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Policy subcommittee advances model updates to Southbridge policy manual
Summary
The Southbridge Policy Subcommittee on April 16 accepted a suite of model-policy recommendations from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, including updated nondiscrimination language, tobacco/vaping rules, ethics training requirements and several governance provisions; the group also removed certain exhibits and a locally written conflict policy.
The Southbridge Public Schools Policy Subcommittee voted April 16 to advance multiple model-policy updates recommended by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) as part of a project to consolidate and modernize the district policy manual.
Tracy Novick, a MASC trainer working with the district, told the subcommittee that the district’s nondiscrimination policies have been reviewed with the superintendent/receiver and were brought up to date. “In the Southbridge Public Schools all students will experience a world-class education and will graduate as engaged citizens who demonstrate the essential skills required for success in college and career,” Novick said, reading the vision language proposed for AD and noting the mission statement remains the district’s established language.
The panel accepted model revisions across Section A that clarify district goals and align language with the district’s turnaround plan and recent accreditation materials. The subcommittee also approved adopting a model ADC tobacco-and-vaping policy that explicitly covers electronic cigarettes and similar devices and specifies covered locations such as school buildings, grounds, buses and school-sponsored events.
On governance matters in Section B, members voted to add BA (school committee operational goals) and BAA (evaluation of school committee operations) to capture committee responsibilities and self-review practices as they transition back to local control. The committee also agreed to add cross-references and a personnel-focused subsection to BBA that clarifies the school committee’s role in superintendent appointment and evaluation.
The subcommittee voted to add a sentence to policy AE (commitment to accomplishment) aligning educator evaluations with stated objectives and improvement-focused regulation; the motion passed by voice vote. Members also agreed to add a paragraph to BBBA requiring newly qualified committee members to receive a Massachusetts Ethics Commission summary and complete required online training timelines.
Novick recommended removing non-policy exhibits and forms from the manual (dash Es), saying administrative forms are updated frequently and should be maintained outside of formal policy; the committee approved removing those exhibits. The group also voted to drop a locally drafted conflict-of-interest policy (BCB), with Novick noting that statutory law and mandatory training (M.G.L. c.268A) cover the subject and a siloed policy could be incomplete.
The subcommittee scheduled a follow-up meeting for May 13, 2026, and adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
These recommendations will be presented as subcommittee reports to the full school committee for further consideration and adoption.
