[{"_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",6478465,"mediaKeyId","5708934-a352f88f6cdc8841160989760e1b9250","parentId",5708934,"title","School Committee approves block of policies on second reading; JJ IB pulled for separate consideration","audioSeconds",383,"startMs",3127000,"endMs",3510000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708934-a352f88f6cdc8841160989760e1b9250&start=3127&end=3510","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708934-a352f88f6cdc8841160989760e1b9250/thumbnail_3127000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6478465/Massachusetts/School-Committee-approves-block-of-policies-on-second-reading-JJ-IB-pulled-for-separate-consideration","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478465-52c491e6e38ab24ac1fff717491e6ff8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770386101&Signature=aqseGa-F5h54EqrZDAYdIIGMojN-FWW-MZp4H2YXP9wu1HSDlQx4Fn5oRdOXDKzuhmLkKT4-1mxy~SNzJQmWgfo7fOF4zC91RdT9FcE4KSnwY5JByVfuOc0imBKFb1dbiqB8e4QqCRnyPcNf8GagHFKR1iAgbXS2RpDg5Ouejg26w-0rYtE7el6VJdayuK~yB2EntOceGFPRGgJNm8txUFU~5qdL6KKk7sFnmrddLnsZmxazWh-Njoa9VU~NwXbCye9OSbUqy5pL8b4WnQ4VIwpxZT-dvou-8Q1-qdxl1OKGcZYqr41syDPjBFoHcZZBRfti2srEpizQ-lflDlgPZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Leominster Public Schools, MA","date","2025-09-03T16:26:06Z","article","The Leominster School Committee conducted second readings and votes on several policies during its Sept. 2 meeting, approving a block of policies and voting separately on policy JJ IB after committee members requested clarification.

A committee member moved to approve the second reading of multiple policies; another member, Melissa, seconded the motion and the committee took a block vote. The committee then separated policy JJ IB for individual consideration at the request of members who sought clarity about language addressing athletics, coaches and the authority to stop or forfeit games.

Members discussed whether coaches could make unilateral decisions to forfeit a game, or whether that decision should be coordinated with an athletic director. Committee members said the district's current practice is for coaches to consult the athletic director, and referees or umpires approved by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) may also cancel contests if safety concerns arise.

After discussion, the committee voted on JJ IB (second reading) separately; the policy was approved by voice vote. The meeting record did not contain a roll-call tally with named yes/no votes.

The committee also approved disposal of an obsolete 3D printer (model AF173D) in a separate administrative action and heard updates about facilities and fields.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Leominster School Committee Meeting 09/02/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Committee members approved multiple policy second readings in a block vote and separated policy JJ IB for separate discussion; the separated policy passed after committee discussion about coach/athletic director roles and game cancellations.","taxTitle","Leominster Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",67683,"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},6478468,"Student representatives report longer lunch lines, club fair and CTI staffing and equipment updates",199,784000,983000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708934-a352f88f6cdc8841160989760e1b9250&start=784&end=983","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708934-a352f88f6cdc8841160989760e1b9250/thumbnail_784000.jpg","/articles/6478468/Massachusetts/Student-representatives-report-longer-lunch-lines-club-fair-and-CTI-staffing-and-equipment-updates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478468-4fa9ddedf11c933257966303d55a22bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770386101&Signature=jvk2wEnrtSR6Ya4LPFtKP1EKgDw2LgzbCcFZO2GpnJ9Y10F2TqMZIye7poD9B0OrhWrKVkAkpsBs5~7cyV8zK2ThXtJ0cHgwdcbtXN5QqxQlAQc29P-dzBy4d6j6ZUf5xHXAA3FB-8PhSmLuxB9YVD0WMbt7lfSJFj13swiuITz6JOcH0BN6ZYSEjjv73N2YeY0gr3DOEnf0pTv70~m-QSi6DeWcHUJNrA8iiH2PlB3uJo3mS1PJYRRjPtWatxyjGXgKXtuhBBVz26z0nqCvE1ZM7PWyoiSP1BMRv2qNmKsFwSF1tVFqMembVmhFG3zouwVhZJOLrnaamhhVVxGIsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Student representatives updated the School Committee on school life and program changes during the Sept. 2 meeting.

Von Patel, the Leominster High School student representative, said students are taking dual-enrollment and AP courses, that lunch lines are long though meals remain free, and that a new phone rule requires students to place phones in a pouch at the start of each class and store them until transitions or lunch.

\"This new rule has its pros and cons, but I personally think it's a pretty good rule. More students are being engaged and many students are being distracted, which is an overall plus I'd say,\" Von Patel said. He also listed upcoming events including Senior Sunrise (05:30 at Schollin Farms), a club fair on Sept. 17, an early dismissal on Sept. 17 and Open House on 09/25/2025.

Hirsch Patel, the CTI student representative, said CTI has eight juniors in co-op placements, added four new instructors (in health assisting, HVAC, auto tech and business tech), a new guidance counselor named Kayla Benoit and a new brick-oven pizza oven for the culinary program that \"will be able to fully cook a pizza in 3 minutes or less.\" He also said this is the first year CTI will have seniors in the business-technology program.

The committee thanked the student representatives and encouraged students to continue sharing updates.

No action was required; the reports were informational.","Leominster High School and CTI student reps told the committee that lunches are crowded but free, new cell-phone pouch rules are in effect, a club fair and Open House are upcoming, and CTI has added instructors and a brick-oven pizza oven.",{"_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},6478472,"Superintendent reports smoother bus routes, new classroom lockboxes and portables as school year begins",298,1030000,1328000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708934-a352f88f6cdc8841160989760e1b9250&start=1030&end=1328","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708934-a352f88f6cdc8841160989760e1b9250/thumbnail_1030000.jpg","/articles/6478472/Massachusetts/Superintendent-reports-smoother-bus-routes-new-classroom-lockboxes-and-portables-as-school-year-begins","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478472-c6fae7593256defa7781a76abe0b7b71/orig.mp4?Expires=1770386101&Signature=EE2otwVa3MNaoLQTo1ZlWX89972m7X40Ml6PEKs2N8XYQ38EXc-Pr3r0MnySps32Tunh9~TyncIloZrkjxhu5sIZTjfNh5T-KcFHtg7tyZ961USH6eDUOhKfMn3~ObOEWUCVKqzYYRaccOh4HMamEc8fs-6AE18gW4KKgn-oAZyao8FuLSJ6yQCBMlD~tak3FpxZyzCW9JANf2lhxY6lr6UN0IkKdBOPIpq3CqbeIp9AlpLDhMonHqoHIzV5VmwoIcOXghGQUCeRXnZxWevs1xMquq3cAZVsJtWHmGS4JSk2kASOPGEcLGtzNKQ9~pbLrH7XflxMRuYdcnxtOkGllA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Desmond updated the School Committee on back-to-school operations during the Sept. 2 meeting, citing portable classrooms at Francis Drake, a new playground, classroom lockboxes for phones and ongoing adjustments to bus routes.

Desmond said the district welcomed students in grades 1'12 on Aug. 27 and noted that kindergarten and preschool students returned the week of the meeting. She said Francis Drake opened new portables now being used for pre-kindergarten and that the playground installation there was completed over the summer.

She told the committee the district purchased lockboxes for all high-school classrooms so students can secure phones at the start of class; at the middle-school level the district is practicing \"bell-to-bell\" phone storage where devices are locked when students arrive and unlocked at dismissal.

\"At our high school level, we are allowing the phones to be utilized during transition times and during lunch,\" Desmond said. She added that the district supports the phone-storage practices because staff are seeing \"more engaged students and less distractions during the educational times.\" The superintendent encouraged families to download the district's bus app, which she said provides precise bus arrival times as routes are refined.

Student representatives offered updates relevant to operations: Von Patel, the Leominster High School student representative, described longer lunch lines but said free lunch remains available and highlighted upcoming events including homecoming and the first home football game. A CTI representative, Hirsch Patel, reported staffing additions at the Career and Technical Institute, a new signboard and a brick-oven pizza oven capable of cooking a pizza in about three minutes.

Desmond thanked staff, city departments and the committee for support over the summer on projects ranging from portables to playgrounds and repairs. She said busing has improved each day since adding kindergarten routes but asked for patience while routes settle.

No committee vote was taken; the report was informational.","Superintendent Desmond told the committee that Kindergarten and preschool students returned this week, the district added classroom lockboxes for high school phone storage, new portables were opened at Francis Drake and a new playground installed; busing remains a work in progress and families are urged to use the district's bus app.",{"_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},6478477,"Special education parent advisory council reports growth, outreach and volunteer-led programs",789,2320000,3109000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708934-a352f88f6cdc8841160989760e1b9250&start=2320&end=3109","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708934-a352f88f6cdc8841160989760e1b9250/thumbnail_2320000.jpg","/articles/6478477/Massachusetts/Special-education-parent-advisory-council-reports-growth-outreach-and-volunteer-led-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478477-d0bb4ee65e4a0e9ccf5ba22b57dcb139/orig.mp4?Expires=1770386101&Signature=WY6PXwUrrtaPlNDZdXGdALH2uPkLPigKCVWrdZoWrrz8dFSxz2x32IfkPMp1PTrF4s4OiIbRzxKAQQTby3R84mQgxt3yPhzgPEGzzr6fAf-GZy~PZym5lBQII8owoC04VgTu1Z5kAp7eceFa7d4a0qWgYOrXUefeCT6QkENHLRcTDJWwyX~sDivSKEuaBREo72DNEP~YD7jFDIqEJibQ1Qv21IFtB7yg6qegOTfrsDXT0Kgtt7RbSmK3eAqoQycECKT9cC~s4EfXP62pGafGkDmx-07h7o9MITbsNyWuEhP8l0QQVc~k7xLIhhRQqhxlR0LFDZXRYYWptInaosrDPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Laura Van Dorn, the district's special education administrator, and Angela Thomas, president of the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (CPAC), described CPAC's work to the School Committee on Sept. 2 and asked for continued committee support.

Van Dorn said the district serves more than 1,400 students with IEPs or 504 plans and that CPAC is made up of volunteer parents who provide a point of contact and a support network for those families.

\"We are here to just give you an update on how this group of volunteer parents is supporting our over 1,400 students and families in the district who qualify as either a student with an IEP or a 504,\" Van Dorn said.

Thomas said CPAC recently revamped its bylaws, established defined roles (vice president, communications coordinator, technology coordinator, liaison coordinator) and created one-page summaries and postcards to reach families. The council has designated liaisons in each school and added a language liaison to reach non-English-speaking families.

CPAC leaders said they are rolling out anonymous surveys to gather parent feedback and are active on Facebook, Instagram and other platforms. Thomas said the group plans regular monthly meetings and a calendar of inclusive events and workshops for families.

A committee member asked about a remark in the presentation that Massachusetts is one of seven states that \"has a law requiring CPAC.\" Van Dorn and Thomas said that state-level groups such as MASPAC and the Federation for Children with Special Needs provide broader support and that the local CPAC benefits from having an institutional role.

CPAC requested that committee members and school staff point families to the group at open houses and other school events and thanked volunteers for expanding the council's reach.

No formal action was taken; the session was an informational update.","The district's Special Education Parent Advisory Council (CPAC) told the School Committee it has expanded membership, built a school-by-school liaison structure, and is running surveys, workshops and outreach to support families of students with IEPs and 504 plans.",{"_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},6478482,"Leominster School Committee launches five-year strategic plan process, seeks broad community input",781,1480000,2261000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708934-a352f88f6cdc8841160989760e1b9250&start=1480&end=2261","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708934-a352f88f6cdc8841160989760e1b9250/thumbnail_1480000.jpg","/articles/6478482/Massachusetts/Leominster-School-Committee-launches-five-year-strategic-plan-process-seeks-broad-community-input","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478482-8785192ddeaa312ab6ce6d56627d4fab/orig.mp4?Expires=1770386101&Signature=MH3k1aaFoORpZ3awsX1ioCYenSnSlRGnKsfDSxOJG2Tg42DFimQxtzp5iI99KIpAeYxegiz4SQmYRIGoHYiSvw3dWJttQMH9CQajWGllwc2w855C~UsXJyvtH496B0X423RkZ2yvfNzugyAwmNC-aGxOpRXOaBm3~rXmOiKv2jjbQD4bm5mL-~ijR8sDPSIIjWTNjsEsxn57mTLur0TXIzJNOuuF-2PDxXv~9y6q-ZVSsVI4nPoegW-bgAfqAz4X6L0-o6QVi2xwB9p-7vEKv0qOcH4VFBmGSH8sW6XUXwaZahqHP~yeJI7GBZYgNe2ernPZ7cTzOShYZLXWT-bLIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Leominster School Committee on Sept. 2 heard a timeline and outreach plan for the district's next five-year strategic plan, with administrators asking committee members and the public to participate in surveys, focus groups and school-site visits.

Loreen Cipolla, who presented the timeline to the committee, said the planning work will begin in earnest in October and that the district will run an \"organizational diagnostic\" this fall including surveys, interviews with cabinet members and virtual focus groups for families, staff, students and community stakeholders.

\"There will be families, teaching staff, community stakeholders, including yourselves, and students and building administration will take part in focus groups that will be moderated to gather data,\" Cipolla said. She said the district will also conduct two-day site visits at each school and compile district data for the steering committee to review.

Superintendent Desmond told the committee the steering committee will include the superintendent, Cipolla, administrators for special education and English learners, building administrators across grade spans, teachers, and business, facilities and operations staff. The committee is expected to do the bulk of its work from November through February so the final plan can take effect on July 1.

Committee members pressed for clarity about scope and outcomes. A committee member, Ron, asked whether the plan would set an overarching systemwide vision and how many goals the district would set. Cipolla said the last plan produced five goals and the district plans to streamline to \"three, maybe four overall arching goals\" with multiple initiatives underneath.

Cipolla and Desmond emphasized that the process is intended to be iterative and transparent, with working-session feedback loops to peers and stakeholders between steering-committee meetings. \"We're going to gather data along the way, both formative and then summative to see how we're doing on this,\" Cipolla said.

The presenters urged the committee to help publicize the surveys and virtual sessions. \"People certainly watch these sessions, and so we like to use you as a conduit to let our parents and the community know that we would like their information in the surveys,\" Cipolla said.

The committee discussed connecting routine presentations and agenda items back to strategic-plan goals so future meetings show how individual topics advance the plan. Cipolla said the district will provide regular updates as the steering committee compiles and tests draft goals and measures.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the plan during the meeting; the presentation laid out the planned process and schedule for community engagement and internal work.","District staff told the School Committee the district will start the strategic planning process in October, with surveys, focus groups, site visits and a steering committee working through February to deliver a plan to take effect July 1.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

School Committee approves block of policies on second reading; JJ IB pulled for separate consideration

Student representatives report longer lunch lines, club fair and CTI staffing and equipment updates

Superintendent reports smoother bus routes, new classroom lockboxes and portables as school year begins

Special education parent advisory council reports growth, outreach and volunteer-led programs

Leominster School Committee launches five-year strategic plan process, seeks broad community input