[{"_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",6252008,"mediaKeyId","3191624-7b7f7761800e9096ca70ec293aaf649b","parentId",3191624,"title","Committee to draft K–8 'bell-to-bell' cell-phone policy; vote set for coming meeting","audioSeconds",639,"startMs",6611000,"endMs",7250000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3191624-7b7f7761800e9096ca70ec293aaf649b&start=6611&end=7250","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3191624-7b7f7761800e9096ca70ec293aaf649b/thumbnail_6611000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6252008/Massachusetts/Committee-to-draft-K8-bell-to-bell-cell-phone-policy-vote-set-for-coming-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252008-201dd36c9a50eb4c580fefb529292bd5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773580692&Signature=PgjujXNpwUUARrY4kPc2Ivts7kyuwNaa4npIHZFFzj79EnyzqY9-m1qArYTp~89Pdra3gsaGRVkXZ07VFUKJrUchlipSp2D1C5Mydwbtii0yx6oBn4TTh1eVi~zgzfWK84E43tlkmrHb1qNHrf59Zjy0eTZtyXJuaqyWFx3rnlFzkYTf2C7W0bNFO68vzOJZtSPnp-4FoapY3FwB2Bv5ixJ4cDX~bfhceEy0KHryi2Cl~0GRA6sljw-EEhWPIPQ3tBu11BDxrSLPKgaZWhqKboRVZBT1TL83hWZdKE3R~5dsIaT7dSb3Sav72xAKtplWavfzvjIL7lEbzP14fuXHjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Concord-Carlisle Regional District, MA","date","2025-05-05T17:15:52.727Z","article","The Concord-Carlisle school committee directed the administration Wednesday to draft a formal bell-to-bell cell-phone policy for pre-kindergarten through grade 8 and present it for a first reading at the next meeting.

Committee members discussed the Massachusetts Attorney General’s sample bell-to-bell policy as a starting template and agreed at a high level that the district should prohibit students’ cell-phone use during school hours. They asked administrators to exclude non-school events (after-school games, dances and off-site trips) from the K–8 restriction and to include standard exceptions for medical needs and IEP/504 accommodations.

Administrators and committee members emphasized that the committee’s role is to set policy, while enforcement details and discipline procedures belong to operations and should be handled at the administrative level. Members asked that the draft policy avoid operational minutiae (specific disciplinary consequences) while providing clear authority for staff to implement protocols and exceptions. The committee requested that the draft define school hours, specify the age range (pre-K through grade 8) and indicate which devices are covered; members favored focusing the policy on cell phones rather than attempting to enumerate all wearable or emerging devices.

Several members recommended waiting on a final decision for the high school population and addressing high-school rules separately in the fall because student needs and opinions differ by age. Members also asked the administration to coordinate with METCO and other community liaisons when drafting communications and to include input from parents, student representatives and staff in upcoming forums.

The administration said it will prepare a policy draft based on the Attorney General example and the committee’s direction, circulate it for committee review, and plan public forums or stakeholder input sessions for the fall. The committee planned a first reading at the next meeting and aims to consider a final vote before the end of the school year to allow implementation planning over the summer.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Concord Carlisle Joint School Committee Meeting - April 30, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee agreed to pursue a district policy restricting cell-phone use during school hours for pre-K–8, using Attorney General guidance as a starting point, and to bring a draft policy for first reading at the next meeting.","taxTitle","Concord Public Schools/Concord-Carlisle Regional District, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",69256,"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},6252013,"District consolidates special-education program names and posts new public overview",360,3540000,3900000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3191624-7b7f7761800e9096ca70ec293aaf649b&start=3540&end=3900","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3191624-7b7f7761800e9096ca70ec293aaf649b/thumbnail_3540000.jpg","/articles/6252013/Massachusetts/District-consolidates-special-education-program-names-and-posts-new-public-overview","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252013-c6a28d5f70cf7dbcd09f56b770110809/orig.mp4?Expires=1773580692&Signature=bLUda5zfwlvB7Vt~D2-aGrmzkPBV~PGVqDEFUi5EGSeew5QuKEYgT~dm7p3n2thXT9hBUAEM1pqtoaQMq8rrveB1EzIPllslvXYEpfte14~O9kE6~FGGC56h8RIQaeuhjAmUtW9L017OC-Mz1h6YED9AHBAJB1w9vPSfaUIhFnr6Fkm5GmXq3w9f117V9SceqT6Y8iVfZswIeJ-hnj8uc6SmmrWUMEPzBlIn0xGJolMMkb41~x~kpVOo-CHiOmTOaveS2r~qBsfmGL1LtKsoTnvMthpS8Z0xjYjUSZn4dkETpSCQEN2pjFek9TYMglf6bKhOWyuSRdWN-zdJ3BgqIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Concord-Carlisle Regional School District presented a consolidated, public-facing overview Wednesday of the district’s special-education program continuum, including standardized program names and short descriptions intended to help families and outside districts understand available services.

Angel Charles, director of student services, said the district has standardized program names to reduce confusion created by different legacy labels used at different schools. The new graphic covers the integrated preschool, “Anchor” (therapeutic social-emotional program), “Literacy and Beyond” (language-based program), “Pathways” (more intensive support), “Bridge” (partial-inclusion program for students on the autism spectrum and related social-communication needs) and “Launch” (transition program for ages 18–22). Charles said the district will post the graphic and consolidated explanations on its website.

Charles provided counts for current enrollment in each program: integrated preschool serves 31 students with IEPs plus 32 peer spots; Anchor has 11 elementary students, 8 at the middle school and 34 at Concord-Carlisle High School (total 53); Literacy and Beyond serves 10 elementary, 13 middle, and 24 high-school students (total 47); Pathways currently serves 10 elementary, 11 middle and 8 high-school students (total 29); Bridge serves 16 elementary, 8 middle and 14 high-school students (total 38); and Launch serves four students now with more expected.

Committee members and attendees praised the clearer terminology. One member noted the district is keeping many students in-district: “It’s roughly 20% of our population are students on IEPs who we serve,” Charles said on the record, underscoring the scale of special-education services and the district’s effort to reduce out-of-district placements when appropriate.

Committee members asked about classroom sizes, staff-to-student ratios and inclusion details; Charles said those specifics are included in more detailed entrance/exit criteria and are discussed with families during program recommendation and placement steps. She said some programs are designed for inclusion on a schedule that fits the student, others are partial- or full-inclusion by design, and the district offers visits and team meetings to help families evaluate fit.

Charles and committee members said the new infographic and the high-level descriptions aim to improve transparency for families considering a move to the district, referring districts, and real-estate agents; they also said the materials make it easier for staff and families to discuss program trajectories at each grade level. The committee encouraged posting the materials publicly and preparing additional operational detail for parent information sessions and intake processes.

","The district presented a new graphic and concise program descriptions covering the continuum of special-education offerings from integrated preschool through adult transition programs to clarify services for families and referring districts.",{"_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},6252017,"School committee approves Thoreau playground design, accepts $383,357 donation",6145,350000,6495000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3191624-7b7f7761800e9096ca70ec293aaf649b&start=350&end=6495","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3191624-7b7f7761800e9096ca70ec293aaf649b/thumbnail_350000.jpg","/articles/6252017/Massachusetts/School-committee-approves-Thoreau-playground-design-accepts-383357-donation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252017-64cba6060571440660aa0a9ce06fd210/orig.mp4?Expires=1773580692&Signature=ooJyh9YL4FUTyHYN6ZVz2gYV8TIlmFpnJhPIgnI8usBq3aGTRRNt~~fTxJqNBe6Hxt~o-KOEpCRlVFs9LAjxJT8ZCeB4UyE1QG2-xJ7rDYOXH3O300A9HAn9j5SE5gZ3tls-0idFrgB4~5TC-gDV6aXH-o7kuuDSbC7howm1iRa68iOUm0ys6eBgyRocqTFhtxpjl-HJgEV~Surcvclm5elyLrVYNEkg04QqtD35oYT4UOhQiAQUJKPQAtIt5bh8htXlaTGeF5~JdjbKpIbuQ6LjQaqZQaaSaQVb2vs~0u-JQmXsmixh-AWOg6PrnJiwPJuxDsCMppFygEdpYqA6Aw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Concord-Carlisle Regional School District school committee voted Wednesday to approve the design for the Thoreau Elementary playground and to accept a donation of $383,357.54 from the Thoreau Parent Teacher Group to fund the project.

The vote followed a presentation by the playground committee and vendor AltaPlay, and a public comment period in which some parents praised the project while others said the current design still falls short of true inclusivity.

Committee members said the approved design increases rubberized surfacing to about 80% of the play area, adds an accessible zip-line track and inclusive spinners, and keeps other sensory and musical elements students requested. The district also committed $125,000 from its operating budget to increase accessibility of surfacing. Joe McMahon of AltaPlay and playground committee chair Mitch Brooks presented renderings and described the equipment, including swings with an ADA seat, a basket swing and sensory musical instruments. McMahon and committee members said the design went through numerous iterations to incorporate student and staff feedback.

During public comment, Dave Nicholson of Old Marlborough Road urged the committee to “critically assess whether the current playground design truly reflects the leading design goal of inclusivity,” saying the plan “does not” provide meaningful equitable play for children who use wheelchairs and other mobility supports. Nicholson said some previously proposed accessible elements were removed in later iterations and warned that providing two spinners risks creating a segregated experience: “One spinner is dynamic and cool and really fun while the other one becomes the disabled kids spinner.”

Other speakers, including Mary Little of Brown Street, thanked the Thoreau student leaders, volunteers and PTG fundraisers and urged the committee to let the project proceed: “I truly believe that the people on the committee took everyone's needs to heart and wanted to make this a space for everybody,” she said.

The committee’s motion to approve the design passed with a voice vote of “aye.” On a separate motion the committee unanimously accepted the PTG donation of $383,357.54 and authorized the school administration to accept any additional funds raised for the playground without returning to the committee. Committee members and administrators said the contribution, combined with district funds, closed a substantial funding gap and reduced a major implementation barrier related to surfacing.

Committee members acknowledged remaining concerns and described next steps: the administration will finalize construction details, continue coordination with special education staff to plan individualized access or use strategies for students with higher needs, and schedule a community build and ribbon-cutting when construction is complete. The committee’s discussion emphasized that while the project cannot include every requested element, it seeks to provide multiple inclusive experiences and accessible pathways throughout the play area.

The committee also noted procurement requirements and legal obligations for public construction projects, including prevailing-wage compliance and state bid rules, and members said AltaPlay has been procured through appropriate channels.

The committee’s votes tonight allow the project to advance to contract finalization and construction. The playground committee said it hopes for a community build this summer and to open the facility for students in the fall; a final schedule will follow pending permitting and contractor availability.

","After months of community input and debate about accessibility, the Concord-Carlisle school committee approved the Thoreau Elementary playground design and accepted a $383,357 donation from the Thoreau PTG; some parents urged additional changes to better include children with physical disabilities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee to draft K–8 'bell-to-bell' cell-phone policy; vote set for coming meeting

District consolidates special-education program names and posts new public overview

School committee approves Thoreau playground design, accepts $383,357 donation