[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6107450,"mediaKeyId","2775324-fb9ac0f9dba94d612b8c3f1d9986c6a3","parentId",2775324,"title","Votes at a glance: Scituate School Committee approves SOA progress report, field trips, donation and competency policy","audioSeconds",5042,"startMs",750000,"endMs",5792000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2775324-fb9ac0f9dba94d612b8c3f1d9986c6a3&start=750&end=5792","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2775324-fb9ac0f9dba94d612b8c3f1d9986c6a3/thumbnail_750000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6107450/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Scituate-School-Committee-approves-SOA-progress-report-field-trips-donation-and-competency-policy","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107450-746c2e51c1ab79ca39a619e1636e48c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151382&Signature=BzQfT9f09QYKGC4lZZx6lWFIusPKVJ0i1l5u135dpoA6~0lV-kW-EOT~Qzr-gHL7Z37P9zw3t3xXCfGq8Dy6q67v6gt2qEnOFddrR7mW6M~xJmWcigXX6crQnNBlHL2Fdq1h4jdnJrxdDYuvhCeNFI3~87g1r5LcyIX7KT3IUTrvkZ3Pf-hzUyk8umtIBpjN-9~TGJzR1sfPwZ3~yK8oWVpBNs9iF-S6a0GAYT2vvGz9HDSw-Gx7AfQ6H-IptivGcjOdZrMfOiWhwqn1Z5vnjpaYc0zfe2wksj0JpDgXktmJUj7EWMo97VStdb1yzmzSonMpLA7YkAbu1batudL8eQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Scituate Public Schools, MA","date","2025-03-25T00:39:36Z","article","At its March 24 meeting the Scituate School Committee recorded several formal actions by voice vote. The meeting minutes reflected unanimous voice approval for the following motions; no roll‑call tallies were recorded in the public transcript.

- Student Opportunity Act progress report (FY2025): Motion to approve the district's progress report for submission to DESE; approved by voice vote so staff could meet an April 1 deadline.

- History Bowl national tournament field trip (Washington, D.C.): Motion to approve a high‑school History Bowl field trip to the national tournament (tentative travel May 23–25 window described in presentation; estimated cost per student about $300 before fundraising); motion approved by voice vote.

- Gates middle‑school band and chorus field trip (Canobie Lake Park, June 13): Motion to approve the seventh‑ and eighth‑grade band and chorus trip; estimated cost per student $60; approved by voice vote.

- Donation: $1,600 from the Scituate Rotary Club to purchase LEGO Education Spike Prime sets for the middle‑school LEGO/robotics club; motion approved by voice vote.

- SPS competency determination policy: Motion to approve revised competency determination policy (reflecting changes to state graduation competency rules); motion approved by voice vote.

- Meeting minutes: Motion to approve the March 10, 2025 school committee minutes; approved by voice vote.

The transcript did not record individual named votes or a numerical tally; minutes note the motions were seconded and approved by unanimous voice vote. Where the presentation included estimated costs or participant counts, the report lists those figures as presented by staff (for example, estimated per‑student trip costs and the Rotary donation amount).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Scituate School Committee Meeting - 03-24-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee approved a set of routine and substantive items by voice vote, including the Student Opportunity Act progress report, two field trips, a $1,600 Rotary donation and a revised competency determination policy; minutes were also approved.","taxTitle","Scituate Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",71627,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6107455,"Counseling director outlines MTSS integration, rising mental‑health needs and postsecondary planning",1205,3496000,4701000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2775324-fb9ac0f9dba94d612b8c3f1d9986c6a3&start=3496&end=4701","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2775324-fb9ac0f9dba94d612b8c3f1d9986c6a3/thumbnail_3496000.jpg","/articles/6107455/Massachusetts/Counseling-director-outlines-MTSS-integration-rising-mentalhealth-needs-and-postsecondary-planning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107455-b592f46c45c8f28841913b23c5ca905f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151382&Signature=Q-C2YEkA7vL2aSYpdb70qsxiF55IrqGfKv~Y4JTtR72d7uNvgrgiEY6OhsMiPG-Q0c29ixDJFJJ2wmZ3GEJeN6LCvaH8txt-0TuNU6rEb0V6~5~-w0rda930qQ3Ezg5OR3cw8KyLB4-iXs2qVSktepsdNl32juvMCvDmaErAYtAJigrJI2Zj90D3kUiBlnKQqf3zfV8eWH4HNWR2juMqpMU0~XVoy10UjsSDJVvmmM2IeWNNU4o7zDaQx61SZuRwXkg8fUlgyEDVUPh1-BswOOQUeQ6DLEv3eqju2p~-ly7TjfFN8MzJIdbqp0X~wF7Ey1EyzizP1E1E7Z3-yoPcwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The school counseling director presented the department's goals and practices, describing integration with the district's MTSS work, attendance outreach, social‑emotional programming and expanded college‑and‑career planning activities.

The presentation described three counseling domains (academic, social‑emotional and college/career readiness) and said counselors lead MTSS interviews and interventions, support attendance outreach and run targeted groups for students with anxiety, grief, executive‑functioning needs and other concerns. The director highlighted two elementary mentoring programs (Perfect Peer and Beacon), a high‑school Lighthouse transitional program for students returning from hospitalization (about 20 students served last year with a reported 95 percent successful reintegration rate), and home‑hospital tutoring options supported by educational technology.

Counseling staff reported a steady increase in students needing accommodations and supports: the district has expanded AP course offerings (now about 22 courses) and is managing more AP exam accommodations, which increases counselor and staff proctoring workload. The director also described a shift in postsecondary counseling: more students are applying early action/decision, which has moved junior‑year advising earlier in the calendar and required new programming such as a summer send‑off for juniors and an early postsecondary planning event for families.

On student mental health, the director cited community referral data indicating anxiety as the leading category of need and referenced state youth‑risk data that show concerning rates of hopelessness and self‑harm indicators, even as some measures improved. Counselors continue to provide tiered supports, referrals to outside therapists and coordination with school adjustment counselors for crisis response and threat assessment work.

Committee members asked about data on students exiting IEPs, schoolwide attendance composition, and whether counseling staff capacity is sufficient; members suggested further attendance disaggregation and additional counseling resources as budget priorities. The committee received the report for information; no formal action was taken.","The district's school counseling leader presented a comprehensive update on academic planning, social‑emotional supports, mental‑health trends and college‑and‑career readiness, citing MTSS integration, expanded mentor programs and increased AP and accommodation workload.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6107459,"Committee reviews updated technology policies: COPPA, device responsibility and AI guidelines cleared for first reading",1075,5977000,7052000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2775324-fb9ac0f9dba94d612b8c3f1d9986c6a3&start=5977&end=7052","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2775324-fb9ac0f9dba94d612b8c3f1d9986c6a3/thumbnail_5977000.jpg","/articles/6107459/Massachusetts/Committee-reviews-updated-technology-policies-COPPA-device-responsibility-and-AI-guidelines-cleared-for-first-reading","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107459-e7e4d703d6f06b38ddd3751c6003370c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151382&Signature=ahNlCjqEwgsALR--~ptGoPEpyqe3iorcKeH5f3c8xuuFtKmqQB-4OJ9eapba1tK2W22fVSGFBHlB5sMsZMgXfonmy3YahwHE46o9OPMx4-AtAoy-v6MX6WgciUf4RCzx~rCOQtWMjrSjuxnqzanvaaWaq7SGP47dOhjZZLfURL4G60iVLVXyyLAlv1a3UcI2vKNIPgYJjVK3NvvjkfS8RE3P5IpcS8dHA1d-CG~Za4AdsSdEqyN3o2XVmdJUv8P3uUC4rJJbZGEbzT1wNW5jORNJ-oOlXRxYnAyIiM59pd9d2nPBQoe89Df7Ukjq7plWBjVvFGmwMqQ93vZ5V8ngzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Subcommittee members and the district's technology team presented three revised technology policies at first reading and described the substantive changes staff recommend.

The policies update: student device responsibility and repair/fee language for district Chromebooks; staff responsible use of technology and expectations for using district accounts; and an inappropriate‑use policy that explicitly addresses generative artificial intelligence, academic integrity and protections under COPPA (the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) and FERPA.

District staff and the technology director, Jackie Fragiello, said the three documents were legally reviewed and that key policy changes reflect the district's 1:1 device program, a parental permission process for services that create accounts for children under 13, clarified expectations around device damage and replacement, and an explicit statement that unauthorized use of generative AI on assignments is treated as academic dishonesty unless a teacher explicitly permits it.

The committee and staff discussed how the technology office will centralize approval for third‑party platforms and create an approved‑platforms list so teachers have a clear process to request a tool, how parental consent will be obtained for under‑13 accounts and how the handbook will reflect policy changes. The subcommittee indicated the documents will return for final reading and vote at a subsequent meeting.

No vote was taken on the policies at this meeting; the materials were presented for first reading and will be revised as needed before final consideration.","The policy subcommittee and district technology staff presented three updated technology policies for first reading: student device/responsibility policy, staff responsible‑use policy and inappropriate use including generative‑AI guidance; legal review has been completed and the documents will return for final vote.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6107464,"School committee approves Student Opportunity Act progress report, staff to submit to DESE",540,275000,815000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2775324-fb9ac0f9dba94d612b8c3f1d9986c6a3&start=275&end=815","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2775324-fb9ac0f9dba94d612b8c3f1d9986c6a3/thumbnail_275000.jpg","/articles/6107464/Massachusetts/School-committee-approves-Student-Opportunity-Act-progress-report-staff-to-submit-to-DESE","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107464-fc50ea431396f78a6e8a1b3093640384/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151382&Signature=mycEYSwSDCSx-PXjFzpkAO2Q-nh4aYozfM-knNY7PPn5EQoLI1XYIXuOzVn~u1OjOxUyPIK45bY9xmUePPHwsRQKV~bgiLPLJmzf58pMJvyVTc34mYRYf~EhGN8GPZq-WfcdUdu3uXGU0IEsIFivWu3WJZ6Jjkg2BxbfaBEBMexyMTapMDD6IyzKpkdWRnyxuUIdX3rMP0Ne8fqfgtnaN8zRzXEUxbWU938uCW1c6eaFnQkJZOjOLXSStq3iq-JJMR93kgIl0Qdlwca7JmxLQ8BKdGGgc3OO8KMYSwnMcYUPyvdIYUIA6hNiw382rHXwMyoMYm4chMh6N79a8L6~pQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assistant Superintendent Ryan presented Scituate Public Schools' required progress report under the Student Opportunity Act on Monday and asked the committee to approve submission to the state.

Ryan said the district's three‑year Student Opportunity Act plan (school years 2025–2027) focuses on closing gaps for students with disabilities and accelerating outcomes for the lowest 25 percent of performers. The progress report is a required regulatory update to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and documents year‑one progress on the plan's three goals.

Key evidence‑based strategies listed in the progress report include: continuing comprehensive tiered supports and MTSS work; implementing an inclusive curriculum adoption process and math programs (presented as Envision and Savvas math); and aligning resource allocation to student success with work on universal design for learning, professional development and consistent evaluation practices. Ryan said the district is not among those receiving additional Chapter 70 minimum aid tied to the act but that all districts received some incremental funding after passage of the law; the progress report itself is regulatory and not a new funding application.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about how the report aligns with school‑based improvement plans and benchmarking. Ryan said the district's principals and teachers are aligning benchmarking, MTSS and school improvement work with the plan's goals.

A motion to approve the Student Opportunity Act plan progress report for fiscal year 2025 as presented was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. No individual roll‑call tallies were recorded in the meeting minutes; the motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

Because the DESE deadline was April 1, Ryan requested the committee approve the submission at the meeting so staff could file the progress report. The committee agreed and the district will submit the report and post it on DESE's public page if and when DESE approves it.","Assistant Superintendent Ryan presented the district's Student Opportunity Act progress report for fiscal years 2025–2027; the committee approved the report to meet an April 1 submission deadline.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6107469,"Special‑education director reports steady IEP enrollment, positive DESE monitoring review",2658,791000,3449000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2775324-fb9ac0f9dba94d612b8c3f1d9986c6a3&start=791&end=3449","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2775324-fb9ac0f9dba94d612b8c3f1d9986c6a3/thumbnail_791000.jpg","/articles/6107469/Massachusetts/Specialeducation-director-reports-steady-IEP-enrollment-positive-DESE-monitoring-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107469-340b7a7c59a6f0eebe01c678e75f86eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151382&Signature=XV31RDNahBDmZIOEEiBmE~EokQZ1jvJtg59xJJ~3UV7uEPecHTC-VSg5ZP07BWZmND9j30mxHbIPPv2gzZZFS33Gykg1v1zKqtjkPe5GQjPmH0MJSnEKL9EjfAF92jaOPSnGTQMZutaJ9wPtNSwb~og4RsGEtnj8Qq0SJ2a2QMaI3lmdhx1oVWS0a6XeVG-fbOzObGGl9Z9xK5ZUPFL3PkvJRLCHdGo6mMlYyt2uJTy8OkZSD-AwF8z1ldc29lLedJHdZ0Of6TkXqOskF4GPiyUeydqBXUNXSfnhlZoGnl3IHihlBL-jdcvzEaWvVCGjWyAvtk-mYPVG9jRgYbpBXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Michelle Fogarty, Scituate Public Schools director of special education, told the school committee Monday that the district's population of students with individualized education programs (IEPs) remains roughly steady and that a recent state review found the district largely in compliance.

Fogarty said the district's Oct. 1 special‑education count was 519 students on IEPs (496 enrolled and attending district schools plus 28 students placed out of district with Scituate funding). She reported a March count of about 559 students on IEPs including those served in‑district and by contracted programs. The district's IEP rate was 18.7 percent compared with the state rate of 20.6 percent, Fogarty said.

The report outlined disability categories and placements: specific learning disability was the largest single category (31.8 percent), followed by health‑related categories largely reflecting ADHD (18 percent), developmental delay and autism (about 12.5 percent). Fogarty said nearly half of students placed out of district were identified with autism and that out‑of‑district placements tended to serve students with more intensive needs.

Fogarty reviewed revenue sources used to fund special education, including local appropriation, federal entitlement grants, and state reimbursements known in Massachusetts as the circuit‑breaker program. She described how the circuit breaker is calculated around a per‑pupil foundation amount (reported in the presentation as $12,930.25) and the statutory multiplier (4x the foundation amount), which produces a per‑student threshold referenced in the presentation at about $51,007.21; the state reimburses a percentage of the district's eligible excess cost above that threshold. Fogarty said reimbursement rates and eligible student counts fluctuate year to year and that district reimbursement totals have ranged historically from about $1.06 million to nearly $2.0 million in 2024.

Fogarty also summarized grants and targeted funds that support special education services. She identified a large federal grant (presented as $757,588) used to fund paraprofessionals, related‑service staff time and contracted specialists; smaller early‑childhood grants (referred to in the presentation by program codes) and a training grant of $10,000 also were described.

On oversight, Fogarty said the district recently completed a DESE integrated monitoring review (IMR), the state's cycle of monitoring for special education and civil‑rights compliance. According to the final report Fogarty received this week, Scituate fully implemented 11 of 11 special‑education criteria and 16 of 18 civil‑rights criteria. The state report included two nonbinding recommendations that the district address (1) high‑school and elementary code‑of‑conduct language in handbooks to ensure consistent approval and (2) documented evidence that teachers and administrators review curriculum for bias and stereotype across protected classes; Fogarty said those items will be addressed through a corrective‑action plan and related review work.

Committee members asked about trends driving out‑of‑district costs, and one member said he had discussed tuition increases with state Representative Patrick Kearney. Fogarty and members discussed constraints the circuit‑breaker formula places on districts' budgets and how large private‑school tuition increases can affect local spending.

Fogarty and the committee also discussed the district's efforts to identify students earlier through MTSS processes and to broaden in‑district programs so fewer students require costly placements. She credited staff and families for program work and said the IMR team had noted many positive interactions between staff and students during site visits.

The committee received the presentation; no formal action was taken.","Director of special education Dr. Michelle Fogarty presented the department's annual update, including student counts, funding sources and the final DESE integrated monitoring review that found full implementation of special-education criteria and minor corrective actions for civil‑rights items.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Scituate School Committee approves SOA progress report, field trips, donation and competency policy

Counseling director outlines MTSS integration, rising mental‑health needs and postsecondary planning

Committee reviews updated technology policies: COPPA, device responsibility and AI guidelines cleared for first reading

School committee approves Student Opportunity Act progress report, staff to submit to DESE

Special‑education director reports steady IEP enrollment, positive DESE monitoring review