School committee re-certifies FY27 budget, approves updated handbooks and routine motions

The East Bridgewater School Committee met and re-certified its fiscal year 2027 budget at $27,612,488, approved updated student handbooks that add guidance on artificial intelligence and non-discrimination, and carried a package of routine motions that included two out-of-state field trips and the acceptance of a $250 donation.

Dr. Williams, who led the superintendent’s report, said materials and equipment from the central school field have been salvaged and relocated where feasible. "We had two memorials—the Mark Conis memorial and the Michaela Kingman memorial—that were moved to the junior senior high school and will be repurposed at the new fields once they are complete," he said. He also reported that pre-loading for the construction project has begun, that trucks will access the site via Junior Senior Drive after an island modification on Route 18, and that police details and blackout delivery windows will be used during arrival and dismissal to reduce congestion.

On budget matters, the committee reviewed adjustments to a previously certified FY27 amount of $27,769,488. The presenter identified recent changes that reduced the total (a retirement savings of $15,471 and a student move saving of $135,350), a $18,179 grant carryover that could be applied to FY27, and a $25,000 addition to the psych services line. The committee noted the town capital plan will fund the new district firewall (including first-year maintenance), allowing the operating budget to exclude that maintenance expense. The committee moved to re-certify the FY27 budget at $27,612,488 and voted to approve the re-certification.

Committee members reviewed and approved updated student handbooks. Mrs. Nichols said the handbooks expanded from about 15 pages to 44 pages following the state’s integrated monitoring review and related updates. "We had to add guidelines for acceptable use of artificial intelligence, curriculum review and opt-out procedures, and more prominent non-discrimination and harassment language," she said. Members discussed leaving external links out of frequently distributed handbook copies and instead including the district’s main policy page and policy codes so families can reliably find the full language.

Committee members also discussed school-level handbook changes: a new competency determination and revised cell-phone policies for grades 7–12 (phone pockets for high school grades; yonder bags for middle grades) and an intended reorganization of the handbook over the summer to group policy areas for ease of use.

Votes at a glance: - Approved: Out-of-state field trip for EBJSHS art students to the Rhode Island School of Design (April 29). Discussion noted the cost of buses and the requirement of four chaperones; motion carried. - Approved: Central School field trip to Biomes Marine Biology Center, North Kingstown, R.I. (May 13–14); motion carried. - Approved: Payroll warrants dated March 25, 2026 (39PS and 40PS); committee member Crystal recorded an abstention on at least one warrant during the vote. - Approved: March 17, 2026 school committee meeting minutes. - Approved: Acceptance of a $250 donation from Community Coalition for Change for the Mitchell School Student Activities account. - Approved: Updated district administrative assistant job description; members congratulated Miss Harvey on her retirement. - Approved: Two graduation-diploma presentation exceptions allowing designated family members to present diplomas at the class of 2026 ceremony. - Approved: Re-certification of the FY27 budget at $27,612,488.

What the committee will do next: the superintendent’s evaluation timeline was set (member evaluations due April 17; subcommittee compilation April 22; individual meetings April 27; public evaluation scheduled for the May 5 meeting), and committee members flagged several upcoming senior events and award nights where they plan to participate. No substantive public comment was recorded at this meeting.

The meeting adjourned following those motions.