School committee approves 2025–26 student handbook updates, adds formal "student failing" protocol

The Auburn School Committee approved updates to the 2025–26 student handbooks, including a newly formalized "student failing" protocol for teachers, counselors and families.

The committee voted to approve the handbooks as presented. The motion passed on a voice vote recorded as "Aye." No roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting minutes provided.

What changed Superintendent Dr. Chamberlain said most handbook changes are minor and routine, but the packet included a new middle-school process titled student failing protocol. The protocol establishes an escalation workflow: teacher check-ins, counselor team review, scheduled parent meetings, weekly monitoring of attendance and academic progress, and a reassessment step after two to three weeks to determine whether additional interventions are needed.

Why it matters Administrators described the protocol as intended to identify problems earlier and coordinate supports before a student reaches "the point of no return" academically. Committee members praised the document as a tool to increase home contact and clarify expectations for students, teachers and families.

Next steps Committee members discussed the cell-phone policy as a distinct forthcoming issue and agreed the handbook vote would allow schools to begin preparing materials for next year. The committee may revisit the handbooks later if the cell-phone committee recommends changes.

Votes Motion: "Approve updates to the student handbooks as presented for the 2025–26 school year." Outcome: approved (voice vote recorded as "Aye").