School Committee adopts updated JKAA policy on time‑out, seclusion and restraint

The North Middlesex Regional School District School Committee voted July 29 to adopt an updated JKAA policy on time‑out, seclusion and restraint for students, citing recent changes in state law and guidance.

Chair Lisa Martin said the policy needed to be in place before the start of the school year and that the committee received versions from MASC and from the district’s special‑education attorneys. Erin Upton, the district’s director of special education, told the committee that "there were some updates to the law. There have been changes to what time out consists of, as well as seclusion in public school settings and private school settings," and that the packet showed differences between the committee’s current policy, the MASC recommendation and the attorneys’ draft.

Upton recommended adopting the attorneys’ language so policy remains high level while leaving operational steps to administration. A committee member noted that the district’s procedures on the website appeared to match MASC language and asked whether those procedures had been reviewed; Superintendent Brad Morgan (administration) said procedures are the responsibility of the superintendent’s team and will be revised to align with the adopted policy and DESE regulations.

The committee moved directly to adoption to meet an external compliance window cited by counsel. Michael LeBossier moved to adopt JKAA as amended by the district’s legal counsel and Alexander Bancutti seconded. The motion passed on a roll‑call vote, 5 yes and 1 no (Jackie White).

Members said adoption will allow administrators to update procedures to ensure compliance; the board did not detail specific procedural changes during the meeting. The committee’s next steps are for superintendent staff to revise procedures to align with the newly adopted policy and applicable state regulations.