School committee considers limiting public use of school grounds during school hours

The Wilmington School Committee opened a discussion Dec. 18 on a proposal to limit public use of outdoor campus grounds and fields while school is in session, citing staff time spent managing visitors and safety concerns.

Superintendent Dr. Brand told the committee that unlike some districts, Wilmington’s playgrounds and fields are currently wide open during school hours and that principals and school-resource officers had recommended establishing clearer expectations. "We do not have any such expectations in place," he said, and proposed notifying the public, adding signage and possibly adopting a formal policy if the committee supports the direction.

Committee members generally expressed support for the concept but raised several practical and community concerns. Some members recommended a narrowly defined time window tied to recess or class schedules (bell-to-bell examples such as 10 a.m.–2 p.m.) rather than a full-day prohibition, and asked that exceptions be considered for programs such as CARES, evening youth sports, and planned community uses.

Concerns centered on equitable access to neighborhood outdoor space and how changes might affect families without easy access to town parks. One committee member warned about "coarsening" community access if schools became de facto private spaces, while others said better signage and clear rules could reduce interruptions to recess and athletics.

Members asked the administration to gather more detail from principals and the police department and to prepare a specific proposal for the policy subcommittee that would include proposed hours, signage recommendations, and enforcement protocols. Dr. Brand agreed to return with a refined plan for future meetings.

No formal vote was taken; committee members instructed staff to develop options for a future policy discussion and to consult stakeholders.