School committee marks wellness and handbook policies reviewed, tables tobacco‑policy updates for later

The Beverly School Committee on March 12 voted to mark the district wellness policy (ADF) and the policy on approval of school handbooks and directives (CHCA) as "reviewed," and delayed further action on a related CHCA‑E handbook approval policy while the district seeks legal counsel review.

Why it matters: committee members said the wellness policy and handbook language match current district practice; the committee also discussed whether the district’s tobacco policy (ADC) needs broader language to address new nicotine and smoking products and agreed to review consolidated policy links.

Actions and votes: the committee voted to mark ADF (school district wellness program) as reviewed and to mark CHCA (approval of handbooks and directives) as reviewed. Roll call votes were recorded during the motion and the chair announced the motion had passed. The committee also agreed to hold CHCA‑E pending attorney review to ensure alignment with discipline and Title IX changes.

Tobacco policy discussion: Committee members raised concerns that ADC’s current wording may not cover newer nicotine delivery devices and other tobacco‑like products. Dr. Flaherty said the district will coordinate with nurse leadership and the wellness committee and check cross‑references to student policy JICH (alcohol, tobacco and drug use by students). Committee members asked staff to work with MASC and the wellness subcommittee to draft broader, non‑product‑specific language and to return with recommended text.

Quotes: Dr. Flaherty noted the challenge of writing rules that remain current: “It’s hard to kind of find that right language that encompasses future things that you may not know are coming.”

Ending: The committee adopted ADF and CHCA as reviewed and asked staff and the wellness committee to prepare broader language for ADC and to return with proposed edits after legal and committee review.