Wakefield committee updates DCAP rollout, approves payroll warrants and advances policies
Summary
Committee members reviewed the District Curriculum Accommodation Plan (DCAP) rollout and professional development, received a financial briefing (grants down ~$60,000; Circuit Breaker ~ $2,000,000), approved minutes and payroll warrants and advanced multiple policies for a Dec. 9 vote; several policies were approved at the meeting.
The Wakefield School Committee on Nov. 12 discussed the District Curriculum Accommodation Plan (DCAP), professional development tied to the DCAP, and routine business including financial updates and policy votes.
DCAP: Superintendent Dr. Lyons introduced the DCAP as the district’s framework for curriculum accommodations in general education classrooms and said the plan is both a teaching resource and a legal requirement. Curriculum lead (speaker 7) said the DCAP work began in 2020, was revised and finalized last December and has been posted on the district website. The plan clarifies what counts as an accommodation (changes in access or demonstration for instruction) versus a modification (changes to what a student is expected to learn, typically through an IEP), and aligns with the district’s multi-tiered system of supports. The presenter described Oct. 31 professional development with SEAM inclusion specialist Emily (elementary) and special‑education consultant Kelly Mertens (secondary), and gave examples of DCAP supports such as scaffolding, multimodal instruction and graphic organizers. On classroom application, the presenters said many DCAP accommodations can be used for a whole class (common graphic organizers, pacing strategies) and teachers should progress-monitor students and refer to special education after data‑driven pre‑referral steps.
Finance and motions: Finance presenter (speaker 9) said the available balance through Oct. 31 is just over 7.8%, salaries are encumbered, some non‑salary lines remain open and DESE grants submitted to the state were reduced by about $60,000 compared with FY25; the district will cover differences from the local budget. The district received the first Circuit Breaker payment for the year — described as “just over $2,000,000.” Committee member (speaker 3) moved to approve payroll warrants #16 and #18; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously.
Policy actions: The Policy & Communications subcommittee moved to place several policies on the table for vote at the Dec. 9 meeting (sections LA, LB, LBC and LDA). The committee later approved a consolidated motion to adopt policies IKFE (competency determinations), CTE career and technical education policy, middle‑school pathway exploration (coding correction noted), ECAB (access to buildings and grounds) and EFBA (meal modifications) as presented. The committee also confirmed December subcommittee meeting dates and an executive‑session meeting to discuss the superintendent’s contract.
The committee canceled the Nov. 25 meeting because many members and community attendees plan to attend a Wakefield Memorial High School game at Fenway Park; the next regular meeting was set for Dec. 9.
Actions taken at the Nov. 12 meeting included unanimous approval of minutes and payroll warrants, motions to lay policy sections on the table for Dec. 9, and approval of several policies as presented. No new monetary appropriations or contract awards were approved at this meeting.
