[{"_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",6492905,"mediaKeyId","5796911-2d4eb14b9e66cfa2b048867d63651a84","parentId",5796911,"title","Votes at a glance: Easton School Committee, Sept. 18, 2025 — trips, contracts, grants, goals, minutes and personnel actions","audioSeconds",1932,"startMs",3753000,"endMs",5685000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5796911-2d4eb14b9e66cfa2b048867d63651a84&start=3753&end=5685","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5796911-2d4eb14b9e66cfa2b048867d63651a84/thumbnail_3753000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6492905/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Easton-School-Committee-Sept-18-2025-trips-contracts-grants-goals-minutes-and-personnel-actions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6492905-9a0b673f39b0c28aff7da3e83d463e83/orig.mp4?Expires=1771001850&Signature=JaJfecT~5xoWIdL4GgG3oBSMf-7NJZIGstasJIicvr49nxwpsnI~LTThFer-NZLO-Kpu5gdUdOs9SMoslwdAt9IGESYaHzPI~ICXtyfaSnZY3RErWpOBgOn07jQxIRb5bFz1XBX65YDAwkfc4bwDpDebuGagmnqY1KnM2mwEXSQed1R9WyR7zErUXp5CT6Q9nxvmwY1pM7RMAQhWYfDFNtBm~zOvDF2T19KVdH-u9GpOWB5qaT9imq5adBCjlkoBRXBzME9oPx4dfqQd5n0M0T~p4YYShadJEvtcY044Jw2budSNy3WyG9ZSXCJd59eOk5iCwT1nNh5piR~d9LTKQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Easton Public Schools. MA","date","2025-09-20T00:53:41Z","article","At its Sept. 18 meeting the Easton School Committee recorded votes on a range of routine and substantive items. The committee conducted voice votes for most items; explicit tallies were not recorded on the public transcript for these motions.

Key actions approved (voice votes unless noted):

- Out‑of‑state overnight student trip: Approved a Close‑Up trip to Washington, D.C., planned for March 1–6 with an anticipated 20–30 students; teacher Courtney Kenny presented the trip and estimated a cost \"a little less than $2,000\" per student (final cost to be determined upon registration).

- Contracts: Approved multiple vendor contracts presented on the agenda, including Konica (five‑year lease), the Natural Resources Trust (NRT) contract for $28,260 (with $20,000 covered by the Oliver Ames Trust), Industrial Burner (approximately $45,000), Wally Computers (reseller for IT hardware, $35,500), and IXL Learning ($28,125). District staff said several contracts reflect reduced spending compared with prior years and noted some funds (e.g., $20,000 from the Oaks Ames Trust) offset operating costs.

- Banner sponsors: Approved three new banner sponsors for display on school property: Senior Aerospace, DeRosenzo Charitable Foundation, and Village Ski.

- JJIF / JJIF‑R (concussion policy): The committee voted on an amendment to include baseline concussion testing for all sports (passed on voice vote) but later voted to table the policy and asked the policy subcommittee to draft clearer language about opt-outs and funding; the subcommittee will meet on Sept. 30 to work on revised language and return to the full committee.

- Grant acceptance: Accepted a Comprehensive School Health Services (CSHS) grant award of $33,500 from the Bureau of Community Health and Prevention to support health-office equipment, vision and hearing screening equipment, iPads for diabetes monitoring, professional development for nurses and supplemental nursing coverage.

- Superintendent goals: Approved the superintendent’s two‑year goals covering student learning, district improvement for social-emotional and physical well-being, and professional practice (communication and community engagement). The district noted evidence collection and mid-cycle review points.

- Budget adjustment request: Approved a requested intra-district budget transfer of $1,500; district finance staff will propose a future agenda item outlining a threshold process to streamline small purchases.

- Professional status recipients: Approved the list of certificated staff eligible for professional teacher status; the district will hold a reception on Oct. 9 prior to the meeting to honor recipients.

- Minutes and warrants: Approved multiple meeting minutes (with noted edits) and warrant 018S; tabled one set of executive-session minutes for further review.

Other actions: The committee voted to enter executive session under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30A, Section 21(a)(7) and Section 21(a)(2) and returned to open session later in the evening.

Where transcript excerpts record motions but not a roll-call vote, the committee used standard voice votes and the meeting minutes will show the formal records. Committee members asked staff to provide follow-up details on contract language, funding sources for programs and to bring policy language on JJIF/JJIF‑R back through the policy subcommittee for a future vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Easton School Committee Meeting 9/18/25","oneSentenceSummary","The school committee approved multiple contracts, accepted a $33,500 health-services grant, approved the superintendent’s goals and several personnel and administrative items. One policy (JJIF/JJIF‑R) was amended on the floor then tabled to the policy subcommittee for further language and budget work.","taxTitle","Easton Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",71295,"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},6492910,"School committee votes amendment to expand baseline concussion testing to all sports, then tables policy for policy-subcommittee review",946,2527000,3473000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5796911-2d4eb14b9e66cfa2b048867d63651a84&start=2527&end=3473","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5796911-2d4eb14b9e66cfa2b048867d63651a84/thumbnail_2527000.jpg","/articles/6492910/Massachusetts/School-committee-votes-amendment-to-expand-baseline-concussion-testing-to-all-sports-then-tables-policy-for-policy-subcommittee-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6492910-df82a8022d5ad952c59e8c2fd4edc052/orig.mp4?Expires=1771001850&Signature=N1dhxUCJA1dT8lNHVNtvZn3-DxSn4Ce1~g2Hg8kdG5SlmI550rRq6o10jdCcDApd41Ks6bR~webY7z0IFsqrRaPTVfPmufns5hvKbS9eDwWALzcHJfRB7UMeIvV-j~fN0EafbpZJqELjwGzagTkBu2dvpStVEOu9xlgbAN0AjERw2lGeyvIQMiiKXrCEUlbBnQlMYcqXoTn81BbglKKEMpOxWGvI6z9QPx03cxL~xTrEksEqId7zrVMj-SAGPamaX7lzYwah93GPgU8qeUxPqNkR00F69vgtcur~jrt~uTuZ4Kt6c0CONzr9lO7Bs4YhMvKJccFsSdZuYnXxTYWYYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Easton School Committee voted on Sept. 18 to amend district policy JJIF and JJIF‑R to require baseline concussion (impact) testing for students participating in all school sports, but committee members later voted to table final adoption and referred the policy language to the policy subcommittee for revision.

The discussion, which included the athletic director and the district’s athletic trainer by consultation, centered on whether baseline testing should be limited to collision/contact sports or extended to all athletes. Mary McDonald, the district athletic director, described the baseline tests as an online assessment that takes about 20 to 30 minutes and currently is required for the district’s collision and contact sports. She said the purpose of baseline testing is to provide a pre-injury reference for the trainer when managing return-to-play decisions.

\"Ultimately, anyone can have a concussion,\" McDonald told the committee and said that, in principle, testing all athletes would be feasible but would increase costs. When asked for a cost estimate, she said, \"My guess would be maybe an additional thousand dollars roughly,\" for the district to expand testing beyond currently mandated sports.

Committee members raised implementation questions including whether multi-sport athletes need repeat testing each season (McDonald said testing is done once and is valid for two years) and whether parents should have an opt-out option. McDonald said that district trainers follow return-to-play protocols regardless of whether a baseline test exists and that the baseline is an additional tool used during medical clearance.

A public commenter with swimmers in the district, Christie McDonough of 14 Cedar Drive, urged the district to include swimmers and divers when determining which sports are considered collision sports because she has seen head injuries at swim meets and said her college swimmer was required to complete baseline testing by the NCAA.

After discussion, committee member Lauren moved to amend JJIF and JJIF‑R to include all sports; that motion was seconded and passed on a voice vote. Later in the meeting the committee voted to table the policy and asked the policy subcommittee to draft clearer implementation language, including whether parents may opt out and how additional costs would be addressed; the committee scheduled a policy-subcommittee review on Sept. 30 and directed staff to return with recommended language.

The committee did not finalize whether the expanded baseline testing would be mandatory or allow parental opt-out; several members flagged the timing problem that formal policy amendments require two readings, which could delay an individual athlete’s ability to participate if the committee tried to finalize opt-out rules immediately.

No precise vote tallies were recorded on the floor for the amendment or the tabling motion; committee members used standard \"all in favor\" voice votes for most motions during the meeting. The athletic director said the district can implement expanded testing if funds are made available or if the committee chooses a phased approach and that the athletic trainer recommended testing all athletes but acknowledged practical trade-offs.

The committee asked staff to bring draft policy language to the policy subcommittee and return to the full committee with suggested language and budget implications.","After debate on costs, equity and opt-out mechanics, the Easton School Committee voted to amend policy JJIF/JJIF‑R to include baseline concussion testing for all sports but later voted to table the policy and asked the policy subcommittee to draft clearer language on opt-outs and implementation.",{"_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},6492915,"Oliver Ames prepares for NEASC visit after year-long self-study identifying curriculum and ‘‘vision of the graduate’’ as priorities",967,1088000,2055000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5796911-2d4eb14b9e66cfa2b048867d63651a84&start=1088&end=2055","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5796911-2d4eb14b9e66cfa2b048867d63651a84/thumbnail_1088000.jpg","/articles/6492915/Massachusetts/Oliver-Ames-prepares-for-NEASC-visit-after-year-long-self-study-identifying-curriculum-and-vision-of-the-graduate-as-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6492915-802d03a191d836b892fd16a90e151e68/orig.mp4?Expires=1771001850&Signature=A3FH~EAjBUfM4jpzEwF42YQToSoiM7TvQo54HpMqJFM7iyQifHDNXQpl32x9nSfP~xOFURyC2ao4S6w7nfzYLUWD4WYd7s08ojGMXnpPWYAkC0HXCbZWaLwMhEVUrT4pEW4GjRfFA4GqmSYrFwGcMFhDO-VaSfI5YNXOoYHHGnZ84kAuZIlI2PgdPVZUEUHt39I9Y8d8abXrOoV3ATMwRqAEvVzDOSGobDcsdZ1pMoXEAl8~l41wQGF9Zgl71V7XjWhj3ttBKusBdEpDhxjLeY5dSAnE~dVcmUNqpIRyWBw97Qs1vhes6Kl5EcqayM4lFL~q-9Ni~4Z22OpNAIYopg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Oliver Ames High School will host a two-day accreditation visit from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) in October after a year-long self-study, Principal Kavanaugh told the Easton School Committee on Sept. 18.

The visit will include classroom observations, meetings with students, parents and teachers, and a review of a self-study the school produced over the past academic year, Kavanaugh said. The NEASC team will return a written report about six to eight weeks after the visit.

NEASC is a regional accreditor that evaluates schools on five standards with student learning at the center, Kavanaugh said. \"What we love about the NEASC process is the emphasis is about growth,\" she said. The school used a steering committee of staff, students and parents and said the process is intended to identify priority areas and support plans for improvement.

In their self-assessment, school leaders listed the school’s facilities and breadth of programs — including auditorium, wood and metal shops and culinary spaces — as strengths. They said those facilities support curriculum delivery across subject areas.

But the report identified two foundational elements that are not yet fully met: completion of a district-wide \"vision of the graduate\" (a statement of desired knowledge, skills and dispositions for students at graduation) and completion and consistent implementation of the written curriculum across courses and teachers. Kavanaugh said the school has taken the district’s foundational transfer goals and is working to align those to a formal vision of the graduate and to finish curriculum units.

Other areas of growth the school cited included more professional development time and clarity and training for co-teaching models, stronger library supports after a transition year, and assignment of a chemical hygiene officer for science labs.

Councils’ co-chair Chris Coutros and co-chair Marissa Souza joined Kavanaugh in the presentation and detailed the self-study process, noting that NEASC focuses on growth rather than punitive evaluation. Assistant Superintendent Pruitt and other district leaders said the district will publish stage-one unit outlines on the district website and hold a public announcement to share curricular stage-one documents once they are ready.

Kavanaugh and Coutros said the NEASC visit will include a final conversation with the visit chair at the end of the site visit and an opportunity for faculty debrief. \"They give us feedback on our self reflection and the priority areas and goals we've set for ourselves to accomplish over the next two years,\" Kavanaugh said.

The committee was invited to participate in parts of the visit and to serve on a parent committee; Kavanaugh asked members to let her know if they wanted to join. The presentation closed with district leaders thanking the steering committee, co-chairs and faculty for their work preparing the self-study and the visit.

The school committee did not take formal action on the NEASC presentation itself; the presentation was informational and previewed the October visit and follow-up reporting timeline.","Principal and co-chairs told the Easton School Committee that an October NEASC accreditation team will review Oliver Ames High School’s self-study, which finds strong facilities and student supports but needs work finishing written curriculum and formalizing a district-wide \"vision of the graduate.\"","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Easton School Committee, Sept. 18, 2025 — trips, contracts, grants, goals, minutes and personnel actions

School committee votes amendment to expand baseline concussion testing to all sports, then tables policy for policy-subcommittee review

Oliver Ames prepares for NEASC visit after year-long self-study identifying curriculum and ‘‘vision of the graduate’’ as priorities