Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the District Administration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Orange Elementary School Committee approves transportation contract, adopts vocational-information policy and ratifies ESP job descriptions
Summary
The committee unanimously approved a five-year transportation contract with Swift River Bus, adopted policy IJJA to meet new state vocational-technical rules, and ratified updated ESP job descriptions and evaluation tools; the meeting also included recess safety follow-ups and subcommittee reports.
The Orange Elementary School Committee on Jan. 26, 2026, unanimously approved a five-year transportation contract with Swift River Bus, ratified updated job descriptions and evaluation instruments for Education Support Personnel (ESP), and adopted a policy to comply with new Massachusetts Board of Education regulations on vocational-technical information for middle school students.
On the transportation item, Michele (school staff member) reported that bids were due in December and Swift River Bus was the only bidder. The district presented a level-funded contract proposal covering 2027–2032. On a motion by Josefa Scherer, seconded by Crystal Clarke, the committee voted unanimously to approve the contract. The committee did not record a roll-call vote tally in the minutes beyond noting it was unanimous.
The committee also ratified multiple food service job descriptions and related evaluation tools developed over the past year by the Joint Labor-Management Committee (JLMC). Dr. Liz (administrator) said the ESP association ratified the documents; the committee ratified them on a motion by Frank Hains, seconded by Crystal Clarke, and the motion passed unanimously.
Separately, the committee adopted policy IJJA after the district presented language required by updated regulations from the Massachusetts Board of Education that affect how vocational-technical opportunities are shared with middle school students. Crystal Clarke moved to adopt the policy; Frank Hains seconded, and the vote was unanimous. Chair Mallory Ellis took the roll call.
Other procedural actions approved without dissent included the minutes of the Nov. 10, 2025 meeting and a single journal entry (a deposit correction).
Why it matters: The transportation award commits district routing to a single local vendor for five years, and the IJJA policy updates are required to align with state rules that change how students learn about vocational-technical pathways. Ratified ESP job descriptions and evaluation instruments finalize negotiated personnel documents the district said had been reviewed over the past year.
Votes at a glance: - Minutes (Nov. 10, 2025): approved (motion: Crystal Clarke; second: Frank Hains) - Ratify ESP job descriptions/evaluation tools (food service documents on file): approved (motion: Frank Hains; second: Crystal Clarke) - Adopt policy IJJA (vocational-technical information to middle school students): approved (motion: Crystal Clarke; second: Frank Hains) - Transportation bid — Swift River Bus, 2027–2032 (level-funded): approved (motion: Josefa Scherer; second: Crystal Clarke) - Journal entry (deposit correction): approved (motion: Josefa Scherer; second: Crystal Clarke)
The committee set its next meeting for Feb. 9, 2026, which will include a first look at the FY27 budget.
