Welcome everyone to the North Middlesex Regional School District School Committee meeting on July 29th, 2026. It is 5:02 p.m. In attendance, we have Michael Labossiere.
Chris Sloan. Alexander Bancuti. Lisa Bloom. >> Yeah. >> Jackie White. She is 1864, so everyone watching the recording will know. Um for administration and myself,
Lisa Martin. For administration, we have Superintendent Brad Morgan, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Reese, um Special Ed Director Aaron Upton, um Business Manager Dr. Cormier, and Robin Ivy
in attendance. All right. Did we have any public communications tonight, Robin? >> No. No public comment. >> Okay. Moving on to new business. Um we have a policy that we need to get
in place before the beginning of the year. Um it is JKAA, Timeout, Seclusion, and Restraint of Students. On the call tonight is Director of Special Education Aaron Upton, and she is going to describe why
this needs to be put in place. Um I will take you through a few of the steps. I know that this policy was reviewed in February. At that time, we decided or it was decided that the district did not need changes to it.
Since then, um MASC has updated more, and Ms. Upton and Dr. Reese have passed it to our um Special Ed um lawyers, and they have given us some updates for it. And so that's what is in
your packet. You'll see some different versions. You're going to see what MASC has recommended for a policy. You're going to see what our lawyers have recommended for a policy and what our old policy is currently. Um, from there, I'm going to let, um,
Miss Upton explain what changed in JKAA. >> Okay. So, um, thank you, um, Chairperson Martin. Um, so, we there were some updates to the law.
Um, there have been changes to what, um, con- what timeout, um, consists of, um, as well as seclusion in public school settings and private school settings. Um, so our updated policy that you have in
your packet, um, shows the differences between what the school committee had previously adopted as well as what we're proposing, um, be changed and adopted tonight. The, um, if you had a chance to review the recommendation from MASC,
um, you'll notice that it's very different from the policy that, um, we had in place and also that the, um, the special education attorneys have recommended, primarily because the MASC, um,
description is is more, um, procedures than an actual policy. Um, we do have district procedures in place and we, you know, would make revisions to those if there were any additional, um, changes to our processes, but overall,
um, you know, we feel as though the the recommended, um, policy changes put forth by the attorneys is the one the school committee should consider tonight. So that everyone the committee's aware um we want to keep a policy as being policy
and allow the process and procedures for Superintendent Morgan and his team to decide. That's why sometimes our policies are different from what MASC does. And so that's what um the differences can be sometimes.
But again, this is up to the school committee that's um currently elected to how they would like to see policy written to. Does that make sense to everyone? Any questions about JKAA?
>> Um I guess I was reviewing um cuz I I think part of what we're saying is there's a procedure out there in place as well. So I was looking what's out on the website and I mean it it seems to match the things that the type of things that
N A C had N A S C had in their policy. I guess did the lawyers review our procedure as well as the policy? Or did they just review the proceed or the policy this time? So I I think the procedure was last updated
January 2025. So I I don't know when that would be up for review or if that was part of this. >> So we don't do the procedures and process. That's up to Brad and his team to do process and procedure. Um
but they can answer that I'm sure with the new law coming in that's where they have to do some updates to their procedures and process as well. Is that correct? >> Yes. Yeah, and I guess my question was basically just if we're separating those, I just want to make sure that
that's actually being reviewed as well as part of this you know, whatever updates they're making. >> Did they answer What? >> Um, so so once the policy is passed, we will make sure that the procedures and
processes above match the new policy. And are in alignment with the with the new guidelines with the DESI regulations and state laws. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Anyone else have any questions?
>> No no questions really, just commenting. You know, I read through the the sort of all the materials and I read through the the the MASC policy and it it does seem very sort of prescriptive of very like specific procedural steps that
it that feels like a too much detail for the policy and then I read through the changes to the policy and obviously, you know, it seems like it's in alignment with the new, you know, changes in regulations that are coming and obviously the attorneys have reviewed it all. So, you know,
it I I have no issue with the new policy as proposed. It seems to cover what it needs to cover and doesn't include all that unnecessary detail cuz we already have the policy or the procedures which are going to be updated based on the new
policy. >> Any other questions? Now, this is up for adoption completely. It is skipping first reading and we're going right into adoption of this policy. Generally, we don't do that, but this one needs to be put in place. And you
saw the comments from the lawyers as well. That we should have it in place before the beginning of the year. >> Yeah, I think the lawyers and MASC both said August 17th, I think was the date, so >> Yes. >> I don't think we have another meeting before then.
>> Well, we have the 11th, but it kind of messes. >> Mhm. >> And so it's best just to have this then. Um Superintendent Morgan and Ms. Upton can go do their process and procedure updates and make sure that that's all in alignment. All right, somebody want to make a
motion? >> I can do that. All right, I move to adopt JKAA timeout, seclusion, and restraint of students as amended by NMRSD's legal counsel. >> Second. >> That is Michael Labossiere with the
motion and Alexander Bancudi with the second. It will be a roll call vote. Any questions? Um Michael Labossiere. >> Yes. >> Chris Sloan. >> Yes. >> Alexander Bancudi.
>> Yes. >> Lisa Bloom. >> Yes. >> Jackie White. >> Yes. >> And myself, yes. And [clears throat] before we move on, I'd like to thank Dr. Reese and Ms.
Upton for all the work on this one, cuz I know I contacted you last week as I was reviewing it myself and asked your help on this. And so I appreciate it cuz I know that you both have had vacation time out and everything, so I appreciate all the help on this. So,
and our vacations are valuable to us, so thank you for the time you put into this. All right, moving on. Dr. Reese, um a fitness court update. >> Yes, uh, good evening, everyone. Um, so, really quickly, after the last meeting, we had the opportunity to talk with
representatives from the town. Uh, we worked on, and I apologize, I'm actually in New York City, so you're going to hear a lot of beeping. Um, we, um, had the opportunity to review with our attorneys just around wrapping up an agreement. That agreement was
shared with the town. Um, they seemed open to it. It just needs to be voted and approved through their Board of Selectmen, but they did have an initial approval through their Rec Department, um, who actually were the ones that secured the grant and secured the fitness court. Um, so, before you this
evening, you have the draft agreement, which just identifies that we're accepting the fitness court as part of a gift from the town, um, with the opportunity for the community to be able to use the fitness court, um, and fitness studio outside of school hours.
Um, so, there are three votes actually this evening that you'll be asked to take. One to just accept the gift from the town of the fitness court. The second to be to, um, for the agreement, to accept the agreement, um, and enter into that
agreement. And then the third to authorize, uh, Mrs. Martin as the School Committee Chair to sign on behalf of the committee for the agreement. I'll happy to answer any questions. >> Anyone have any questions? All right.
Um, let's take the first motion, if somebody could read it. >> All right, I'll I can do that. All right, I move that pursuant to General Law, Chapter 71, Section 37A, that the School Committee accept the gift by the Town of Townsend for an
educational purpose consisting of fitness equipment on the condition that the equipment be available for use by Townsend, Pepperell, and Ashby residents outside school hours. >> I can. So, that was Michael Labossiere with a motion and Lisa Bloom with a second. It
is a roll call vote. Anybody have any questions on this motion? All right. Michael Labossiere. >> Yes. >> Chris Sloan. >> Yes. >> Alexander Bancuti. >> Yes. >> Lisa Bloom. >> Yes.
>> Uh Jackie White. >> No. >> And myself, yes. All right. Moving on to the second motion. >> It I move that the school committee enter into a memorandum of agreement with the town of Townsend regarding the
town's gift of fitness equipment and the school committee's acceptance of the gift. >> Second. >> That was Michael Labossiere with the motion and Chris Sloan with the second. This again is a roll call vote. Any questions?
All right. Michael Labossiere. >> Yes. >> Chris Sloan. >> Yes. >> Alexander Bancuti. >> Yes. >> Lisa Bloom. >> Yes. >> Uh Jackie White. >> No. >> And myself, yes.
Um so, third motion. Michael, do you want to read the third motion since you're rolling tonight? >> I move that the chairs authorized to execute the memorandum of agreement with the town of Townsend acting on behalf of the school committee. >> Second.
>> So, that was Michael Labossiere with a motion, Chris Sloan with the second. Um any questions? All right. It's a roll call vote. Michael Labossiere. >> Yes. >> Chris Sloan. >> Yes. >> Alexander Bankuti. >> Yes.
>> Lisa Bloom. >> Yes. >> Jackie White. >> No. >> And myself, yes. All right. That is the end of our
business. Does anyone have any further things for this meeting? >> I just wanted to say great job getting this uh ball rolling with the fitness court thing. I think this is pretty >> [snorts] >> quick turnaround from sort of conception
to negotiating to getting this sort of initial draft memorandum done. So, you know, kudos. >> Yes. Thank you, Dr. Reese. I know that you've been working on this and getting everything aligned. Anyone else?
All right. Well, this was a historic meeting. So, I will take a motion to um Oh, gosh. >> Adjourn. [laughter] >> I move that we >> Adjourn. >> All right. So, motion?
Is that Michael Labossiere? >> I move that we adjourn. >> All right. Oh, everyone wanted to second that. Uh Lisa Bloom, you have the second. All right. Michael Labossiere. >> Yes. >> Chris Sloan. >> Yes.
>> Alexander Bankuti. >> Yes. >> Lisa Bloom. >> Yes. >> Uh Jackie White. >> Yes. >> And myself, yes.