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Committee approves minor handbook revisions; nursing program adds parental-leave language
Summary
The committee approved the 2025–26 student handbook revisions for the Practical Nursing program; administrators said changes were mostly wording updates and that the handbook now includes parental-leave language to address students who become parents.
The Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical School Committee approved proposed revisions to the 2025–26 student handbook for the Practical Nursing program, with administrators describing most changes as wording clarifications and noting one substantive addition: parental-leave language.
Christine Messina, director of practical nursing, told the committee the handbook previously referenced maternity and was revised to reflect parental leave so the program can address students—both mothers and fathers—who need time off during training. When a committee member asked, Messina confirmed the handbook now includes parental-leave policy language.
Messina explained that nursing clinical programs have limited time for absences and that the school provides counseling and requires medical documentation for leaves; the meeting record did not include the full parental-leave text or the precise number of allowable absence days.
The motion to approve the handbook revisions was made, seconded and approved by roll call. The committee did not read the full policy language into the public minutes during the portion of the meeting provided.
