The North Middlesex Regional School District policy subcommittee met Jan. 6 to review a package of model-policy updates and district policies. Members voted to send a cell-phone policy and related staff-policy changes to the school committee for first reading, forwarded co-curricular rules with amendments, voted to not recommend a standalone student‑organizations policy, and tabled a change about student raffles pending further review.

Why it matters: The committee’s decisions shape rules used in classrooms, after-school activities and district-run travel. The raffle/games-of-chance discussion in particular could affect fundraising practices used by booster groups and some scholarship committees if the state’s interpretation is upheld.

What the committee did first: The subcommittee approved policy JICJ on portable communication devices (cell phones) and a related personnel policy for a first reading. Members reported no major operational problems with the district’s current approach, and administration recommended that teacher permission for device use remain tied to administrative approval to ensure consistency across buildings.

Other actions: The committee made no changes to the policy on pregnant students (JIE) and voted to adopt the searches and interrogations policy (JIH) with no changes after a short discussion about canine searches and the role of the school resource officer; members noted the district pays an agreed salary to a Townsend Police Department officer assigned to the high school. The student-complaints/grievances policy (JII) was forwarded to the school committee for first reading with a recommendation to replace the NMRSD acronym with the full district name for clarity.

Extracurriculars and student organizations: The committee voted to forward the co‑curricular and extracurricular policy (JJ) to the school committee as amended, keeping language that allows for an "administration‑approved adviser" so nonfaculty community partners can serve when appropriate. For JJA (student organizations), members said the substantive guidance is already covered by other policies and moved that the subcommittee not recommend adoption.

Fundraising and raffles: A significant portion of discussion centered on MASC’s updated model language and a legal reading that "students may not participate in" raffles or other games of chance because of Massachusetts law and its interpretation. Members and administrators raised concerns about the practical impact on common fundraisers and scholarship committees and asked district leadership to check with principals and other districts before making a final recommendation. The item was tabled for deeper review and outreach.

Field trips and travel policy: Members said the district’s comprehensive student‑travel policy (JJH), written with legal and nursing input after COVID-era cancellations, better suits local needs than the shorter MASC model. The committee asked administration to confirm there are no operational problems and to return the item after that review.

Votes at a glance:
- Approved: approval of Dec. 9 and Dec. 16, 2025 minutes (motion carried).
- Approved: JICJ (portable communication devices) and related personnel policy GBEF for first reading (motion carried).
- Approved: no changes to JIE (pregnant students) (motion carried).
- Approved: adopt JIH (searches and interrogations) with no changes (motion carried).
- Forwarded: JII (student complaints and grievances) to school committee for first reading (motion carried).
- Forwarded: JJ (co‑curricular and extracurricular) to school committee as amended (motion carried).
- Not recommended: JJA (student organizations) — subcommittee moved to not recommend (motion carried).
- Tabled: JJE (fundraising/games of chance, including student raffles) for additional research and administrative/principal outreach (motion carried).
- Adjourned: meeting adjourned at about 10:00 a.m.

What’s next: The subcommittee asked administration to research the practical implications of the raffle/games-of-chance interpretation, to consult principals and other districts, and to return JJE with recommendations. Several items (grouped bullying/harassment policies, field-trip radius/approval clarifications) will return to future meetings after attorney or administrative follow-up.

Quotes and context: The MASC model language noted that raffles and games of chance are strictly regulated in Massachusetts and that "students may not be rewarded with additional recess snacks, activities, or any type of prize for having raised larger amounts of funds or reaching fundraising goals," a passage members debated for its potential to curtail common school fundraisers. Committee members asked administrators to propose alternative fundraising approaches if the interpretation remains.

The meeting was conducted as part of the district's five-year policy cycle; no public commentators were registered, and the subcommittee completed its business within roughly an hour.