9.30.2026 Fall River School Committee Policy Subcommittee

The Fall River School Committee Policy Subcommittee met on September 30, 2026 (the metadata timestamp falls on October 1 UTC). Members discussed a policy to comply with Massachusetts’ Protect Act, signed August 5, requiring school districts to establish procedures for interactions with civil law enforcement. Administration described plans for staff and stakeholder input, training, parent notification, documentation, and review of related school policies. The subcommittee voted to refer the Protect Act policy to the full committee, with consideration of waiving the first reading; the motion passed. Members also discussed updating the district’s policy manual for MASC review, tabled proposed bullying-policy materials pending clarification and inclusion of the actual policy, and voted to refer a superintendent–school committee communications policy to the full committee.

The district’s cash-handling and payment procedures were discussed, including possible use of an outside municipal consultant and existing payment platforms such as MySchoolBucks or ParentSquare; no consultant, platform, contract, or purchase was selected or approved. Members raised the need for near-term controls and eventual procedures covering cash, checks, cards, electronic payments, and deposits. A previously adjusted $25,000 threshold for contracts brought before the school committee was cited during discussion of keeping the policy manual current. The remainder of the meeting included discussion of a proposed work-from-home policy. No procurement award or spending approval was identified.