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School committee approves 2022–23 student handbooks; committee asks explicit restorative-hour language be added
Summary
Administrators presented and the committee approved updated handbooks for next year, including minor edits to start times, tardy windows, PBIS expectations, and changing the term "expulsion" to "exclusion." Members asked for clearer restorative-hour language and web updates.
The Blackstone–Millville Regional School Committee voted unanimously to approve the 2022–23 student handbooks for the district, after administrators walked the committee through a cover-sheet of minor changes and clarifications.
What changed: the handbooks update includes an updated cover year, revised committee and position listings, minor formatting and font fixes, a slight adjustment to start/tardy windows (Middle/Complex supervision at 8:45 a.m.; MES start time reflected as 8:55 a.m.), updated descriptions for intervention programs (including a new math intervention entry and STEM descriptions), inclusion of PBIS expectations, and throughout the document the term "expulsion" was replaced with "exclusion." The presentation also clarified bussing rules (two-week minimum for certain bus changes), and updated the homework guidance to a 15–30 minute reading expectation for early grades.
Restorative hours and attendance: committee members asked that restorative-hour language (an option for students to make up attendance-related grade penalties through structured after-school time) be made explicit and easy to find in the handbook. Administrators agreed to add clear restorative-hour wording and to ensure the handbook and website match.
Quote: "We changed ... expulsion to exclusion," said Jill Roman while reviewing edits, noting the change was applied throughout the document.
Vote and next steps: A motion to approve the handbooks as presented (with the committee—requested clarifying edits) passed unanimously. Administrators will update the handbook text to explicitly state the restorative-hour option, align the website language, and circulate final versions to families.
