[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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],{"_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",6272069,"mediaKeyId","3028035-9931a57d7720825e9e5236431becb2fe","parentId",3028035,"title","Old Colony Planning Council briefed school committee on MBTA Communities zoning; town must zone for capacity estimated at about 750 units","audioSeconds",978,"startMs",826000,"endMs",1804000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028035-9931a57d7720825e9e5236431becb2fe&start=826&end=1804","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028035-9931a57d7720825e9e5236431becb2fe/thumbnail_826000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6272069/Massachusetts/Old-Colony-Planning-Council-briefed-school-committee-on-MBTA-Communities-zoning-town-must-zone-for-capacity-estimated-at-about-750-units","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272069-31ac41f9e7cecbb299a61337b7946f41/orig.mp4?Expires=1776025424&Signature=VRUj9DCyEmZ8nPgKCWwe1tjxrd4~iArgaMCKtK9oZjC2LjRq3GsCxuZja9xNRMcJLkUOfeVj0iUb508nNm5VdQeXQY1v3a4zNdzda0Xsucin08AfWVEPQaxbiCAt~HEMR5o4mJ~gKhq-1liopDqQlIDpIOTm4bJnYNKgATMYHPQaxTYM8h1gOSddr33L~Xb21AvMZZJXRRGYHMsblRDihhtkipiUS8bbsW~5V3e43fbQKy2WKcZh8EislfiGu9M93Bk1mP2umGvxUooYYsI4GldRk20A0Gp8ZZy703wp5CyM8r~hbrtk1jxo5nHyUPwCk6DXyoik9byKIijrPo9~3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","East Bridgewater Public Schools, MA","date","2025-04-17T00:24:06.55Z","article","Old Colony Planning Council senior planner Jason Desrozier presented an overview of the state's MBTA Communities requirements and how they apply to East Bridgewater during the April 15 meeting.

Desrozier described MBTA Communities (referred to in the presentation as \"3A,\" the new section added to Massachusetts' zoning statute Chapter 40A) as a zoning obligation, not a mandate that housing be built. \"It's next slide. It's important to note the law, again, does not require that multifamily housing be built. The law only requires towns to zone for multifamily housing so that it can be built in select areas,\" he said. The requirement sets a minimum gross density of 15 dwelling units per acre and a minimum district size of 50 acres where the law applies.

Using the state's calculation method, Desrozier said East Bridgewater's capacity requirement under MBTA Communities is approximately 750 units, derived from taking 14% of the community's 2020 housing unit total. He emphasized that capacity is a zoning calculation and not a production target: the town could zone for the capacity without any new units being built.

Desrozier walked the committee through a proposed district in east-central East Bridgewater bounded roughly by Whitman to the north, Route 18 (Bedford Street) to the east and Winter Street to the west. He noted the draft carve-out includes 11 parcels; owners include NSTAR Electric, JSC Holdings (a recently approved 40B developer), Hornsby/Hornster Farms, and several private homeowners. He estimated substantial portions of the proposed district are wetlands or wetland buffer and therefore excluded from developable acreage, making short-term development unlikely on some owned parcels.

He also described the practical meaning of the density standard: \"At the parcel level, the look of 15 units per acre will vary based on the parcel size. It could mean a 3 unit townhouse on a 10,000 square foot lot ... or a 45 unit building on a 3 acre parcel.\" He said the town is proposing bylaw heights of roughly 2.5 to 3.5 stories in the draft zoning.

Desrozier told the committee there will be a public forum on the topic on April 23 for a longer slideshow presentation and Q&A. He also noted that noncompliance carries potential consequences, including loss of eligibility for some state funding and, in theory, possible legal action by the Attorney General's office after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court upheld the constitutionality of the MBTA Communities statute (noting the SJC decision in Commonwealth v. Town of Milton in the presentation).

What MBTA Communities means for East Bridgewater depends on the town's choices about district location, parcel carve-outs, and bylaw details, and Desrozier said that many constraints (wetlands, septic/water capacity, parcel ownership) make full build-out unlikely in the short term.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","East Bridgewater School Committee Meeting 4-15-25","oneSentenceSummary","Jason Desrozier of the Old Colony Planning Council presented MBTA Communities zoning requirements to the East Bridgewater School Committee on April 15, saying the town must zone for roughly 750 housing units but that wetlands and ownership patterns limit near-term development.","taxTitle","East Bridgewater Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",69251,"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},6272058,"School committee reviews updated student handbook, aligns chemical-health and attendance rules and reverts Title IX policies after state guidance",582,2741000,3323000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028035-9931a57d7720825e9e5236431becb2fe&start=2741&end=3323","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028035-9931a57d7720825e9e5236431becb2fe/thumbnail_2741000.jpg","/articles/6272058/Massachusetts/School-committee-reviews-updated-student-handbook-aligns-chemical-health-and-attendance-rules-and-reverts-Title-IX-policies-after-state-guidance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272058-c0be5be345c29e4453285489e4f6df69/orig.mp4?Expires=1776025424&Signature=hIu5ZWbUh0RP-EPAoYVQrc5EvM4zmzoqJfoWXHCZp~wuMo5q0BHibC7iGEUNSEjiskQZ1Nbt2viVQriS3LcqclWrO9VBf7q~tyJQiuVE--k-RKKcDxl4vY-CaTBVx5mAs0oaWAB~frB8a97OV56zDhdiKja4PJovv2PargAWJTzAiuBa~oxHnDo9TSDrR8hf4ldv0gUqleHvbke-gt5Wqk99q~ls-CbnjbZa0j1TG3iN7NaHHMBZXZNinMq62ScZIwBilN-aaN4z61fffalO3-ERahTMEMPJsKYMpfhHnbPZHavJ3fXLC9BZcUvddITmfA3FJWuTBtJ-pVYIMCtQvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff presented a comprehensive update to the student handbook and the school committee considered several policy changes at the April 15 meeting.

Mr. Silva (district staff) walked the committee through substantive handbook edits. Notable changes included aligning the district's chemical-health disciplinary thresholds with the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) standard: first-time offenses will carry a 25% penalty if a student completes six sessions with the district health coach (the prior district penalty had been higher). Second offenses would reduce from 60% to 40% if the student completes the coaching model. The handbook also proposes attendance-related credit-recovery thresholds tied to the state's 10% chronic absenteeism standard: using 6 and 14 absence thresholds so students could recover credit through make-up work or programs outside regular school hours.

Staff described other changes: work to publish the district strategic plan on the public ClearGov site, ongoing North River Collaborative audit to examine chronic absenteeism and culturally responsive instruction, and a temporary pause on early-college language pending state funding clarity (the district has a new Bridgewater State College partnership providing in-person early-childhood coursework).

Separately, policy subcommittee members reported that recent state guidance required the district to revert several locally amended Title IX-related policies back to the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) model language. The committee voted to waive second readings and approved the reversion of policies tied to Title IX and nondiscrimination; it also adopted an additional line (added after a DESE-related food services audit) stating that \"students may not be discriminated against for requiring meal modifications.\" The committee approved the Title IX policy reversion and the added food-service nondiscrimination line by voice votes.

Committee members asked staff to confirm links between handbook sections and the district's governing policies so the handbook remained consistent with board policy. Several members asked for a clarifying addition to the handbook to reference acceptable use and district computers when listing student obligations.

The committee scheduled final handbook action following policy review; staff will incorporate committee feedback and return the document for final vote and publication.","District staff presented a major handbook update to the East Bridgewater School Committee on April 15 that aligns chemical-health penalties with MIAA guidance, updates attendance/credit thresholds, and reverts Title IX policy language to the MASC model following state guidance.",{"_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},6272063,"School committee trims FY26 budget by about $617,000, proposes higher family bus cap and late fee",728,3910000,4638000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028035-9931a57d7720825e9e5236431becb2fe&start=3910&end=4638","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028035-9931a57d7720825e9e5236431becb2fe/thumbnail_3910000.jpg","/articles/6272063/Massachusetts/School-committee-trims-FY26-budget-by-about-617000-proposes-higher-family-bus-cap-and-late-fee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272063-24e3fe79c820e9c340ebf2f424a6cb9c/orig.mp4?Expires=1776025424&Signature=Fb8cB8MQakdkbKyq1Je3XHfMFBThySc6zsj8C1p4eCQ1sphoeXNLrmztMRbciHTAMo6F9Ixmf1lGuF8Sexnp3LSqlhaxGMolzYRP3Uo7lrtgYE4J8id7~U76KQZNTVebRjQr3vcdLr~NWaFwa9b~ThpFHig1cXPVh~VnARTyTmBbbwwMtKGaXwR1l6jfmtwx18GmruZvgzJYkbpHrHnNYgKG56ncXKVABOsGacXdP8ZnaRftpDntJ-4831al9yAIX-G1ZCH-P3XSV9Mr8A2msRv2imSiZ38vLFDZbWJiBAGRQDMhEW-EnnYMwFtzDah6gedeWmDDbv1em8Dzzjz3jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Business manager John Shea presented a budget update at the April 15 meeting showing the district's certified FY26 budget of $28,390,177 had been revised downward to $27,772,888, a reduction of approximately $617,000 after several budget subcommittee meetings with town finance staff.

Shea walked the committee through line-item changes: a reduction of $105,000 in regular pupil transportation (removing one bus), some increases in telephone and computer/device costs because of vendor pricing and tariffs, and changes in special-education tuition and transportation tied to student placement shifts. On salary lines he said the committee and town agreed to allocate $250,000 from school choice funds to help the salary budget.

Committee members praised the collaborative budgeting process between the school and town finance committee and said the revised budget balanced district priorities with townwide fiscal constraints.

On transportation user fees the committee reviewed a fee comparison with neighboring towns. The district's per-student bus fee remains $250. The committee voted to raise the family cap (the maximum charge per household) from $400 to $450 for FY26 and to add a $25 late fee for fees paid after June 30, intended to encourage families to sign up earlier and reduce last-minute changes.

Motion language recorded in the meeting called for a $50 increase to the family cap (from $400 to $450) and a $25 late fee for payments made after June 30. The motion passed by voice vote.

Committee members emphasized they considered, but rejected, a more sweeping change that would limit busing to students the district is legally required to transport because of the heavy impact such a rollback would have on families.","The committee reviewed a revised FY26 budget that reduced the certified figure by roughly $617,000 and voted to raise the family bus fee cap to $450 and add a $25 late-payment fee to encourage earlier sign-up.",{"_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},6272073,"East Bridgewater names Dr. Gina Williams interim superintendent and moves to negotiate permanent contract",1997,543000,2540000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028035-9931a57d7720825e9e5236431becb2fe&start=543&end=2540","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028035-9931a57d7720825e9e5236431becb2fe/thumbnail_543000.jpg","/articles/6272073/Massachusetts/East-Bridgewater-names-Dr-Gina-Williams-interim-superintendent-and-moves-to-negotiate-permanent-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272073-d85e7426c727f9b35d4c80f7529cf8d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1776025424&Signature=BtEjq9NcZfzUs~-ajaOT30elZ-HKdXJAFWLkJUA1pgW1-QqzzUg4JG3XPnwrcBgphOQ~FRbusR3zKt0XySlQn~QatpzX040QNwPMsKib56kSqskPteBDzLvNWy9w7b4tlCgtFqHvRqWUftgvQNCdZkgoOdtgM4yrFhAMz10ezck8JBvi8cp3-SrXrLwpCwLpjeGgMfzXAXEyp2JR0ilUdiBgsttyO2ioUBs0DHM3PLe01aK-e0QTI99Lxb3h54kEq6Kfn~yCY07LtaD7I17-dUpQdJOjfNe29rgie30IDDATCKCDiA45SmtFsJB2x5TP6A9mvDuEJ0G61TUbGGhsDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The East Bridgewater School Committee on April 15 appointed Dr. Gina Williams as interim superintendent and voted to enter negotiations to make her the district's permanent superintendent.

The committee voted to appoint Williams during its public meeting after members heard an endorsement from the East Bridgewater Education Association (EBEA). Amanda Castle, vice president of the EBEA, read a statement urging the committee to appoint Williams based on her decade as assistant superintendent and her work with staff, curriculum and negotiated contracts. \"Over the past decade, Dr. Williams has demonstrated exceptional leadership as the assistant superintendent, consistently collaborating with the East Bridgewater Education Association to enhance curriculum, instruction, and ultimately student learning,\" Castle said.

Committee members then moved to appoint Williams as interim; the motion carried by voice vote. Members also voted to authorize Williams to serve as the district's voting representative to the North River Collaborative and the Reeds (Reeds?) Collaborative while she holds the interim post. Later in the meeting a separate motion to begin negotiations with Williams for the long-term superintendent position passed by voice vote.

School leaders said the stepwise process is intended to provide continuity while giving the committee time to finalize a multi-year contract. Dr. Williams told the committee the district's building committee is continuing work on the Central School project and other ongoing initiatives.

The teachers' union endorsement preceded the votes. Kurt Shippey, identified as EBEA president, introduced Castle before she delivered the written recommendation. Castle listed collaborative leadership items she said Williams had led, including a Professional Development Academy, a districtwide staff handbook and a diversity, equity and inclusion team.

Votes at a glance (recorded outcomes stated in the meeting):
- Appoint Dr. Gina Williams interim superintendent: approved (voice vote; committee reported in discussion later that five members voted in favor; one member absent). Motion and second were made on the floor; mover/second not specified in the meeting transcript.
- Authorize Dr. Williams as voting member of North River Collaborative and Reeds Collaborative: approved (voice vote).
- Motion to enter negotiations with Dr. Williams to become full-time superintendent: approved (voice vote).

Discussion vs. decision: the committee held public discussion and heard the EBEA statement prior to votes. The record shows formal actions (appointments and authorization) and a separate direction to negotiate a long-term contract; the transcript does not show a final signed contract during that meeting.

The committee did not identify specific contract terms during the public meeting. Committee members said they expected to complete contract details before the end of the calendar year.","At its April 15 meeting the East Bridgewater School Committee appointed Assistant Superintendent Gina Williams as interim superintendent, authorized her as the district's voting representative to regional collaboratives and voted to enter negotiations for a permanent contract after a public endorsement from the teachers' union.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Old Colony Planning Council briefed school committee on MBTA Communities zoning; town must zone for capacity estimated at about 750 units

School committee reviews updated student handbook, aligns chemical-health and attendance rules and reverts Title IX policies after state guidance

School committee trims FY26 budget by about $617,000, proposes higher family bus cap and late fee

East Bridgewater names Dr. Gina Williams interim superintendent and moves to negotiate permanent contract