[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6072378,"mediaKeyId","3029286-d83044e69865853396d2965a6c931829","parentId",3029286,"title","Votes at a glance: consent agenda, policies and collaborative appointments pass","audioSeconds",366,"startMs",2300000,"endMs",2666000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3029286-d83044e69865853396d2965a6c931829&start=2300&end=2666","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3029286-d83044e69865853396d2965a6c931829/thumbnail_2300000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6072378/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-consent-agenda-policies-and-collaborative-appointments-pass","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6072378-d370fe6b1b248fb49d9fd71caa4675ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173617&Signature=Ksbkhq-sRiFPjGswfiR14gM6MVFOtKk5rquKZa9gLPUrLWyiWWkKHoJS~Fy~k27Edhopng2xDFCH0Iaw8ugI~STJWj82oz6T7pPYB9lf4TyJ~UqIxIes5l4vK4RIm8wxnJZehwy-X~rTO8fdYwQ5EHtu6Nb2s2ArrPCa5h5kwdjHyjplZjhbJNKTuCdoLiPyQSDXHcFZ0xr7LI5nbXbhIpYOrA1BV~juA6gYrwdft2N552QbQn5wxniHbEGIjoZS2y3V58PGLhrQwEtfD8VTHmMgkEHBEG416dgy9ulmXnq1lFTVxTPJ~HP1kASIHf~zPnYzHZchyVKcTvoe5eSgww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Gardner Public Schools, MA","date","2025-04-14T00:00:00Z","article","Gardner — At its April 14 meeting the Gardner School Committee approved a series of routine and substantive motions by voice vote following the FY26 budget approval.

What the committee approved:
• Consent agenda: Motion by Mr. LaFreniere, seconded by Ms. Ward; motion carried.
• Policy JKAA (Physical restraints): Second reading accepted. Motion by Mrs. Hurst, seconded by Mrs. Cormier; voice vote in favor.
• BDE (Athletic Council): Motion to remove the policy from the policy manual and place it in the district procedural manual. Motion by Ms. Ward, seconded by Mrs. Hurst; voice vote in favor.
• Appointment — Keystone Collaborative representative: Motion to appoint Superintendent Dr. Pellegrino; motion carried.
• Appointment — CAPS Collaborative representative: Motion to appoint Dr. Pellegrino to the CAPS collaborative; motion carried.
• CAPS collaborative agreement with the district: Motion made by Mr. Schwartz, seconded by Mr. Cormier to adopt the agreement as presented; voice vote in favor.

Minutes and the meeting packet show these items were included in the committee’s agenda and voted on after discussion by the relevant subcommittees. The motions passed by voice vote; the committee recorded \"motion carries\" in the minutes for each.

Committee chair confirmed the motions passed and the committee moved on to additional business.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Gardner School Committee Meeting Apr 14 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Gardner School Committee unanimously approved the consent agenda and accepted several policy and appointment motions at its April 14 meeting.","taxTitle","Gardner Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",69224,"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},6072382,"Committee adopts short‑term competency determination for students after MCAS rule change",360,2460000,2820000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3029286-d83044e69865853396d2965a6c931829&start=2460&end=2820","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3029286-d83044e69865853396d2965a6c931829/thumbnail_2460000.jpg","/articles/6072382/Massachusetts/Committee-adopts-shortterm-competency-determination-for-students-after-MCAS-rule-change","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6072382-b5a238f9607296265c001d3dda771be1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173617&Signature=T6H5FQ8ihdyXHvOvbD2CDcmd-I53VoggviMzufKNjJrAjbXw~95LGIt07UvL2Lf3Aw6DDJ0FqT1sJuXdVd047DR-vFhoJEzh8oeL7HIRV1XEEZpw5zyVwsmtf7G3Oet9OSNyxvThQ0vRpDCK9sovXpIV19pw~oBk75L8POq6fEcvNOdRNGLc3gq0J~Auwtu0TkONo2yPu2l-GPstOaArn~177-f1RumMFmC67DaoDyuwhi2ZI5T4vxC4RtwQ2zK-8GbEOIG6~1eK3nQJLAFOeCqrbfn2Ol4uvc4bYhPTi4EGP7sA8qqInBQTEefpdEic8eg7cLbAna0AKvbptmXeIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Gardner — The Gardner School Committee unanimously adopted a temporary competency determination policy April 14 to accommodate state changes to MCAS‑based graduation requirements.

Superintendent Dr. Pellegrino told the committee that MCAS is no longer the sole mechanism for competency determination and that districts must adopt local language while the state DESE works on new guidance. The committee approved language intended to apply immediately to the class of 2025 and for the near term while DESE completes its work.

Under the adopted policy, students can meet competency standards in each subject by either a qualifying MCAS score earned before July 2024 or by earning passing grades in specified course sequences or their principal‑approved equivalents: for English, passing English 9 and English 10 (or equivalents); for mathematics, passing algebra and geometry (or equivalents); and for science, completing biology, chemistry or physics (or equivalents). Students who do not meet one or more of the standards will be monitored and supported through grades 11 and 12 and can meet requirements by passing relevant courses or completing approved coursework in grades 10–12.

Mr. LaFreniere moved to accept the superintendent’s recommendation; Mr. Schwartz seconded. The motion carried by voice vote.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about MassCore and course sequencing. Dr. Pellegrino and principals assured members that the district’s graduation course requirements remain in place and that the adopted policy specifies course pathways that satisfy competency determinations while giving principals discretion to identify course equivalents.

The policy will be revisited as DESE issues updated statewide guidance.","The Gardner School Committee approved an interim competency determination policy allowing students to meet graduation competency through prior MCAS scores or specified course completions for the class of 2025 and near term while DESE revises statewide rules.",{"_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},6072387,"Gardner School Committee approves $37.68 million FY26 budget after public hearing",1937,88000,2025000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3029286-d83044e69865853396d2965a6c931829&start=88&end=2025","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3029286-d83044e69865853396d2965a6c931829/thumbnail_88000.jpg","/articles/6072387/Massachusetts/Gardner-School-Committee-approves-3768-million-FY26-budget-after-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6072387-f00e3ed692cb470498657abf489c6fa2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173617&Signature=TYvWrPOh9jTaXX~wSDmCO1kA0rV24Q5uB2Nf5bNXiOjierT6mBHkF7pupJ96Z5wEHHe-R2in8stzAX2evZSh6DbQkEk5bCZ-mo4KuzApxO2Ayz~sYd8inFkabU058SgV2uiXp4IOR3U4dqiFXsc0FsLO6KfbIdwIRAeUA702T0segT-FZJ3K8eY-h98~UMP2NhSnYv8cUdAbx9mHCrXXFp8I33iA2h5JhBVtYZMcfYaR4-nNT-2W7vjscz95i2RQxre0n-rLQWz0caT4aeb6RNI5qMoBMnEbEtPYPlUb6JjtoT9CUEh-1wsaz42uYHD3pInpWlTHT2WQ9ykuxItcCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Gardner — The Gardner School Committee voted 7–0 April 14 to approve a $37,676,548 fiscal year 2026 budget after a public hearing and a presentation by Superintendent Dr. Pellegrino and finance director Mark Hawk.

The approved budget includes a projected deficit of $474,231 assuming a $300,000 supplemental contribution the mayor pledged above the minimum required local contribution. Committee members and staff identified enrollment growth, higher out‑of‑district special education costs, and rising transportation and health‑insurance expenses as the principal budget drivers.

Dr. Pellegrino opened the public hearing with an overview of recent enrollment changes, telling the committee that the district has added more than 300 students since 2020 and that high‑needs student groups have grown substantially over the past decade. He said out‑of‑district and receiving costs have climbed from about $2.6 million in 2018 to “over $6,000,000” and stressed the need for staff to serve students in the least‑restrictive environment.

Hawk detailed cost drivers during the presentation. He said online schools now charge roughly $13,000 per student for synchronous virtual instruction compared with about $5,000 for some physical receiving placements, and called that a significant factor in rising sending/receiving costs. Hawk also attributed much of the district’s indirect cost growth to health‑insurance increases, which the presentation showed as the largest component of an approximately $1.7 million swing in indirect costs.

Transportation costs rose substantially in the new contract, Hawk said: the district budgeted an increase of about $117,000 for regular transportation and $272,000 for special‑education transportation. Adding an additional bus would cost an estimated $88,200 for 180 days of service, he said. The superintendent and committee also noted the bus bid this year produced a single response that increased the contract by $117,315 — approximately a 14 percent rise — and that the state legislature had requested an inspector general review of bus bids statewide.

During the public comment portion, resident Amy Doucette asked about bus delays and driver shortages and whether incentives could help recruit drivers. Dr. Pellegrino and Hawk answered that driver shortages are a statewide problem and that the district contracts with an external transportation provider.

The presentation reviewed state funding mechanics cited by Dr. Pellegrino and Hawk: Chapter 70 calculations, the Student Opportunity Act increase (noted as about $2.7 million in new Chapter 70 money for the district), and how Department of Revenue equalized valuation and income figures feed the required local contribution. The presenters noted one‑time federal funds used during COVID (ESSER) had previously offset some operating pressures and that several federal grants (Title I, Title II and others) remain part of the budget but could change with federal decisions.

After questions from committee members and the public, Mr. O'Frenier moved to approve the budget as presented; the motion passed in a roll‑call vote with all voting members recorded as \"yes.\" The chair instructed the clerk to call the roll; the committee recorded seven affirmative votes.

The committee closed the public hearing and approved the FY26 budget as presented by the superintendent. The committee also discussed that the deficit would be covered without program cuts only by using one‑time funds and the mayor’s supplemental contribution, and that continued progress above minimum net school spending is a goal going forward.

The committee meets next on May 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber.","After a public hearing, the Gardner School Committee approved a $37,676,548 fiscal year 2026 budget, citing rising enrollment and higher special-education and transportation costs as main drivers of a remaining $474,231 deficit.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: consent agenda, policies and collaborative appointments pass

Committee adopts short‑term competency determination for students after MCAS rule change

Gardner School Committee approves $37.68 million FY26 budget after public hearing