Uxbridge School Committee approves comfort-dog policy and hires new superintendent

The Town of Uxbridge School Committee voted on June 24 to adopt policy IMG, which incorporates a comfort-dog provision, and later approved the employment agreement for incoming superintendent David Youngberg following executive session.

On a motion and voice vote the committee accepted policy IMG as presented in the shared drive; Chair said staff would notify Officer DeVoe and Chief Motmani that the policy has been approved. The chair characterized the comfort-dog language as the only substantive change since the committee's prior vote.

Later in the meeting the committee entered executive session "to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with nonunion personnel" specifically to review the contract for David Youngberg. After returning to open session, the committee moved, took a roll-call vote, and approved the employment agreement for Youngberg. Roll-call votes were recorded as affirmative by the members present.

David Youngberg, who was present at the meeting, spoke after the vote and said he appreciated the process and looked forward to starting. "Thank you so much for this opportunity," Youngberg said, and added that he had already met principals, central office staff, parents and some students during his introductory visits.

The committee arranged to circulate the agreement for signatures and said Youngberg's first official day would be in early July, with follow-up meetings and an executive session on June 30 noted on the committee's calendar.