Amesbury School Committee Meeting
The School Committee approved the 2026–27 school handbooks (noting they are living documents) and adopted the district and school committee goals for 2026–27. The committee also received an update on the Whittier regional agreement amendment work related to an MSBA school project and accepted a $1,000 donation for eighth grade social studies.
The committee opened with public comments on student discipline practices and handbook language. Speakers urged clarity on the term 'reteaching' and raised concerns about restorative recess, consistency in PBIS flowcharts, and protections for students with disabilities; CPAC asked that the district update the JKAA restraint/seclusion policy to reflect the 2026 DESE regulations. Administration responded that the JKAA content/link has been updated and that handbooks are living documents; principals will continue to clarify school practices and provide flowcharts where referenced.
In business items, the committee heard Q4 budget and facilities reports (updates on savings, revolving accounts, utilities, building maintenance, and the AHS Diamond Field project) and discussed committee requests/scheduling. The committee voted unanimously to approve the SY 2026–2027 school handbooks (with the caveat they will continue to be updated), unanimously adopted the district and school committee goals for 2026–27 emphasizing the K–12 vision of the graduate, leadership, fiscal sustainability, and academic excellence, and unanimously accepted a $1,000 donation from the Civic Star Essay Contest for eighth grade social studies. Members also received an extended update on the Whittier Regional Agreement Amendment Committee's negotiations (including capital-apportionment formula discussions and MSBA process implications) but took no binding vote on that matter.
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