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Committee reviews handbook revisions including cell-phone rules and restorative discipline framework
Summary
The committee reviewed 2025-26 handbook changes: a Supreme Court-related curriculum accommodation statement, new elementary cell-phone guidance that requires devices be "off and away," middle-school updates to eligibility and disciplinary menu, and a vote approving the high-school handbook.
The School Committee reviewed proposed revisions to student handbooks for 2025—26, including a new statement addressing curriculum accommodations after the June 27 Supreme Court decision referenced as Mahmoud v. Taylor, added elementary cell-phone guidelines, and a reworked middle-school discipline and extracurricular-eligibility approach.
A staff member read guidance recommended by legal counsel that the district include language about curricular materials and parent accommodation requests following the June 27 decision. The staff member said the district is "waiting on guidance just from DESE and from the state on if there are any other additional guidance that we need to have or procedures and protocols."
On cell phones, the committee discussed new guidelines for Clough and Memorial that make elementary cell phones allowable for students but require them to be "off and away during the school day, during learning time." The handbook language outlines graduated consequences: a first verbal reminder and return at the end of the day, a second offense requiring parent pick-up, and a third offense prompting a meeting to determine whether the device should continue to be brought to school.
Middle-school handbook revisions standardize dismissal procedures, add eligibility language for after-school activities that mirrors athletic rules, and shift disciplinary consequences into a "menu" model that groups restorative, reflective and informational interventions. The middle-school administrator said the menu approach gives staff flexibility to tailor interventions and emphasized supports such as structured-day assignments and social restrictions before resorting to exclusionary discipline.
The committee moved to approve the Nipmuc High School handbook for 2025—26; a motion was seconded and the committee voted, "Aye. Motion carries." The superintendent said the high-school handbook had no substantive changes this year aside from the curriculum-accommodation language tied to the June Supreme Court decision.
Committee members asked clarifying questions about enforcement, parent communication and how the district will adapt if pending state legislation on student device use advances; staff said they will update handbooks further if state regulations change.
