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Duxbury committee outlines short-term Title IX changes; shares cell-phone toolkit and grant update
Summary
The Duxbury School Committee discussed federal Title IX rule changes, local protections and communications steps, reviewed an attorney general toolkit on phones and social media, and reported that a temporary freeze on some federal discretionary grants had been rescinded.
The Duxbury School Committee on Jan. 29 addressed recent federal guidance changes to Title IX and described next steps for district policy, shared a toolkit for cell-phone and social-media use in schools, and reported that a temporary pause on some federal discretionary grants affecting school districts has been rescinded.
District leaders told committee members that a recent federal change reverts Title IX enforcement language to 2020 regulations for complaints filed under the federal program. The committee was told the change removes the prior Department of Education's expanded language regarding gender identity from the federal enforcement text and that, in Massachusetts, state law and regulations continue to provide protections for students. The committee indicated it will revert district Title IX policy language to the 2020 version required for federal filings and will bring revised policy language back for committee review.
Committee members heard from district staff about a new toolkit developed by the Massachusetts attorney general's office addressing cell phones and social media in schools. The district added the toolkit to the meeting packet and described three components: a model "bell-to-bell" school-day phone policy, guidance for community norms about phone and social-media use outside school hours, and digital/media-literacy curriculum resources. School leaders said the district already has an established cell-phone policy and that the toolkit will be shared with the policy subcommittee for possible review.
Superintendent-level staff also briefed the committee about federal grant status. The district reported that a short-lived memorandum pausing discretionary Department of Education grants had been rescinded and that formula grants including Title I and IDEA were not affected by the temporary pause. The committee was told current district federal funding streams include Title I, Title II, Title IV, IDEA, EEC grants, and USDA school nutrition reimbursements.
Members discussed outreach steps: the district plans to send messages to families reiterating obligations under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Massachusetts guidelines on student privacy and safety. Committee members requested the policy subcommittee bring back draft language to reflect the reverted federal Title IX language and to note where Massachusetts law provides additional protections.
