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Subcommittee reviews attendance, activity-account, animals-in-school and reserves policies; several items set for follow-up
Summary
The subcommittee reviewed updates to student activity accounts, attendance/health protocols, animals-in-school rules and E&D reserves; JJF, JH and IMG language will be revised or advanced for first reading and administrators will recirculate certain items for further review.
Members of the North Middlesex Regional School District policy subcommittee reviewed a package of policy updates and set several items for follow-up or first reading.
Student activity accounts (JJF): The committee compared the district’s 2014 policy with the more recent MASC model and discussed audit findings about class funds. A finance reviewer recommended shortening the time a graduating class’s funds remain open (MASC suggests no longer than two years rather than five), and members agreed to update procedures and consider regulatory guidance on encouraging classes to spend or claim remaining balances.
Attendance and excused absences (JH): Committee members agreed to remove language that required sending students home for bed bugs while keeping processes for identifying untreated active lice (dismissal to be confirmed by the school nurse). The subcommittee also accepted updated wording on caregivers providing contact information at the start of the school year, clarified examples of what counts as instructional time for attendance (including approved remote instruction or tutoring) and confirmed that the district will notify caregivers after specified unexcused absence thresholds consistent with state guidance.
Animals in schools (IMG): The subcommittee approved moving IMG forward for a first reading after adding language to explicitly allow service dogs and law-enforcement dogs on school grounds with proof of current rabies vaccination and to retain provisions for therapy/emotional-support animals. Principals will retain authority to approve animals for educational purposes and the policy will include conditions to protect students with dog‑related fears.
E&D reserves discussion: The chair circulated sample reserve policies (Pentucket and Triton) and asked members to review options for limiting annual reliance on E&D as an operating revenue source; the subcommittee will revisit the topic at a future meeting.
Next steps: staff to recirculate updated drafts (JJF, JH, IMG), perform any recommended legal or administrative checks, and return items for first readings or further edits.
