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School committee gives first reading to revised governance policies, agrees to remove editorial notes before final adoption
Summary
On first reading the committee adopted Section A (governance) of a revised policy manual with a friendly amendment directing staff to remove editorial comments and stricken language before the second reading; members discussed sequencing and flagged social media policy for expedited attention.
The Pittsfield School Committee held a first reading of Section A (governance) of a revised policy manual on Dec. 18 and voted to adopt the section on first reading with an amendment to remove editorial comments and stricken text prior to final adoption.
Policy subcommittee chair Miss Hathaway explained the committee retained Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) consulting services to help reformat and update the manual; the draft replaces or consolidates prior language to reflect changes in state guidance and to move some administrative matters out of committee policy. Committee members noted there are 10–12 sections total and discussed whether to take sections out of sequence; several members also suggested expediting certain employee policies (notably social media guidance) for earlier consideration in Section(s) covering employees.
The motion to adopt Section A on first reading — with the friendly amendment that editorial comments and clearly crossed‑out text be removed from the version published for members — carried by voice vote. The chair reiterated that subsequent first readings will precede a single second reading for the full manual to avoid inconsistency with the existing policy manual in force.
