through the technology department. Again, upgrading
all of our Chromebooks, something obviously the school committee supports. So, getting those all unpacked and and ready to go. And then just, you know, is the yearly upgrades that Mr. Shamps um conducts as well. Uh we've hired uh as I mentioned to you before uh two new staff
members. I want to take this opportunity to introduce them. Uh Miss Christa Sylvane is our interim director of student services. Uh Miss Sane has been with the district uh for a number of years now as a special education administrator. Um she's kind of u taken on many responsibilities over the the
few years that she's been here from preschool to the elementary levels to working on some out of district cases. Uh prior to coming to Bridgewater Rainham, she was actually the director of uh student services at Old Colony uh regional uh vocational technical high school and prior to that she was in
Mansfield public schools as a special education administrator primarily focusing on preschool uh there. But we're excited. Um Miss Sain has already hit the ground running. Um I know she officially started her position July 1, but uh really kind of assumed responsibilities uh in the month of June
and um has uh embraced those and really uh taken the ball and run with it. So, we're excited to be uh working with her this year in a in a different role. And Mr. Dan McN is our new director of uh business services. Uh Mr. McN comes to us uh from the private sector uh about
30 years in the private sector as a as an accountant uh senior accountant all the way up to uh CFOs uh to CFO position. Um brings a perspective of uh town government as he served on the Rainham Finance Committee for a number of years. Uh so you know it's it's a new
perspective for us someone coming with that private um private sector experience but also that town government experience as well and I think u you know again he has immersed himself there's a lot of uh newness uh for him to learn just because we may use different systems or Mr. Dupont to your
point may be different acronyms than than uh they do in the private sector but uh he's already uh again immersed himself uh connected with the department of elementary and secondary education the mass uh association of school business officials. Uh so really uh
again Mr. McN is is getting himself up to speed rather quickly and he'll obviously have more information to share with you in August about our kind of annual rollovers that have to take place and uh approval by school committee. We're excited to have both of them on our staff and you know it's it's uh you know obviously the team is is coming
together and we're excited about that. That really was my summer report thus far and obviously have more to share in in August. >> Any questions for the superintendent regarding his report? >> Uh just one request on my end would be just to get an update on all new hires
regarding the new positions that were added to the budget for the August meeting. >> Yes, absolutely. >> Be great. Next, we will move on to uh the policy subcommittee report by Miss Conrad Labberto. >> Thank you. Um the policy subcommittee met on July 13th, 2026. Present at the
meeting were myself, um Mrs. Andy Hoy Thomas, Mr. Guthro, Mr. Selenus, um Superintendent Powers, Assistant Superintendent Angel, Miss Watson, um and Miss McDougall, the recording secretary. Um the first policy we reviewed was policy EA
and that was bus driver examination and training. Um we reviewed it again there I'll just say is MAC um sends out a list of policies to review or to um to review for school committees. Um school committees don't have to adopt them but
they give um kind of a list of policies and it's up to the school committee whether they want to change their policy if they already have it or adopt the new policy. Um so we reviewed uh this policy that was sent out by MAC. Um the group we discussed adding the policy and
determined it was unnecessary because at this time we outsource our transportation. There was a discussion if we were to bring in um transportation that we would we could we would reconsider this. So no action was taken on this policy. Um the next item um was
um policy JKAA was the timeout seclusion [clears throat] restraint um restraints of students was reviewed as a policy has been entirely rewritten and needs to align with the new state regulation. Um Desi requires this policy and the company company procedures to be in
place by August 20 August 17th, excuse me, 2026. Um the policy being presented tonight um has been reviewed by staff at BR um at the school district and by Desi both of which gave feedback and we made
edits. I will say the policy that um was reviewed or was the boilerplate if you will was the policy that um MASC um sent out to districts to adopt and which was reviewed by MAC attorneys that they
thought aligned with the DESIE policy. Um but based on even that we made some slight ch additions and so did Desessie when we our contact with Desi made some slight additions to give um the policy um some more detail our policy some more
detail. Um in addition we had um sent us a a copy CPAC had requested a copy of it and we had sent a copy to CPAC for their feedback prior to the meeting on the 17 on the 13th but um at that point we did not receive any feedback and um we have not received feedback the only feedback
one of the feedback we have received is around the oper want to see the operations manual as um Mr. Lo said earlier. Um, in the addition, I think I in addition to the policy, the district does need to create an operations manual that is currently being drafted and reviewed by the district that set its
out sets out um the scope of the policy and kind of the what schools need to do and how they need to operationalize the policy. Once that manual is completed, it will be published on the district's website. Um, and the superintendent did
let us know added that the new regulations must even though again we have some timing issues and we're probably not the only district because our next our first reading is this meeting. Our second reading um and potentially adoption wouldn't be till
our August meeting which is the 20 >> 23rd I believe >> 3rd >> 23rd >> 23rd 23rd. Thank you. Um and these this pol [clears throat] these procedures need to be in place by August 17th. So we will be um that the new regulations
have to be followed by August 14th. Um and there's no way around that. So the district will be following the new regulations by the 14th, but we won't have, if you will, a quote final policy in place until the August 23rd meeting.
Um the 26th. That's my thought. Yeah. Um um I will also um add that um just personally, professionally, I've been working in the restraint seclusion field
um for 25 plus years. Um and just as a whole for the state, Massachusetts is a leader in this field of reducing seclusions and restraints and putting forth um policies to limit the use of restraints and seclusions. Um so I I
would I would say some of the policy that is presented here tonight by that has been you know the regulations that's been put forth by Desi um if you look at nationally what happens out there and I've I've done some work nationally um we're Massachusetts probably one of the
top five states of um and of the seclusion restraint policies and regulations. Um so I again there is no if you will best practice as you think of like a reading program but I would say these this regulation aligns with
kind of best practice nationally in the restraint seclusion field but this isn't like an evidence-based practice like you would see in a reading or a map program. >> Um so I will make a motion to wave the first reading of policy JKAA and then it
can open the floor for discussion. Motion I'll second that just for a question Mr. Chairman through you to uh >> motion by >> motion by Mr. Guthro second Mr. Dupont >> uh uh you said we need an operations
manager could could you explain a little bit what are the areas of concern would this be for staff would this be for >> so the oper yeah and Mr. um >> Sure I'm happy to answer that Mr. Superintendent would you is what's >> it really is operationalizing the policy that school committee has put in place.
So you know there are obviously certain requirements that have to happen certain reporting forms. So it would be a document really a procedural manual um or procedural >> be a staff guide for compliance with things and thank thank you Mr. Super. >> So outlining to principles what they
must do and what staff must do um some of the timelines that are required the incident reporting all of those things. Um and this document the operation manual would be then public for um
anyone to review and kind of see >> but this is the guide that you would expect the staff to then follow and they would understand you know what's expected of them etc in terms of followup on administrative matters and such as such correct y thank you Mr. Superintendent thank you >> Mr. P. I don't know if you can talk
about because I know we talked a little bit about um because there's been a lot of again not just in our district, lots of districts about like how does this impact families? How are families aware of that? And I know we had talked a little bit about kind of how would we make families aware of
I think some of the policy but then also the operations the details behind [clears throat] the policy. >> Sure. So I I think you know just that's exactly what our plan is to obviously share this information u you know the procedural part. We obviously want to make sure our staff is fully aware of that so they can implement those
procedures but we also want to make sure our families are aware of not just the policy but how we're implementing that policy uh as well. So it will be shared with our our families. It'll be posted to the district website. Um, you know, we're going to, uh, you know, get this out in in as many different formats as
we can and certainly, um, you know, again, explain it not just to our staff, but also to our families about what what this policy means, the significant changes in this policy, and then also how we're going to operationalize it as well. >> And Mr. powers. Um I guess maybe just
for the audience because lots of people don't know what this they've, you know, thankfully for majority families, they've never had to experience restraint, seclusion or be aware of what that really means. >> Um can you maybe just talk about the change of this policy, other regulations
versus what the historical >> Sure. >> pretty significant. >> Yeah. Well, I I think what what this policy really does uh that not just the the policy is doing this because the regulations have changed and said that you know we we have to follow this best
practice but you know there's really safeguards that have been put in place. Uh so there's there's many different safeguards or criteria that actually have to be met before a student uh can be uh placed in seclusion. Uh and obviously um you know really the the
state regulations are are designed to really prevent u any type of seclusion from happening. Uh obviously there's emergency seclusion that u you know may need to take place but there's safeguards in place such as you know the student having um you know a history of causing self-injurious behavior or harm
to other students or staff. um you know the student is not responsive to you know directives from school staff or or lawful directors uh lawful directives um you know that uh interventions have not worked um you know or or they not deemed
to be appropriate for the situation if you know the situation or the behavior is so um egregious or dangerous that you know other interventions may not necessarily uh work at that point. Um but it really is around you know is that
student and and that student's behavior really a danger to themselves or or others. That's really what we have to look at. Uh not just that the you know student may be disregulated. Um really we have to look at you know is there kind of imminent danger to staff other
staff self in self-injurous behavior or you know to other students. Um there's other safeguards that have to be put in place u for this to happen. You know this there has to be prior parental consent. uh there has to be um contact with a medical professional. They have
to deem that it's appropriate uh for this child to possibly uh engage in emergency seclusion. So there's there's many different layers that has to happen now or things that have to be in place in order for emergency seclusion to to actually occur. Um and so you know the
policy obviously is reflective of that. uh there's a whole section there on the safeguards that have to be uh followed and you know obviously our procedures will align with that and obviously our practices will as well. >> Miss Thomas
>> um just I know you was mentioned that we have to put this in place by the 14th but we're not going to meet that with our second read of the policy. Um when do we expect to have the operations manual published? Um I I I would say that we would have it right around the time that these regulations have to go
in place. Um so the 17th um is when the new regulations go into effect. Um so again I think to Miss Conrad Labberto's point um you know we have to make sure that we're following the new regulations as of that date regardless of you know the policy. Um you know obviously we
have a little bit of time because we don't have students in in school. Uh but you know I think our target goal really is to have something out by then. Um it's you know fairly close to being uh done. Uh but we want to you know make sure we put some final tweaks especially if anything in the policy is going to
change. U but you know we're we're pretty close to being able to roll that out and share that with staff and and families. Obviously staff won't be back until the end of August. So that's really when we'll do the bulk of our training with with staff. Um but you know we can certainly make this available prior to that u once it's
done. >> If I could Mr. Chairman through to you to superintendent Mr. Superintendent you are confident that we can have this uh presentable and in some form usable form by that deadline. I mean you're you're you on your way with this Ryan. You're
not starting from scratch on it. >> Uh no correct. Yes I I am confident that we will have something in place. >> Are you confident you can meet those deadlines and have workable? Thank you. Any other questions? >> I would just say if there's questions, comments, feedback, um again, please
send them to me. The policy committee will reviewing this again. I think on August 11th is our meeting. We changed the date. Um we had changed the date. So August 11th will be the next policy meeting that we will be [clears throat] reviewing this reviewing this.
With no further questions, we will uh take a vote. All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed. >> Motion passes. >> Um the next item that was reviewed at the policy meeting was um policy JLCD,
administration of medication to students and JLCDC, self-administration and self-care of medications. Um the Department of Public Health released new regulations in 2025 and the Mass Association of School Committees
presented the new policy to co coincide with those changes. um uh BR's nurse leader Claire Grin um compared that the MAC version of the policy to what we the medication policy
that we already have in place and they do aligned um the what some of this new policy was um was to offer opportunity for nurses if they're willing to train staff to administer life-saving medication. However, that is not a mandatory change. And the group
discussed the liabilities and pitfalls involving um if a non- nursing staff had self-administered medications. I will say there was we had a long discussion about this um and the committee decide that all medications um should be administered by a trained medical
professional um and therefore no action was taken um on the suggested policy changes. I don't know if anyone else has any comments. I know um Um the next policy that was reviewed was
IHBG which is home education poly pol policy. Um really there's not significant changes that were um necessary but there were slight updates that were made that were reviewed and done and done. The new proposed language clarifies some aspects of participation
in the school district's guidelines for home education students. Um the policy clarifies that home educa again students that are um being educated at home homeschooling um do not it clarifies that home education students do not
receive certain district services and then when a parent or guardian chooses to educate their student at home they are opting out of the VR regional school district um and therefore participation in activities such as graduation exercises um will not be permitted. Um,
so I at this point will make a motion to wave the first reading of policy IHBG as is written. >> Motion made by Miss Conra Laborto. Do we have a second? >> Seconded. >> Uh, questions. >> I want um can we just provide a little
bit more detail on services? I'm happy to take that. Yeah. So really um a as Miss um Conrad Labberto said the the major change here really is around um participating in uh graduation. Obviously homeschool students uh you
know with the superintendent's approval it's it's never not been approved u you know prior to my tenure and obviously during my tenure that students can participate in extracurriculars. um they are, you know, at times um they they can participate uh if they so choose in,
[clears throat] you know, district assessments and and so forth. Um and obviously if they qualify for certain services, uh if they're a student with disability, uh they would be able to receive those services as well. What's really limiting here is the ability to participate in the high school
graduation ceremony. We really felt as though that that was uh a special ceremony for our students uh who have completed uh a Bridgewater Rainham uh curriculum course of study. Um you know, regardless of how long they've they've been here, you know, we did talk about that. We have some high school students
that for whatever reason choose to um you know, homeschool. We obviously have oversight of their homeschool program in that we have to approve it. in terms of the, you know, finite details of what actually takes place. Uh, you know, we don't have a lot of oversight of that.
And so, we just felt as though that, you know, by having homeschool students participate in our graduating ceremony, uh, graduation ceremony, it it it, you know, I don't want to say takes away from the students who have completed the high school uh, course selection and and
programs of study in person. Uh and so we we really wanted to make sure that that was clarified. Everything else extracurriculars um you know really uh are there. They're spelled out how they can and you know or may or may not participate but it was really graduation
that had come up recently and something that we felt strongly that you know should be now part of the home education policy. >> Thank you Mr. Chairman. Uh M through you Mr. chairman of the superintendent. Uh person who completes a comprehensive K
through 12 home study program, do they receive uh the students that attend the daily classes at the district, they receive a diploma uh certificate of graduation from the region school district? Is there same document issued to a home student or is there some other equivalent to them? [clears throat]
>> So the only issues or something? >> No, they actually believe it or not, Mr. DuPont um they're responsible if if they would like an actual diploma, they're actually responsible for creating their own diploma because as it's you know their homeschool program uh many of the students that are homeschooled actually participate in online schooling. So they
may get a certificate or something like that >> and they're accredited by >> DE. What we uh have done in the past and obviously will continue to do is many of our homeschool students uh upon graduation uh from their homeschool program uh ask us for a letter just attesting that they have been a
homeschool student in good standing that we have approved their homeschool uh program each year and then they'll take that letter and use it as part of their application package for um you know college or even for a career but that is typically our responsibility for
>> Thanks very much Mr. Superintendent. [clears throat] >> Any other questions? Bearing none, we will uh take [clears throat] a vote. All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed? >> Motion passes. [clears throat]
>> And that was the end of the policy. >> Thank you, Miss Conary Labberto. Next, we will move on to the long range planning subcommittee with Mr. Guthro. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. The long range planning subcommittee met this evening here in the Bridgewater Rainham High School lecture hall at 6 pm. In
attendance uh this first meeting of our new school year was myself, Mr. Selenus, Mr. Dupont, superintendent powers and recording secretary uh McDougall. Uh during the course of the meeting uh we had um our primary agenda item was to review the superintendent evaluation
process and student success uh plan. Uh during the course of our meeting, uh Superintendent Powers provided a first draft review of his uh superintendent goals for uh the 2026 uh school year. Uh these goals fall into three separate buckets. They include a
student learning goal, professional practice goal, and two district improvement goals. The uh subcommittee uh discussed these goals with superintendent powers who provided feedback. Um and then as next steps uh he will present his goals to the full revised goals to the full school
committee um at our next meeting for review and adoption. Um I did want to ask Mr. Powers if he wanted to briefly summarize uh the direction of those four goals or if you prefer the subcommittee chair myself do it. >> Happy to do that Mr. Guthro. Uh so you
know kind of higher level um the student learning goal was very similar or is similar to the goal that was proposed last year. Uh if you remember that was a multi-year goal uh and so carrying that over into uh this year and really next year because it was a three-year goal. Um and again I know there was some
discussion and defer to Mr. Guthro on this about uh you know the cycle now that I I may be on for next year. If it's a multi-year cycle obviously these multi-year goals tie nicely into that. you know, that certainly is is a discussion for the the school committee. Um, so that we're looking at, you know,
closing the achievement gap for our students with disabilities. That was our student learning goal from last year and that will carry over to this year. Um, the pre uh professional practice goal uh was around um continuing to strengthen our stakeholder engagement. uh if you
remember from last year I shared uh you know the the time spent with our students and with our faculty and one of the areas that you know I I highlighted was that I I didn't necessarily spend enough time with with our stakeholders uh I'm sorry with our caregivers and so really continuing that engagement goal
but really with a focus on uh you know our parent parents and caregivers u third uh goal which is the first district improvement goal was around the budget process um we did have a conversation and about whether or not, you know, that should be in there. That was something that I was wondering
myself. Um, and I know we had that discussion when we talked about the goal. Uh, it was around the, you know, really kind of continuing on what was started last year. I think the result wasn't necessarily what we all wanted in terms of the funding, but the process,
the collaboration with the towns, with the town leadership, I I think was um, you know, something that, you know, was successful. uh we were able to really kind of demonstrate transparency, roll out a very comprehensive uh budget document and so those are things that
we're looking to replicate this year and obviously you know our budget situations haven't necessarily drastically changed uh you know for the better and so I think keeping that as a goal but there was some discussion about you know possibly not so that's something we you know I'll certainly take under consideration uh and I can understand
why um and then the last goal um was around the new graduation framework work that the department of elementary and secondary education and the governor of Massachusetts has rolled out. There are certain uh milestones that we as a district have to make sure are implemented. First and foremost, we have
to make sure our courses that we're offering are aligned to mass core, which is an identified uh series of courses that all students in Massachusetts have to take. that has to be uh students have to engage in in postgrad planning uh kind of laying out a roadmap for what
they hope to accomplish not just during high school but then looking you know at college and career and beyond. Um there are end of the course uh assessments that have to be developed uh that are that are say different than you know your typical end of the uh course final.
Uh so we'll have to make some uh changes and eds and revisions there and and develop some new assessments potentially. And then students also have to kind of demonstrate uh kind of a culminating activity whether it be a portfolio of work or um some type of uh
culminating uh project u you know project based uh demonstration of their learning. And so those are the the major components. Uh really DESI has kind of set some milestones for districts uh really over the next two years. So again, depending on the cycle that I'm placed on, that could tie in nicely to
being on a a two-year cycle as those would be two-year goals. But those are high level uh not still working out all the details underneath and taking that feedback u and certainly open to feedback from from anybody else as well. Please feel free to reach out and make
those revisions and come back to the the committee for approval. >> Excellent. Thank you for that summary, uh Mr. Powers. Again, this just a a draft um a draft review with uh the formal uh goals to be submitted to the school committee for formal consideration uh at our next meeting. Uh
I will just close out my report by saying the subcommittee did encourage Mr. Powers to uh make sure that he leans on his leadership team as appropriate. Right? It's uh this this it's entering another important year in the trajectory of the school district. Um he is a very capable assistant superintendent in Miss
Watson. um rights some uh additional key leaders uh throughout the district um including a new high principal here at the high school right and and making sure that he leans on his leadership team is appropriate so that he can then focus maybe his time right um you know leading leading at the right level I'll
say it right and really kind of setting the tone in and the culture um as opposed to maybe getting kind of so pulled down into certain projects that um you know it might distract from from from other needs within the district that maybe he should be focus focusing
on but um I will uh I believe Mr. Chair open it up for any questions or is there no questions at this stage? >> Just a a comment um going back to the June 10th meeting minutes. We did recommend uh that the superintendent
move to a multi-year evaluation process uh moving forward. So it would be on a two-year plan uh moving forward at this point. Any other questions for Mr. Mr. Guthro, the superintendent. >> Oh, Mr. Chairman, uh I want to thank uh
subcommittee chairman Guthro for a good meeting and I want to uh commended the superintendent uh for stating these goals in the words that he did. But I want to make comment on two things specifically. 30 years ago, I left this school committee and and that's a generation
and when and to to look at on the key actions under district improvement goal number two and and see the words ensure students develop a post-secondary plan uh and then followed by number five creating culminating experience to demonstrate student achievement and
college and or career readiness. I have to say as a matter of fact 30 years ago there was no such concept or wording anywhere in the Bridgewater Rainham Regional School District curriculum or agreement and that shows that how much
this district after the consolidation K through 12 has come forward and I think that currently the leadership of Ryan Powers over the past several years is why those things are there. As I said to you, Ryan, I said we got a guidance report at the end of each school year that said how many students were going
on to two-year, fouryear, military, career, and then other. That was it. It's just, well, what are they doing? Who knows? But to see that that's even a stated goal or concern of the district is is of great uh great gives me great uh confidence in the
district. I would just make a a brief note under district improvement goal number one. uh that talking about the budgeting process and working with the towns. I got a superintendent powers uh became respected and it showed up at
town meeting that I was expecting sort of a tsunami wave of criticism and and assault on the regional school district assessment. Mr. Superintendent, uh you were asked one question by one resident. He took about 30 seconds
answer his questions and then the there was no further discussion or debate and the reading assessment and the gift passed overwhelmingly. I want to just give something to the committee members that is something for us to be giving thought to right now. Under that item
seven said develop a needs-based budget centered on implementing the current student success plan and subject to the appropriations of the towns and state. Uh most of the budget making that goes on in school districts and communities,
municipalities throughout Massachusetts is a lot of talk about where the money is going. What are you spending it on and very little if any of where it's coming from? I'm going to just pass this down. I've got one for each uh member of the committee. As part of the state budget
this year, there was a writer attached to create a commission to study chapter 70 and how it's funded and its components. And there's a 27 member uh committee that is the commission is
going to be named in January. I'll just pass these down for the members. And in it, it cites that several of the members are the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools, the Massachusetts Association of Schools, Massachusett School Superintendent Association, and
there are a number of other and it's mostly legislative and political people, but they're going to be looking at chapter 70 and the formula. And uh I intend to intently follow that process because it's one thing to have a formula
that says how much you're entitled to. it is entirely a separate matter for the legislature to appropriate that amount and that seems to have been the failure and I think the superintendent would agree that we're entitled to X and we get less and he has to somehow make it
work. So, uh I I'm just sharing this with the committee then and to take a look at it because this is going to be the big thing next year. When I arrived, the budget process was completed. The town meetings uh went well and the legislature got their budget passed. But in the coming cycle, I think I would like to think that we take a more
activist role as far as looking at our revenue side of things as well as our expenditure. So, thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you, Mr. Dupont. Any other questions for the superintendent, Mr. Guthro? >> Thank you, Mr. Guthro. >> Thank you.
>> We will now move on to number seven, new business. and I will pass it over to Miss Conrad Laborto. >> Um, at this time I will entertain a motion to approve the general ledger warrant stated 723. I believe that is the one. >> Okay. So, I'll just to approve the
general ledger warrants as presented. >> Motion. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> A motion been made by Mr. Gro and second by Mr. Selenus. All those in favor? >> I. >> Those opposed? Motion passes.
Um, next was other business. Others there's anything others would like to bring forward. Just a question. When we voted to approve the minutes from June, did we vote to approve the whole consent agenda?
just specifically BD and E. I don't think we voted on this. >> Uh I I it was for the minutes only. I didn't Do we need a second motion on that one? Judy, >> in the form of motion, I'll make that, Mr. Chairman. Second
>> motion by Mr. Dupont, second by Miss Oy Thomas. All in favor of approving the consent agenda. >> Oh, go ahead, Miss. >> Sorry, I have a question because I was going to let it go because I thought we did it, but we didn't, but now we're going back. I'm gonna ask a question. >> Um, on the course selection book, >> yes.
>> Um, I'm assuming maybe you expected this. There was a change around PE at the high school and I just like wanted the cont I know the context, but like what that process will be for exemption or what. I know it's an issue for us because we are supposed to offer four years of PE but we don't
>> correct and and that really is kind of the the crux of it uh through the tiered focus monitoring that was something that they identified something that we were already aware of uh but obviously uh haven't been able to do it uh in in some time. Uh but that is something that you know will continue to be a finding until
we are offering uh the PE courses uh 9 through 12. However, there are opportunities for us to develop um an I guess you would say a waiver exemption process where students that are participating in um athletics uh
extracurriculars u they have other opportunities to demonstrate ways that they may be meeting that PE requirement and so that's really what's reflective. We we made changes to the handbook that we had shared with Desessie and they
you know reviewed that but they said we also need to see it in the course selection book and obviously we wanted to make sure because we have deadlines through the tiered focus monitoring corrective action process um that we had that approval. We will certainly make a you know a full change for next year.
But really what we're looking at is um you know this coming fall all 9th and tth graders uh will participate in physical education and then our 11th and 12th graders will have the opportunity to um you know meet that waiver or
exemption uh through a variety of of different activities whether it be some type of extracurricular um you know athletics or even outside you know we have many students that participate in um other physical type activities outside of school um there's a a way to
get uh kind of credit for that. Um and then what our hope is that you know the following year uh we'll look at you know either repurposing staff or trying to advocate for additional staff. So then we'll be able to offer uh in school 9th, 10th and 11th grade with our 12th graders still being able to meet that
exemption or or waiver process. And then the following year, um, ideally we'd be adding, you know, another additional staff to then be able to offer four years of inschool PE offer, PE and wellness. But if if we're not able to do that because of budget constraints or we just have to
prioritize staffing in other areas, there are ways for us to be able to meet that requirement. Desessie did say it would still show up as something that we need to correct, but they certainly understand that, you know, this is a a funding issue versus a, you know, want
for us. >> Thank you. >> Of course. >> Nope. No problem. Any other questions regarding the course selection book or anything else on the consent agenda? All right. Um,
with that we will uh take a vote. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion passes. >> All right, we will come back now uh to the second round for public comment. Uh the school
committee meetings operate under rules which were adopted to improve information to the public, make it easier for parents and guardians in the in the public to both follow and comment on issues before the committee and make meetings more accessible to the public. We will now open up for 12 minutes with
a three limit on individual comments. Do we have anyone for public comment? Barring none, I will close public comment at 7:19. Uh, next up, any announcements or items to be considered for future meeting agendas from any
members? Seeing none, I will take a motion for adjourment. >> So move. >> Motion by Miss Conra Lavarto, second by Mr. Guthro. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion passes. Thank you very much and
have a good