Votes at a glance: committee approves handbook, warrants and a collective bargaining agreement

The Northbridge School Committee took several formal votes during the meeting.

Consent agenda and donations: The committee approved the consent agenda, which included recognition of two donations — $30,000 from the Northbridge Middle School Boosters Club designated for athletics and $1,500 from the Elks for the high school — and a series of warrants.

District handbook: The committee moved and voted to accept the revised district handbook for the school year. Major handbook updates include an updated discipline matrix emphasizing progressive discipline and alternatives to out‑of‑school suspension, clearer developmental differentiation, an expectation that parents be contacted prior to formal consequences, the addition of an eighth‑grade academy in the high‑school addendum and updated language about MCAS test expectations.

Fall warrant: The committee approved the fall warrant request as presented.

Collective bargaining agreement: After entering executive session under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 30A, Section 21(a) to discuss collective bargaining strategy, the committee returned to open session and voted to approve the collective bargaining agreement referenced in executive session. The committee recorded the vote as approved.

Voting record: Votes were taken by roll call with the committee announcing approvals for the consent agenda, the handbook, the fall warrant request and the collective bargaining agreement.

Next steps: Revised handbook materials will be made available for public review ahead of final posting; administration will proceed with implementing the staffing and program restorations authorized by returned circuit‑breaker funds and with follow‑up steps on the collective bargaining agreement.