School committee approves transportation contracts, handbooks, donation and budget transfer; denies logo use request

The Easton School Committee voted Sept. 4 to approve three transportation contracts to support students covered under the McKinney‑Vento Act, adopt updated Oliver Ames handbooks, accept an anonymous staff donation and authorize a $5,000 internal budget transfer. Committee members declined to grant a local mortgage company blanket use of the district logo.

The committee’s actions included three separate contract approvals for McKinney‑Vento transportation: ADA Transportation ($88,000 not‑to‑exceed), Purple Lady Transportation ($88,000 not‑to‑exceed) and Alpha Ride/Alpha Bridal Pupil Transportation ($60,000 not‑to‑exceed). The committee approved each contract by recorded roll call; every voting member present voted “yes.” The contracts are for McKinney‑Vento transportation obligations (students who qualify as homeless under federal law); administrators said the not‑to‑exceed figures are conservative estimates and that the district will return to the committee if spending approaches the contract ceilings.

The committee also approved the Oliver Ames (OA) student handbook and the OA student athletics handbook after edits requested at the Aug. 14 meeting were incorporated. The athletic handbook addendum includes new language on roster expectations (no automatic roster guarantee except a three‑year varsity participation exception for seniors). The committee voted to adopt both documents by roll call.

Separately the committee accepted an anonymous donation of $2,620.72 to purchase a small retractable…