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Grafton School Committee approves Grafton High School handbook after removing middle‑school reference
Summary
The school committee voted unanimously to accept the 2025–26 Grafton High School handbook with a change removing a reference that suggested middle‑school infractions would carry over. The committee asked staff to clarify language that strikes at GHS are cumulative while at GHS.
The Grafton School Committee voted unanimously June 10 to accept the 2025–26 Grafton High School handbook after a committee member won approval to remove a reference implying middle‑school discipline would carry over to the high school.
Committee members said the contested language — a two‑word reference in the AI/academic integrity section — could confuse families by implying a districtwide policy when the item applies only to the high school. "This is a high school handbook," a committee member said, arguing parents of middle‑school students would search in vain for a matching middle‑school policy if the reference remained.
Superintendent Dr. Cummings told the committee the high school drafted the language as a procedure and protocol rather than a district policy, and he recommended keeping the handbook with the two words removed. Committee discussion considered alternatives including an asterisk or a short sentence clarifying that prior issues do not carry over; members settled on striking the middle‑school reference and clarifying that "strikes are cumulative over years in courses while at Grafton High School."
The motion to accept the handbook with the explicit caveat to remove the middle‑school reference was made, seconded and approved with the result recorded by the chair as "Motion carries 4‑0." The committee voted to take the change immediately and finalize the handbook for distribution to families.
Committee members thanked the policy subcommittee and staff — including Kayla, Mandy and Jay — for drafting the handbook and preparing the revised language. Dr. Cummings and staff will publish the updated document for family distribution before the next school year.
The committee did not change other substantive elements of the handbook during the vote. Members noted the board had previously removed broader district language from the AI policy during an earlier draft, and links to policy text were added to the handbook as requested by the committee.
No additional follow‑up motion was taken at the meeting; staff were directed to publish the corrected handbook language and proceed with distribution.
