Committee approves middle‑school program of studies; handbooks get first reading amid cell‑phone policy concerns

Superintendent McDonald presented the second reading of the middle‑school program of studies and noted no substantive changes since June. Members raised objections that an earlier proposal to add a grade‑8 engineering/STEM course (and move an 8th‑grade writing class to grade 7) did not appear in the current program because the position was cut in budget reductions. Ms. Duffy and other members said the absence of the STEM course shortchanges 8th‑grade science and engineering instruction and urged prioritizing the position in the next budget.

Superintendent and staff said restoring the course would require funding to hire a teacher or reallocate positions; committee members agreed budget season is the appropriate venue to raise the request. After discussion, the committee moved to approve the 2025–26 middle‑school program of studies. The vote passed 5–2.

The committee then began a first reading of the 2025–26 handbooks for high school, middle and elementary levels. Superintendent McDonald summarized modest changes (credit‑recovery language, updated residency policy language for grades 4 and 8, updated bullying/harassment language, ParentSquare messaging and bicycle/scooter safety). Members flagged inconsistent cell‑phone policies — stricter bans in middle schools versus limited allowances in the high school — and asked the policy subcommittee to review options. The handbooks were accepted at first reading without amendment.