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Holbrook School Committee approves $170,000 for special education, adopts program and handbook updates
Summary
At its June 12 meeting the Holbrook School Committee voted unanimously to use $170,000 from the special education stabilization fund to cover increased special education tuition and transportation costs, adopted the 2025–26 Holbrook Middle-High School Program of Studies and approved updates to the student handbook with attendance changes to follow in August.
The Holbrook School Committee voted 5-0 on June 12 to approve the use of $170,000 from the district’s special education stabilization fund to cover increases in special education tuitions and transportation.
Christine Suckow, the district’s school business administrator, requested the transfer to address rising special-education costs and said, if approved by the committee, the transfer will be presented to the town select board for final approval on June 18, 2025. Fred White, School Committee secretary, moved the measure and Renee Malvesti, vice chair, seconded it; the motion passed unanimously.
The committee also approved the Holbrook Middle-High School Program of Studies for 2025–26, which Principal Jennifer Bates presented with several updates. Committee Chair Barbara Davis asked that the justification text be left-justified and members discussed tightening parameters for calibrated grades and placement in advanced classes.
In a separate motion, the committee adopted the 2025–26 Holbrook Middle-High School student handbook as presented; members noted that additional attendance-policy changes will be proposed in August. That motion was also moved by Fred White and seconded by Renee Malvesti and carried 5-0.
The committee approved the proposed 2025–26 meeting schedule with a change moving the December meeting from Dec. 18 to Dec. 11 and set the September meeting for Sept. 25 at 6:00 p.m. It also approved third readings of multiple district policies — including FF (Naming District Schools), ID (School Day), IHBD (Compensatory Education/Title I), IJ (Instructional Materials), IJNDD (Social Media), IJOA (Field Trips), and related exhibits — and accepted the May 15, 2025 meeting minutes. All votes on agenda items recorded that evening were unanimous (5-0).
The meeting opened at 6:01 p.m. and included updates from student advisory members about year-end events and a superintendent report that listed end-of-year activities at John F. Kennedy Elementary School and the middle-high school. The committee recorded retirements of three teachers and heard a brief note that Fred White will submit donations for consideration at a future meeting. The session adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Votes at a glance: • $170,000 from special education stabilization fund to cover special-education tuitions/transportation — motion: Fred White; second: Renee Malvesti; result: 5-0-0; next step: select board review on June 18, 2025. • Holbrook Middle-High School Program of Studies (2025–26) — motion: Fred White; second: Renee Malvesti; result: 5-0-0. • Holbrook Middle-High School Student Handbook (2025–26), with attendance policy changes to be proposed in August — motion: Fred White; second: Renee Malvesti; result: 5-0-0. • 2025–26 School Committee meeting schedule — motion: Renee Malvesti; second: Christopher White; result: 5-0-0 (December meeting moved to Dec. 11). • Third readings of listed district policies (FF, ID, IHBD, IHBF, IHBH, IJ, IJLA, IJL, IJNDD, IJOA, IJOB, IJOC, ILD, IMB, IMG, JICE, JICFA, JIE, JII) — motion: Fred White; second: Renee Malvesti; result: 5-0-0. • Acceptance of May 15, 2025 minutes — motion: Renee Malvesti; second: Christopher White; result: 5-0-0.
What’s next: The $170,000 stabilization fund transfer requires final approval by the town select board on June 18, 2025. The committee will receive proposed attendance-policy changes in August and consider donation submissions at a future meeting.
