[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6234074,"mediaKeyId","3412112-ae92141507cdd687db55bff85c90d1e1","parentId",3412112,"title","School committee adopts emergency‑safety rules, multiple policy updates and educational‑support contract","audioSeconds",1183,"startMs",2595000,"endMs",3778000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3412112-ae92141507cdd687db55bff85c90d1e1&start=2595&end=3778","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3412112-ae92141507cdd687db55bff85c90d1e1/thumbnail_2595000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6234074/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/School-committee-adopts-emergencysafety-rules-multiple-policy-updates-and-educationalsupport-contract","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6234074-6853eb3df214364b00de8fe6658f14b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773663393&Signature=Suu7HHGNECH8SYTwc-ndgWUlgffGTfVSvdDQysUArih2qrHSnZ81g0C3YL68GqiXHEX1hOvgDdcXvZaovbHdkR5MOYu~fNjXG3hLYDvF7c55ozpSjBkOKW8-bY06vvr~CgZlBrmyoP~yAi1b26vgRGD5jQm7PI8lu2c2XhYidSVNbcMEtOW4vcShlAJppcO2PHWYcHFkKoa2uB-veBywSGKItiv9ktaIMsGXUFHNcnMMhtaf~XeFhUaz2o5COlgLxIj2VZd8rvZ8lKjIZ-Op2OucFTFUQPTIZ8zACYbEFUxlB3DU9gdMdE0y9ofx-rsNVF8ECmJiz4H0srP5F9ZMZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town-County of Nantucket, MA","date","2025-05-21T01:20:49.097Z","article","NANTUCKET, Mass. — The Nantucket School Committee on May 20 voted to revise emergency‑safety rules and to approve a package of policy updates recommended by the committee’s policy subcommittee.

The committee approved an expanded rules‑and‑procedures attachment to policy JLDBA that creates a crisis support team (CST), adds a new \"imminent danger\" category and formalizes a reentry protocol and wellness plan for students returning after a behavioral‑health evaluation. A motion to update JLDBA‑R&P with the addition of the appropriate school nurse to the CST passed on a voice vote; the meeting record shows the motion, a second and the committee response, \"Aye.\"

Policy subcommittee material presented at the meeting noted the district updated the procedures in part because mobile crisis services transitioned from Gosnold to Fairwinds and the district sought less‑traumatic on‑island options to reduce hospitalizations.

A committee speaker argued that school nurses should be included in the CST because they know students well and can be an accessible adult in crises; district staff said nurses are included when needed and agreed to add language so nurses may be listed among the recipients of reports of harmful behavior or suicidal ideation. \"If it's, a question of semantics, then we can add that to this,\" a policy presenter said during the discussion.

The committee also voted to adopt Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) language and related rule changes for several policies: EEAG (student transportation and private vehicles), EFC (free and reduced‑price meals policy aligned with Massachusetts changes), IJOA (field trips and student travel) and IJND (access to digital resources). The committee voted to remove two outdated policies from the district policy book: ILBA (district program assessments) and IMA (teaching activities and presentations).

The update to EEAG adds a requirement that adult drivers of non‑district vehicles be subject to a satisfactory CORI and/or background check \"in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws and school committee policy,\" language cited in the packet presented to members.

The committee approved the district’s educational support staff collective bargaining agreement for 2025–2028 during the same meeting; the record shows a motion, a second and an \"Aye\" vote. Committee members thanked negotiators for what a presenter described as a \"very successful\" process.

The committee approved several small donations and transfers from community groups and parents, including a $695.27 gift from Friends of Nantucket Public Schools to Nantucket Elementary School, a $485 donation for a teacher‑appreciation lunch and a $2,000 donation for a summer reading program at Cyrus Pierce School.

All policy votes were recorded as motions with seconds and carried on voice votes. The policy presenter said draft documents and quick‑reference guides for crisis response had been shared with building principals and Fairwinds staff prior to the subcommittee review.

Decisions taken at the meeting are effective as of the vote and will be reflected in the district’s policy book and the rules and procedures attachments.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Nantucket School Committee - May 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Nantucket School Committee on May 20 voted to revise emergency‑safety rules to create a crisis support team, add school nurses to notification lists and adopt multiple MASC policy updates.","taxTitle","Nantucket County, Massachusetts","taxId",61456,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6234079,"Nantucket schools report rise in special-education enrollment; new IEP system and wraparound services expanded",2080,494000,2574000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3412112-ae92141507cdd687db55bff85c90d1e1&start=494&end=2574","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3412112-ae92141507cdd687db55bff85c90d1e1/thumbnail_494000.jpg","/articles/6234079/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Nantucket-schools-report-rise-in-special-education-enrollment-new-IEP-system-and-wraparound-services-expanded","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6234079-8035f133e7a6a87278324613ecc61940/orig.mp4?Expires=1773663393&Signature=RTXdX1SEshsgxZSJEqV7LVgqYMKM7cH04Ga4-Qce9rZJQ2kMmRGefOIeveyQkvBIEZSjLIG8lK13ozj3yUBygl7NBG-Kxv250p7ydmsIzeEFBrmWCNPLgI38fESs~wJbQ6ZV8PQFPvICkt5w17F4G7lLcealdOW-ve1zXeddbwaLWcx7qkQSujSxTjnI5aJyJK2oUG7PnQ9bBaO7oKckbo~b9mMxPRFUcIXMaLQEgS97dH1JR4KIiZHSb5gLq97baEHbE6UOtg9PiWCAOJptdwG-9Z0F8oFmgiNiR01EZaYPVcE5BHX7HMd1OHD21Va-jprHRpabgBRZsSYhpHyh6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","NANTUCKET, Mass. — At the May 20 Nantucket School Committee meeting, district special‑services leaders said 354 students were currently qualified for special‑education plans and described implementation steps after a state integrated program monitoring visit.

\"We weren't surprised by any of the findings. They're easily managed,\" Deb Galey, director of special services, told the committee, describing preliminary results of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) site visit and the district’s work to address compliance items.

The special‑education update outlined why the issue matters locally: the district’s caseload grew to 354 active plans from about 335 the prior year, creating demand for in‑district supports, out‑of‑district placements and more coordination with outside providers.

Michelle Cadavid, special‑education coordinator, said the district is supporting \"354 students that are currently qualified\" and reported that 10 of those students are in out‑of‑district residential placements. Cadavid told the committee the data presented were collected as of May 12.

District staff said the special‑education rate in Nantucket is about 19.7 percent of enrollment, compared with a state average cited in the meeting of about 20.6 percent. Cadavid said the district had seen an increase of roughly 19 students since the previous year and noted a rise in referrals tied to DESE’s early‑literacy screening and to English‑language‑learner assessments.

Officials credited a recent switch to EdPlan, a new IEP management system, with raising compliance. Galey and her team said the new system automates notifications and enables parents to sign IEPs digitally; it also provides one‑click translation of completed educational plans into targeted family languages, improving access for Spanish and Portuguese speakers.

Sherry Lewis, coordinator of student support and social‑emotional learning, described growth in 504 accommodation plans and district accommodation plans used before formal 504 placement. \"This past year, we have seen a slight increase in the number of students who are on 5 0 4 plans,\" Lewis said, and added that district accommodation plans emphasize classroom teaching practices before moving to more formal plans.

Leaders described several expanded services used this year: a bridge room program that supports students returning from hospitalization, tiered SEL interventions, small‑group counseling in partnership with the Family Resource Center, canine therapy in all four schools and a pilot of MIO, a mental‑health assessment tool.

Cadavid said 10 students were placed across eight residential schools in Massachusetts and Connecticut and that the district’s aim is to return students to Nantucket when appropriate. She also said the district met federal requirements to consult with private schools and had, when possible, sent providers to private schools so students could remain onsite for services.

Leaders described partnerships that expanded capacity: Youth Villages, now operating on the island since March, offers wraparound family services and has increased the number of slots available to Nantucket students; the district also reported continued collaboration with Fairwinds (mobile crisis) and JRI.

The presentation included workforce and training updates. Cadavid and Galey said the district is pursuing a third school psychologist, and Lewis noted an Orton‑Gillingham literacy cohort that will produce trained teachers across buildings — the presenters cited planned totals of three teachers at Nantucket Elementary School, eight at Nantucket Intermediate School, two at Cyrus Pierce School and two at Nantucket High School when the cohort completes certification.

Committee members thanked staff and asked about student participation in IEP meetings. Galey and Cadavid said students are invited at age 14 and that some students — particularly at the high school — are being trained by liaisons to lead their IEP meetings, voicing what \"works for them, what they need and what they don't need,\" Cadavid said.

No formal committee action was taken during the presentation; the update was delivered as information and followed by questions and committee praise.

The district said it has applied for a two‑year suicide‑prevention grant focused on trauma‑attuned counseling and expected a high likelihood of award; the presenters said specific federal grant allocations were not yet finalized.

Officials closed by thanking staff and noting continued work to monitor compliance and to develop more in‑district services for students with intensive needs.","At the May 20 Nantucket School Committee meeting, district special‑services leaders said 354 students were currently qualified for special‑education plans and described implementation steps after a state integrated program monitoring visit.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6234069,"Superintendent reports 20 teaching openings; new bus driver and food‑service supervisor hired",159,144000,303000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3412112-ae92141507cdd687db55bff85c90d1e1&start=144&end=303","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3412112-ae92141507cdd687db55bff85c90d1e1/thumbnail_144000.jpg","/articles/6234069/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Superintendent-reports-20-teaching-openings-new-bus-driver-and-foodservice-supervisor-hired","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6234069-c6b3f6b825ed2cfafbe77f81023751d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1773663393&Signature=DINIL1Fvd5myUJ1-xRUFzzLZ34hoAo590NM7HD8W6lnEgmfAitsCKKyG86WWNAk9D3O-a6Rp4UdIzqF3u87KaQGhQyrVjfIsRh6BOVRiwnbMm6hHTd0tz1KkGu3~~WJiDILNzKtokI0tmJbE2Wp80-CZ9vdyQFBTjiRIh7hRTj6OMNBSU8899sP8BhLGOLX-ENzhzJ4LzpXhIaa7wm92hJKKnDAoogWBPQMplMKOUGWTRKXpUrz4EpZCRU2iU61sEpNccombDZOYmiL7NiNOv~aSmI0FLF1hAZjMQX-w2y5A6hqpSsvXQioq3nELm1xFL3DC5-s-4KsuHvHRhYOqfw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","NANTUCKET, Mass. — During the Nantucket School Committee’s May 20 meeting, district leadership gave updates on hiring, transportation and food services ahead of the 2025–26 school year.

The superintendent said, \"we have started our hiring season and we have 20 teacher positions,\" noting the district had 17 openings at the previous meeting but additional non‑renewals and resignations raised the count. The superintendent provided a school‑level breakdown: four openings at Nantucket Elementary School, four at Nantucket Intermediate School, five at Cyrus Pierce School and seven at Nantucket High School, and said roughly 10 positions remained to interview and fill.

On transportation, the superintendent announced a new full‑time bus driver, Paul Basinski, who \"began driving for us as a, full time bus driver with the Cape Cod Collaborative.\" Basinski was assigned to a small bus for special‑education students on Thursdays and Fridays and to field trips and athletic routes. The superintendent said Cape Cod Collaborative has hired a new monitor who is training to become a driver and that the district plans route reorganization and a color‑coded bus‑tag system to consolidate stops.

District staff said they hope to begin bus‑transportation signups earlier next season to accommodate summer moves and provide Cape Cod Collaborative more time to finalize routes.

The superintendent also announced a staffing change in food services: Teresa Flores, a cafeteria worker at Nantucket Elementary School, has been hired by Chartwells as the district’s food‑service supervisor. The superintendent said Flores will train with Erin Long, the regional manager, and travel off‑island for additional training on inventory, menu planning and safety protocols.

Committee members asked for clarification on Flores’s role and were told she is an internal promotion rather than an external hire; district staff characterized it as a management training role rather than a full director position.

No committee action was required for the staffing and operations update; the report was provided for information as leaders prepare for recruitment and route planning before September.","At the May 20 Nantucket School Committee meeting district leadership said the hiring season has 20 open teacher positions, the district has a new full‑time bus driver through Cape Cod Collaborative and Chartwells promoted an existing cafeteria worker, Teresa Flores, to food‑service supervisor for Nantucket.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

School committee adopts emergency‑safety rules, multiple policy updates and educational‑support contract

Nantucket schools report rise in special-education enrollment; new IEP system and wraparound services expanded

Superintendent reports 20 teaching openings; new bus driver and food‑service supervisor hired