[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6379746,"mediaKeyId","2135197-3b2ccdd4436b8db4e5beaa29c8cc3226","parentId",2135197,"title","School committee pushes for two daily recesses for K–6, directs administrators to draft implementation plan","audioSeconds",627,"startMs",2558000,"endMs",3185000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2135197-3b2ccdd4436b8db4e5beaa29c8cc3226&start=2558&end=3185","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2135197-3b2ccdd4436b8db4e5beaa29c8cc3226/thumbnail_2558000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6379746/Massachusetts/School-committee-pushes-for-two-daily-recesses-for-K6-directs-administrators-to-draft-implementation-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6379746-498558d896d1c57dc090dfdb09e1395a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164325&Signature=hUs6HJ8VHK4Wx9aAtDsfHTuVZRMdyS15w4~l2QccHMnurKshwFo1Tk9J2weIpSTDGp~JdHJr9tQyX2wAlQTIhvNLlEYoW1azXWEfHKnyx7hvpViqcEeJhhCkwhNZIL3Y3lc6ZteTB6iyXaYDn-BEK4jomyvjML6CwArzHFA483xV5Y5J-PTWNFo0lT-z5wpNHKJogiUic14dMWL0193~sr72lS9WY0-L0~DafdVmoClcW4qf8dAXjL-GT5SdG8WXo5abIsQZsbfw3KqiHj6bQxu2rdLibdXzJdnJ2hCbK2cqE6iMn8dnpdtCBKC~zAuo5vM2yz-6CpTZ-Ji-so5BBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Marblehead Public Schools, MA","date","2025-01-21T00:00:00Z","article","A majority of committee members signaled support for adopting a district policy to restore two daily recess periods for kindergarten through sixth grade and asked administrators to draft an implementation plan tied to a negotiated five-minute earlier start time.

The committee said the change would be operationalized by a joint implementation committee of educators, unit members and administrators, consistent with a memorandum of understanding reached in recent bargaining. The committee discussed timing and said a new recess policy would follow the formal policy-adoption process and be targeted for the start of the next school year.

One school committee member argued the absence of a second recess harms students' ability to focus: \"Those extra 15 minutes outside... have an extraordinary impact,\" the member said, describing childhood attention and physical needs. The committee discussed prior bargaining language that added five minutes to the school day; members said that additional time can be allocated to restore a morning break without reducing teachers' contractual time in classrooms.

Committee members said a memorandum of understanding in the teachers' contract requires a committee to determine implementation of the five-minute earlier start so changes would be operationalized by administrators and teacher-unit representatives. The committee repeatedly noted that implementation details—how the five minutes are taken and how schedules shift—are administrative and bargaining matters and will be handled by Superintendent John Constantino and Assistant Superintendent Julia (surname not specified).

The committee discussed whether two recesses applied to all elementary grades or only K–3; members asked staff to confirm current practice and historical routine. A staff member said current recess length is 20 minutes (noted during the meeting), and the committee directed administrators to confirm which grades currently have one or two recesses and to return a draft policy and timetable.

Committee members said a new recess policy would be a \"new policy\" requiring three readings; they also asked the attorney to confirm procedural requirements. Members said they expect the policy, if adopted, to take effect at the start of the next school year to allow administrative planning and bargaining implementation.

No formal vote was taken. The committee's next steps are to ask Superintendent John Constantino and Assistant Superintendent Julia to convene the implementation committee, return with a draft policy, and present the draft for the committee's first reading at a future meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Marblehead School Policy Subcommittee meeting on 1/15/25","oneSentenceSummary","Committee members favored restoring two recesses for younger students and directed administrators to form an implementation committee tied to a negotiated five-minute earlier start time; committee plans to draft a new policy with three readings and aim for implementation next school year.","taxTitle","Marblehead Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",68732,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6379751,"School committee begins review of protocols and policy updates; will consult MASC and legal counsel",580,984000,1564000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2135197-3b2ccdd4436b8db4e5beaa29c8cc3226&start=984&end=1564","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2135197-3b2ccdd4436b8db4e5beaa29c8cc3226/thumbnail_984000.jpg","/articles/6379751/Massachusetts/School-committee-begins-review-of-protocols-and-policy-updates-will-consult-MASC-and-legal-counsel","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6379751-681c8a5f977413ee980c8c8a92395c15/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164325&Signature=EHpbs20NAds~O~9J2kiUrn6hnTAfT7o~70Omah0Ruv7~BmH51tw0pZ5Mu5WjyFGIilrN4cEzsi~AQEVyXyPLXtpx32-aWItT3HHbc~dgAtKXHJClc2c3AkXg7H~88wB~vcZtHG7BDjnLAbHT1YpXVrxkTrAmrJuYD9GTURCTRKsF5-D8q13GXGPkZfhaTwKqlmNBG1GWFOJM8Rg6Yn0JclFtpmmWPtotmOewxnX7kHkGMM6bpGg4tIcMkMKEsGR7fSlDrwoZ-cG3p~CFEyX7wLPG7kkWEgGYhd6FgvQH0jWHR0yD9v3MX9BCa6Jna8fbBAlm3QOTzLRLwU~z6W1X~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Marblehead School Committee opened a multi-part effort to update its operating protocols and review district policies, saying it will work with Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) resources, consult the district attorney, and ask administrators to confirm whether the district has adopted recent statewide policy updates.

The committee set a subcommittee process: two members will draft a streamlined set of protocols and then consult MASC's representative, Alicia, and the district attorney for input before presenting proposed language to the full committee.

The chair said the committee's comprehensive policy review dates back to a full review in 2018 and earlier decades before that. Committee members noted MASC posts policy updates periodically; recent updates raised Title IX and civil-rights-related language that committee members said needs legal clarity because recent federal Title IX rule changes were put on hold. \"Those were changes initially when there were federal Title IX changes that were put through last year. Those are now on hold federally,\" a committee member said, then added the district also must track state law parallels.

The committee agreed the practical next steps are to send recent MASC update lists to relevant administrators — the chair suggested Steve Kwiatak and Superintendent John Constantino — and ask those administrators to confirm whether district policies already reflect the changes or whether committee action is required. Committee members said updated policies would generally follow the committee's usual reading process (they noted their understanding that an updated policy may go forward with one reading and approval, while a new policy would normally require three readings). The committee said it would ask the district attorney to confirm that reading requirement.

Committee members also discussed logistics: the policy review will be handled first by a subcommittee, then returned to the full committee as proposed updates. The chair said the subcommittee expects to pare down a long set of protocols to a concise set of norms: who the committee represents, how it governs and communicates, how it improves, limits of authority, and remedies when \"things go wrong.\"

Members emphasized they do not want outside review to delay progress; rather, they plan to draft revisions and then seek Alicia's and the attorney's input. The committee did not take a formal vote; it directed staff to circulate the recent MASC updates and asked administrators to report back with recommended changes and legal guidance.","Committee members agreed to streamline school committee protocols, review stale district policies using MASC updates, and have the attorney and administrators confirm required changes before bringing items back for committee approval.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6379756,"Marblehead school committee to hold community forums on draft flag policy after public pushes for student role",1874,23000,1897000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2135197-3b2ccdd4436b8db4e5beaa29c8cc3226&start=23&end=1897","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2135197-3b2ccdd4436b8db4e5beaa29c8cc3226/thumbnail_23000.jpg","/articles/6379756/Massachusetts/Marblehead-school-committee-to-hold-community-forums-on-draft-flag-policy-after-public-pushes-for-student-role","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6379756-ad275bb88fdf998c03e2098559f88b1e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164325&Signature=a35gY57sJ~SESK0UebBkjNm201~f02~32QcVmh0xjAHYvPq20zJjZmZ2hOiqHqUWK0wPwMC5gtuhHaD9SmNB0Dd3SM4d4PWo~ZzIEJYIRwLIiydmLSUttLL~0PyjJPMwlbe7RSY4D0sUbz7jb8~wY3B9Jhezvi5htavJhSEwpRc4t~dpMuc-QoCLr6nSP80ZbOnnePSjE-yx8UoxT~oq0khTVkL~rAcJMpUsOwxgg7g~oPB8mQEKWqSfNFzwbo~q3mt9gT2h0ncKKN3lDOTVcKYVcXQlr50~pkN8CYMSpC-F3mvNyTEP5uEMDTaX4OnOpg9wy-QczE-tz-v-uC8pLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Renee Ramirez Kini, a Marblehead resident, told the school committee that students overwhelmingly believe decisions about flying flags or banners should rest with school administrators in consultation with students, not be preemptively restricted by committee policy.

The committee said it will schedule forums for students and the public to discuss a draft flag policy, ask district administrators for scheduling input, and run draft language by the district attorney before taking the policy to the committee for readings.

At a public-comment portion of the meeting, Renee Ramirez Kini said she was speaking on behalf of students who had previously submitted feedback. \"The overwhelming majority of students believe that the decision regarding the flying of flags or banners should rest not with the school committee, but with professional administrators, the principal, and superintendent in consultation with students,\" Kini said. She added that allowing student input creates an \"important developmental and experiential learning opportunity.\"

Other residents urged student involvement and criticized holding the earlier workshop during weekday working hours. Nyla Dubois said symbols such as the Pride flag or Black Lives Matter flag do not \"speak for everybody,\" and called for teaching students how to debate values. Chris Bruel said, \"The students need to be involved in this entire process\" and criticized weekday meetings that exclude students from attending.

During the committee discussion, members who led the draft policy work said their intent is to honor prior outreach and to hold at least two kinds of forums: a student-focused session (organized with principals and administrators for times likely during school hours) and a public evening forum (likely 6–7 p.m.) to maximize community participation. The committee discussed consulting Alicia, the district's MASC representative, and the district attorney, Liz, to review any proposed language and any recent policy updates. The committee also noted some community confusion over the earlier workshop format and said they would add an FAQ explaining workshops and public forums.

Committee members said they would coordinate scheduling with Superintendent John Constantino and with building principals, including Dr. Carlson, to pick dates that maximize student participation. The chair suggested tentatively offering a forum on Feb. 13 in the evening but emphasized timing remains subject to administrators' recommendations and public notice requirements.

The committee described the forum process as advisory: administrators and principals would retain final operational authority on whether flags fly in school buildings, but the committee wants to document community input before proposing formal policy language. The committee emphasized it will not use workshop sessions for formal decision-making; instead, it will gather feedback and return a proposed policy to the full committee for the required readings.

The district has two draft flag-policy texts under review; committee members said they will continue refining a single draft and then present it for public input.

The meeting produced no formal vote on the flag policy. The committee recorded next steps: schedule forums; consult administrators and legal counsel; and return with a refined draft at a future meeting for formal readings.

The committee asked administration to post an FAQ on the district website clarifying workshop and forum formats and to publish meeting notices once dates are set.

The discussion followed earlier public comment in which multiple students and residents had submitted written feedback and requested that student voices be central to any final decision.","After public comments urging student involvement, the Marblehead School Committee agreed to hold public forums and consult administrators and the district attorney before finalizing a draft flag policy.","actionData","errors"]

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School committee pushes for two daily recesses for K–6, directs administrators to draft implementation plan

School committee begins review of protocols and policy updates; will consult MASC and legal counsel

Marblehead school committee to hold community forums on draft flag policy after public pushes for student role