School committee approves 2026–27 calendar, waives first reading and adopts private‑meeting recording policy (IKACC)

The East Bridgewater School Committee on Feb. 17 approved the district's draft 2026–27 calendar and voted to waive the required first reading and adopt a new policy (IKACC) on audio and video recordings of private meetings in school facilities.

During discussion, committee members noted the calendar's key dates: staff return Aug. 25 (three professional days), student start Aug. 31, two local election days that affect scheduling, and a proposed last day of school on June 14. The assistant superintendent said the draft was compiled with input from a PD academy and teacher representatives and that the calendar balances instructional time while responding to a late Labor Day this year.

On recordings, committee members raised that requests to record meetings have come primarily as accommodations, often related to disabilities such as long COVID. Dr. Williams said, "anytime audio or video recording is going to be done, it needs the approval of everyone at the meeting," and noted the district consulted legal counsel to craft a policy that removes ad‑hoc decisions and protects staff consent.

The committee moved to waive the required first reading of IKACC and then voted to approve the policy. The agenda also included routine approvals of payroll warrants and school committee goals; members noted a pending edit to goal years before final sign‑off.

Next steps: the policy IKACC will be included in the district file as IKACC and implemented consistent with counsel guidance; the calendar will be published in final format.