Lawrence Alliance for Education adopts middle‑school pathway exploration policy, tables superintendent evaluation
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Summary
The Lawrence Alliance for Education board adopted a DESE‑directed middle‑school pathway exploration policy to expose students to career and technical education options, voted to adopt policy sections A–C in form pending, accepted a $673 donation, and tabled the superintendent’s evaluation to a future meeting.
The Lawrence Alliance for Education board voted to adopt a new middle‑school pathway exploration policy on motion Dec. 1, citing guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as the rationale for requiring earlier career and technical education exposure.
The policy, presented by district administrators, requires districts to state goals for middle‑school career exploration, enumerate available high‑school pathways (including Greater Lawrence Technical School and Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School), document tours and awareness activities, and maintain records of middle‑school CTE exposure. Headmaster Victor Caravallo described the plan to introduce a MEFA career and academic planning pathway in eighth grade this year, with a later goal of moving some elements to sixth grade.
"We had to state sort of the purpose of the policy first to meet that DESE requirement," a presenter said while walking the board through the slides. The board approved the measure after discussion of implementation steps and principals' input.
Separately, the board voted to adopt policy sections A–C "in form pending" completion of a full policy‑book review, a procedural step recommended after subcommittee review and consultation with the Massachusetts Association of School Committees; Chris Martens told members the sections were aligned with the charter and that two language updates (BEDF and BDA) were added to conform with charter language.
The board also accepted a donation from "Extreme Craze" consisting of a facility visit for a Parthen Middle School classroom, valued at $673 and scheduled for Dec. 17, 2025. Earlier on the agenda, a motion to table the superintendent's evaluation was moved, seconded and carried; the board recorded 'Yes' votes from those present, and the evaluation will be rescheduled to a future meeting.
The meeting record shows the board took the formal adoption and donation votes by roll call. No specifics on implementation timelines, budget allocations, or additional required approvals were included in the motion texts; administrators said they had engaged principals and school counselors in drafting the middle‑school policy and would return with operational details as the district rolls out the work.
The board lost quorum near the end of the meeting and adjourned; the policy adoption and other votes already taken remain recorded as approved.
