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Monson School Committee approves legal-services retainer and several policy revisions
Summary
The committee unanimously approved an amended retainer with Dupere Law Offices and adopted or repealed multiple student- and facilities-related policies (ADC, JICH, JICK, repeal JICG and JBA). All recorded roll-call votes were 5–0.
Monson — The Monson School Committee voted unanimously at its Jan. 21 meeting to approve an amended legal-services retainer and to adopt several policy revisions affecting school policy on smoking, student substance use and harassment.
Chair Alison Morgan moved to approve an amended contract with Dupere Law Offices; the motion was seconded and passed on a 5–0 roll-call vote (Ms. Peterson, Mr. Wiggins, Mrs. Murphy, Ms. Nothe-Valley, Mrs. Morgan voted yes).
Under old business the Committee approved multiple policy actions by roll call:
• Revisions to ADC (Smoking on School Premises) were adopted unanimously (5–0).
• The JICG policy (Tobacco Use, Vaping, and/or Possession) was repealed unanimously (5–0).
• Revisions to JICH (Drug and Alcohol Use by Students) were adopted unanimously (5–0). The Committee discussed notification timing for student screenings and opt-out procedures; Superintendent Paul Foster and Principal Fontaine confirmed parents are notified in advance (Principal Fontaine said notification is typically sent about four weeks before screenings).
• JICK (Harassment of Students) was adopted unanimously (5–0). Committee members clarified the policy may apply to student-to-student harassment that occurs off school property.
• The JBA (Student-to-Student Harassment) policy was repealed unanimously (5–0) following adoption of the consolidated harassment policy.
The Committee also moved two policies (JJE — Student Fund-Raising Activities and JJF — Student Activity Accounts) to second read with clarifications. Discussion accompanying JJE emphasized that fundraising communications to families must clearly state the fundraiser’s purpose and how funds will be used. For JJF, Director of Business and Operations Leah Zippin confirmed principals manage student activity accounts day-to-day and the business office conducts annual reviews.
What’s next: The amended retainer with Dupere Law Offices and the adopted policy revisions take effect per the district’s policy procedures. The Committee placed the JJE and JJF policies on a future agenda for final vote after the second read.
