Auburn School Committee approves first reading of updated restraint and seclusion policy

The Auburn School Committee approved first readings of policy AUBJKAA (use of physical restraint and seclusion) and the companion procedure AUBJKAA-R on Monday, moving the district language into alignment with recent changes in state law.

Laura Shaw, the district’s Director of Special Services, told the committee the updates are “minor” wording changes meant to ensure compliance with the statute and related policy language. “So anytime a student is dysregulated and it’s looking like they may need a physical intervention, there is usually a safety care team that’s assembled that sort of assesses the situation,” Shaw said, describing the role of trained staff and the safety-care lead who determines when an intervention is necessary.

Committee members pressed for clarity about who makes decisions before seclusion is used and asked whether administrators would be notified when incidents occur. Shaw said administrators are informed within required time frames, that the district maintains documentation, and that she files an annual restraint and seclusion report each July; she said she keeps data going back multiple years and can provide those reports to the committee.

A committee member asked why the word “voluntary” was removed from the policy; Shaw said that change reflects a state law update and that the district still follows procedures intended to remove students to safer spaces while documenting the intervention. The committee approved both the policy and the procedure for a first reading; the chair said the motions carried. The items will return for a second reading and final approval at a later meeting.

What’s next: The committee expects revised pronouns and minor language edits to be made before the second reading. Shaw indicated she can provide historical restraint/seclusion report data to committee members on request.