Easton School Committee approves health and student-policy updates, accepts donations and retirements, removes book from elementary library

Easton School Committee members voted on a series of policy updates and routine items during their March 13, 2025 meeting, approving second readings of multiple student-health and safety policies, authorizing use of school grounds for a community bike race that will donate a portion of proceeds to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, accepting a $500 ExxonMobil Educational Alliance grant for STEAM activities at Oliver Ames, and formally accepting two retirements. The committee also voted to remove one book from Blanche Ames Elementary’s library after a parent challenge found the title not developmentally appropriate for younger students.

The committee approved second readings of multiple student-related policies that had been reviewed by staff and the district nurse. Colleen Clark, Easton Public Schools director of nursing, presented the draft language and answered committee questions on items including student health services, immunization language, communicable-disease updates and medication administration. Revisions reflected updated screening language (vision/hearing), clarified emergency procedures and added guidance on self-administration protocols for older students.

Committee members approved the policies in two motions covering: JL (student welfare); JLA (student insurance); JLCA (physical examinations); JLC (student health services and requirements); JLCB (inoculations); JLCC (communicable diseases); JLCD (administering medicines to students); JLCEC (automatic external defibrillator/AED); ADF (wellness guidelines); and JICH-R (administrative guidelines on student drug and alcohol use). The committee discussed other first- and second-reading policy edits during the meeting (see below).

On donations and facility use, the committee approved permitting the Easton 300 bike race to use Easton Public Schools grounds. Meeting materials and discussion clarified that the district will donate use of…