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Cumberland panel approves handbooks, MOAs, unbudgeted kindergarten and payments; adjusts high‑school locker language
Summary
The committee approved multiple handbooks and agreements, authorized internships and tutoring MOAs, added an unbudgeted kindergarten class at BF Norton, and approved payment of bills totaling $1,526,406.98. High‑school handbook language on backpacks was amended to require locker assignment while striking the backpack prohibition.
At its July 16 meeting, the Cumberland School Committee approved a package of administrative items including several handbooks, memoranda of agreement (MOAs) for internships and student services, and budgetary actions.
Handbooks: The committee approved preschool, elementary and middle school handbooks and later approved amended high-school, coaches and athletics handbooks after an amendment that struck a blanket backpack prohibition. The amendment—moved by Member Feather and adopted unanimously—keeps language requiring student lockers to be assigned for the academic year while removing the sentence that would have required students to store backpacks at lockers.
MOAs and internships: The board approved superintendent authorizations for affiliation agreements (Bryant University school psychology interns, University of New England social-work internship) and a LearnWell agreement to provide tutoring for hospitalized students. A separate MOA with New England Institute of Technology for an early-college program was withdrawn and tabled for the Aug. 1 meeting for further review.
Budget and operations: Given rising kindergarten registrations, the committee approved adding an unbudgeted kindergarten class at BF Norton for 2026–27; board members noted this will affect the district budget. The committee also approved resolutions discussed in fiscal and a payment of bills totaling $1,526,406.98.
Calendar and times: The 2026–27 school calendar, including a five‑day weather waiver, was approved 7–0. Start and end times for the 2026–27 school year were approved 5–2, with Mr. Dean and Mr. Bacon voting against the start/end times motion.
Committee members said several items will return for further refinement before the school year. The meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
