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School committee approves student handbooks and opens non‑discrimination policies for review
Summary
The committee approved the 2024–25 elementary and middle/senior high student and athletic handbooks after legal review, and opened several non‑discrimination and grievance policies for further review in September.
The West Bridgewater School Committee voted Aug. 19 to adopt the 2024–25 elementary and middle/senior high student and athletic handbooks after changes recommended by the district’s legal counsel.
Committee members said the elementary handbook’s revisions align attendance and tardy language with middle/high procedures, update Howard start times, remove an outdated court-related reference, clarify nutrition/celebration language, add a dyslexia-screening notice, and adjust specialist scheduling to reflect the addition of a fifth grade classroom at Howard. Members also discussed report-card timing and agreed to uniform trimester reporting for Howard’s grades where practical. "We did have the handbooks reviewed by our school legal team so some of the language changes were based on their recommendations," a presenter stated.
The middle/senior high handbook updates include added language on vaping and cellphone use, clarifications to media-release forms (specifically naming the district YouTube channel), and other housekeeping edits. The committee approved both handbooks by voice votes and moved to revisit non‑discrimination policy language at the September meeting to add Title IX-related and civil-rights grievance updates.
The committee also approved a senior privilege permission slip intended for administrators to use when seniors are in good standing. Members asked administration to correct minor wording and to add the planned non‑discrimination policy language at the next meeting.
