North Middlesex Regional School Committee forwards several student policies for first reading, tables school-choice changes

The North Middlesex Regional School Committee reviewed a package of student policies and on several motions voted to advance changes for a first reading by the full committee, while tabling and referring other items for legal review.

Committee chair Lisa Bloom said the meeting was part of a scheduled five-year policy review cycle: "This is a 5 year review cycle. So we'll start with policy JAFBD, which is the homeless students enrollment rights and services." The committee discussed updated language from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) and small, mostly editorial changes to multiple policies.

Why it matters: the policies reviewed affect how the district enrolls and serves students who are homeless, in foster care, military-connected, attending from out-of-state, or subject to discipline and bus-conduct rules. The committee voted to move several items forward to the full school committee for a formal first reading, paused a package of changes affecting school choice, and asked legal counsel to review certain proposed wording changes.

Actions taken and…