Marblehead committee adopts multiple MASC‑recommended policies and approves IKFE competency policy
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
The school committee approved five third‑reading policies on facility access, food‑service modifications, civil‑rights complaint procedures, technology security, and records retention; it also approved a competency‑determination policy required by DESE after debate and a 3–1 vote.
The Marblehead School Committee approved a set of board policies recommended by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) and voted to adopt a competency‑determination policy required by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
The five policies adopted on third reading address: access to school buildings and grounds (ECAV); school food and nutrition meal modifications (EFBA); civil‑rights complaint procedures for child nutrition programs (EFE); district technology security (EHAA); and data and records retention (EHV). For each item the committee took individual votes; the transcript records the motions being made by Jen Shaffner, seconded by Henry, with recorded passage counts reported in the meeting packet as 4–0 for most items.
Committee members said the policies reflect state and federal requirements. "This policy addresses USDA and DESE requirements," the chair stated during the food‑service discussion, noting the district must provide modified meals for students with disabilities or dietary restrictions.
On the competency‑determination policy (IKFE), which DESE requires now that MCAS is no longer mandatory for graduation, members debated the definition of a passing grade used to determine competency. One member said she could not support the policy because she was "not comfortable with the definition of a passing grade." The motion to adopt IKFE was recorded as passing 3 to 1.
The policies will be published in the district policy repository and implemented as applicable; where a policy implements statutory requirements (USDA/DESE) staff said they will align administrative procedures accordingly.