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High‑school principal previews handbook changes emphasizing restorative practices; AI guidance still pending
Summary
Principal presented planned 2026–27 handbook revisions: updated principal's message, bell‑schedule pilots, removal of outdated early‑dismissal language, expanded class leadership for grades 9–10, a renamed "behavioral code" with restorative approaches, and plans to add AI/academic‑integrity guidance next year.
Nashoba Regional High School leadership presented proposed changes to the student handbook for the 2026–27 school year, with an emphasis on restorative discipline language, schedule pilot information and updated graduation/competency language.
The principal described multiple edits intended to reflect current practice and to prepare for the district’s move to its new building next year: an updated principal’s message to memorialize the final year in the current building; links to the two programs of study that reflect grade‑level restructuring; a bell‑schedule pilot using a green/gold rotation and a plan to publish a rotation calendar link when finalized; removal of outdated language that allowed 18‑year‑olds to dismiss themselves without current administrative practice; and a new approach to class leadership that expands participation for grades 9–10.
On discipline, the principal said the handbook will change the section title from "code of conduct" to "behavioral code" to better reflect restorative practices. "We attempted to bring restorative approaches front and center and then ensure that the language was really consistent throughout," the principal said, adding that certain legal and DESE expectations would remain in an appendix for compliance.
The principal also said student council (StuCo) will pilot a proposed end‑of‑day pass policy rather than inserting language directly into the handbook. "StuCo is going to be going back and looking at the policy...communicating it to students when we begin the school year, then trying it out and getting full school feedback before we put this in a handbook," the principal said. On academic integrity and artificial intelligence, administrators said guidance is being developed but is not yet finalized for handbook inclusion.
What’s next: the administration will return to the committee with any material changes after student council piloting and will add finalized AI guidance when district policy and state law clarify expectations.
