Committee adopts local competency policy, discusses transportation, device rollout and governance changes
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Summary
The school committee voted to adopt local competency-determination policy IKFE, reviewed policy-subcommittee items on meal modifications, a bus opt-out concept, district-issued high‑school devices, and debated removing the mandatory rotating-chair provision in the organizational policy (BDA).
At its Nov. 19 meeting the Bridgewater‑Raynham School Committee voted to adopt policy IKFE (competency determination) after the policy subcommittee moved the item forward for adoption. The committee recorded an in‑meeting voice vote in favor.
Policy context: Committee members said the adopted IKFE language does not create a new requirement to pass a single test but clarifies local competency determination focusing on year‑end grades and other measures. The policy-subcommittee previously waived a second reading and recommended the language for adoption.
Other policy work: The subcommittee reviewed several items and discussed next steps: - EFPA (school food and nutrition/meal modifications): the subcommittee will align meal-modification language with the district wellness policy and incorporate recent DESE guidance before returning with finalized language (likely December). - Transportation opt‑out: Members discussed the possibility of an opt‑out form for families who decline bus service to reduce required routes and save costs. Superintendent Powers will request data from the bus contractor to compare eligibility vs. actual riders and the subcommittee may survey families before any policy change. - District-issued devices: The high-school principal, technology director and Powers recommended district-issued Chromebooks in place of personal devices to address security and firewall concerns; the subcommittee is considering a phased rollout in 2026 and tabled formal action until spring. - BDA (committee organization): The subcommittee reviewed the requirement that the chair rotate between towns yearly and raised concerns about continuity; members proposed removing mandatory rotation while retaining annual election of the chair, with a second reading to follow.
Why it matters: Policy changes affect day-to-day operations (transportation eligibility, nutrition accommodations, device security) and governance norms (chair rotation), and will feed into the district’s budget and communications with families.
What’s next: The policy subcommittee will return proposed EFPA language, transportation eligibility data, and a refined device-rollout plan for further review. IKFE will be posted to the district policy manual.