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Blackstone‑Millville committee approves admissions language for homeless/foster students, sends stipend warrant to towns and backs uniform cycle and equity pled
Summary
The committee amended its school admissions policy to explicitly include students who are homeless or in foster care, approved a warrant article seeking town authorization of committee stipends, voted to continue scholarships, adopted a four‑year athletics uniform replacement cycle, and endorsed a No Place for Hate pledge and vaccine‑clinic facility use.
At its March 11 meeting the Blackstone‑Millville School Committee approved a set of routine and policy items alongside the budget and reopening vote.
Policy update: The committee amended policy JF (school admissions) to add the sentence "including students who are homeless or in foster care" in paragraph three to align district language with state requirements. The motion to amend the policy passed by voice vote.
Warrant article for stipends: Administrators explained that Massachusetts law requires town authorization for school committee stipends; the committee voted to send warrant articles to both member towns asking voters to authorize compensation at $1,500 per member and $1,800 for the chair. Officials clarified that if one town votes down the article, stipends would not be authorized.
Scholarships and consent items: The committee voted to continue two $500 scholarships for graduating seniors (for children of committee members/past members or prospective teachers) and approved the consent agenda, including warrants and minutes.
Athletics and uniforms: The committee reviewed proposed four‑ and six‑year uniform replacement cycles and voted to adopt the four‑year cycle, citing student pride, replacement incentives and rebate opportunities described by administration and the athletic director.
Equity pledge and facilities use: Committee members agreed to sign the Anti‑Defamation League's No Place for Hate pledge and approved facility use requests from the town board of health to host two upcoming vaccine clinics at district facilities.
Facilities and surplus: The committee approved disposal of obsolete kitchen equipment and a worn snowblower and received updates on HVAC coil repairs, a wheelchair lift and driveway patching; members set a March 25 follow‑up meeting and voted to move into executive session to end the evening.
