[{"_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",6349647,"mediaKeyId","2237781-465cb6eacc07a4f3297dc6720784ad04","parentId",2237781,"title","Lakeville and Freetown agree to review 14‑year regional school agreement; audits, financial reports and recall process raised","audioSeconds",3496,"startMs",49000,"endMs",3545000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2237781-465cb6eacc07a4f3297dc6720784ad04&start=49&end=3545","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2237781-465cb6eacc07a4f3297dc6720784ad04/thumbnail_49000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6349647/Massachusetts/Lakeville-and-Freetown-agree-to-review-14year-regional-school-agreement-audits-financial-reports-and-recall-process-raised","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349647-23979398dc850b508d20683d2ebae9e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770737535&Signature=B-vDgNNVDlu7w-5a~LVvPq0e4aQpKqQ1JpRw50~Y1IyuuKMHNXrFGZ3v3w1N6C0TC2v1-whp3pDuUIiabTklnpjDSSfUjZdb0F4W-9DBhhUaITHS~OenLFvLU6k6ozhoP72C19b23Xq9KKNAWbZaw2xd-Q4oSH6h9BReTcEYDVipvyzFP3zXBj2mTsbosRdEq-cTHB6t93pTtH7Vf6aFoy5UQXlrOlNGucbWyutQ4NWb-tZ16nozthuuKMxVv7Ka4ooImwBGAzoGOQH0O1hGUa8TlY1Hr1RhCo15pFxxFmjQTnDJKowtApH5O0QZ8i0nF4rqjp-2M87XT2RsB-QxHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Lakeville, MA","date","2025-02-06T00:00:00Z","article","At a joint meeting of the Town of Lakeville and Town of Freetown select boards, officials agreed to reopen discussions about their regional school district agreement, a document they said is 14 years old and in need of review.

Board members and administrators described three related priorities: improving regular access to school financial information, clarifying who participates in superintendent hiring, and setting a predictable audit practice for the district. They also discussed whether to pursue local or special‑legislation changes that would allow recall petitions for regional school committee members.

Why it matters

The agreement governs shared governance between the two towns and the regional school committee. Officials said the document has not been updated in more than a decade and that clarifying reporting, hiring roles and audit procedures would increase transparency and reduce recurring disputes over finances and oversight.

What officials discussed

Financial reporting: Multiple select board members asked for more timely financial information from the district. Town representatives said they have discussed regular monthly budget reports with district staff; one official noted that the district currently provides committee reports but that the towns sometimes receive them on a different cadence. Town administrators were asked to pursue a routine monthly or bi‑monthly budget report from the district business office.

Audit frequency and scope: Several participants proposed instituting a periodic, full‑scope audit of district operations in addition to the annual financial audits. Suggestions included scheduling a comprehensive audit every five to 10 years and defining automatic “trigger” events — for example, a threshold of irregularities (one participant suggested an illustrative $500,000 threshold) — that would prompt an additional review. Officials emphasized the need to define the audit scope before procurement; a prior recommendation from a select board had been delegated to the regional finance committee, which later lost capacity after turnover.

Superintendent hiring: The agreement contains a provision for a hiring committee. Speakers recommended confirming whether and how town members may participate in that committee and asked town administrators and counsel to check for any relevant provisions in state law before altering the district document.

Recalls and legal route: Select board members reported residents have asked for recall rights for regional school committee members. Officials reviewed options raised by town counsel and outside legal advice: (1) a majority vote of the regional school committee to amend the agreement, (2) each town adopting a warrant article and pursuing special legislation through the state legislature, or (3) a referendum process if the agreement’s language allows it. Attendees emphasized that any change likely will require coordination with the regional school committee, joint legal review, and discussion with state legislators before placing language on town meeting warrant articles.

Next steps and direction

Participants directed town administrators from Lakeville and Freetown to coordinate with school committee members and counsel to draft recommended language or a shared plan for review. Several speakers suggested convening a small working group that includes school committee representation, legal counsel review, and community stakeholders to identify specific amendments or a supplemental agreement. No formal amendment was adopted at the meeting.

Ending

Officials agreed to resume planning and to schedule meetings among town administrators, the regional finance committee and the school committee. The select boards did not take formal action to change the agreement during this session; they moved to adjourn later in the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lakeville Select Board, 2-3-25","oneSentenceSummary","At a joint meeting of the Town of Lakeville and Town of Freetown select boards, officials agreed to reopen discussions about their regional school district agreement, a document they said is 14 years old and in need of review.","taxTitle","Town of Lakeville, Plymouth County, Massachusetts","taxId",58187,"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},6349637,"Lakeville and Freetown chiefs stress annual joint active‑shooter drills, urge budgeting for training and SRO support",1463,2210000,3673000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2237781-465cb6eacc07a4f3297dc6720784ad04&start=2210&end=3673","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2237781-465cb6eacc07a4f3297dc6720784ad04/thumbnail_2210000.jpg","/articles/6349637/Massachusetts/Lakeville-and-Freetown-chiefs-stress-annual-joint-activeshooter-drills-urge-budgeting-for-training-and-SRO-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349637-aa65c8d5ef64010912e852e29f68445f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770737535&Signature=n32O13ACmXCYL296VbTh3ys79ubKkLp35gI-29A7fUCIl5OHqjkJLP2bsAskk3ANlnN5hErYcwJXmspKhaSaJyDfqAd7lUzJkwy6Cz8TbSUnDcmJ6XpICJjYnCDrH8HL8ZtCY71Z9cWY0mGwj9T8Nz2TLjAsh9oBjojXie2OaZIDCQfNF8CeiOEHqce2Uv2wV-orNjTQViFJ9ltTjspw~gQ~vCXnqPgeHfLkRnMfUPERzR-69fHGueD4-LbQXzCIjCiYjIEIHY0rXAt-0uA2eTjkX2Tz3Y3c9~iG2fufptzr~WiLVx2bFvWn4BujyDHX86rcr0aUYqcItkaE4rdFpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chiefs from Lakeville and Freetown told a joint select board meeting that annual joint training for schools remains a priority and that repetition and cross‑agency exercises are critical to preparedness.

Why it matters

The towns share a regional school campus and emergency response across municipal lines. Officials said coordinated training, mutual aid and staff familiarization reduce response times and improve safety for students and staff.

What the chiefs described

Joint training cadence and formats: Chiefs reported they conduct active‑shooter/hostile event training annually when budgets allow. Training typically includes a tabletop planning exercise and live drills. Participants described a model where most attendees receive an 8‑hour block of instruction while trainers or instructor staff put in additional hours (train‑the‑trainer or 16 hours) to prepare and run exercises.

Programs and frameworks: Officials referenced standardized frameworks adopted in the region — described in the meeting as an Active Shooter/Hostile Event response plan — and school employee training under the ALICE model (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate). Chiefs said staff and police train separately and also conduct joint multi‑agency exercises to practice command, staging and casualty evacuation procedures.

Funding, grants and scheduling: Chiefs said the training is costly because of overtime and staffing needs and recommended that the towns budget for recurring training rather than relying on ad hoc overtime. They described pursuing grant funding when available; one example cited was an eight‑hour joint training the previous year that was funded in part by a grant. Officials urged building a predictable line item into municipal budgets to avoid irregular funding gaps.

School Resource Officers (SROs): Participants discussed SRO coverage at the regional campus. Lakeville has one SRO assigned to multiple schools on the campus; Freetown said it absorbed a part‑time SRO position into its budget and is evaluating full‑time coverage. Discussion included the pay split for SRO positions: meeting remarks referenced the district paying a majority share of an SRO salary (participants estimated roughly two‑thirds of a base patrol position in the discussed example) with the town covering the remainder. Speakers noted trade‑offs: assigning an officer full time to a school reduces patrol availability and may raise overtime costs.

Recommendations and next steps

Chiefs recommended a predictable, rotating schedule for campus training that covers each school in turn and repeated annual exercises to maintain readiness. Select boards directed town administrators and police leadership to explore grant opportunities, cost estimates to include in next budgets, and continued coordination on SRO coverage. No new positions or funding lines were approved at the meeting.","Police chiefs from Lakeville and Freetown described annual joint active‑shooter training for regional schools, outlined typical training hours and costs, and discussed school resource officer coverage and funding splits; officials urged building training into town budgets and seeking grant funding.",{"_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},6349642,"Rising summer use, invasive weeds and state ownership complicate management of Assawompset and Long Ponds",491,1263000,1754000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2237781-465cb6eacc07a4f3297dc6720784ad04&start=1263&end=1754","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2237781-465cb6eacc07a4f3297dc6720784ad04/thumbnail_1263000.jpg","/articles/6349642/Massachusetts/Rising-summer-use-invasive-weeds-and-state-ownership-complicate-management-of-Assawompset-and-Long-Ponds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349642-c00c80939ea84d964724c537d1dba136/orig.mp4?Expires=1770737535&Signature=D2tStSvfo8eELuHew-Qj746YqgpK5rsX5Dv47k8LSVY1X23b~IxRdH1oOYd3d8ZagK1kKAgBl25qJiugyAWKXKNHR3qOWz3p0EQfuNc33msjfkYhuOD2cyy3xHbXLfZ5cnwBHFPpbMQ6pGPAF5gAzuORMKZaUxc5hRv7Sy2-gVvujn-4vY5TK91jJm23PFeMxz2Az~MBTSQnPgXlJSCD5P953pZooP6S9zGJJRlD7TK7NZyf4B9E27OIwdt5t0O9PQAl3duEEnLmznzGaaD5EmI2l8G1pjTY~PUYR84JiQKfkybKhWdZlHg-oWVx71ZgP3kxfkbMCnwY5AMiISXARw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town leaders from Lakeville and Freetown used a joint meeting to discuss summer crowding, parking and invasive‑species concerns at Assawompset and Long Ponds, where activity at the boat ramp has increased steadily in recent years.

Why it matters

The ponds are shared recreational assets that draw heavy summer use. Officials said overcrowding at the boat ramp leads to parking on nearby roadways and additional calls for police and emergency response; the slipping condition of the ramp and limits on what fees the towns can charge complicate maintenance and enforcement.

Key points from the discussion

Boat ramp use and parking: Town representatives said the ramp parking frequently fills, pushing cars and trailers onto Route 18 and adjacent streets. Parking congestion has prompted signage, selective parking bans near intersections, and occasional enforcement. The increase in watercraft and trailers has raised public‑safety concerns as well as calls for added patrols.

State ownership and fee limits: Officials reported that although the ramp and parking parcel sit within Freetown, ownership rests with the Commonwealth. That ownership constrains local authority: ramp fees and any material changes to use or fee structure require state approval. Speakers noted the difficulty of raising fees in past years — increasing from $5 to $10 was described as hard to secure — and said the towns cannot unilaterally raise parking charges for revenue beyond covering operation costs without state sign‑off.

Boat wash and invasive species: Town officials said state staff and stakeholders concluded a hot‑water boat wash station was not practical at the ramp site. Instead, state guidance emphasized community‑run operations and visual inspections by attendants to limit the introduction of invasive weeds such as milfoil. Towns were urged to recruit invested pond residents and associations to staff inspections, rather than relying solely on seasonal attendants focused on fee collection.

Enforcement and marine capability: Freetown officials noted they do not have a dedicated marine unit and have at times requested mutual aid and assistance from Lakeville’s marine unit and state environmental police. Speakers said adding a jointly staffed marine unit would require funding for training, equipment and personnel and could draw patrol resources away from other duties.

Recommendations and next steps

Participants encouraged continued intermunicipal cooperation, outreach to pond associations for volunteer staffing of the ramp, and coordination with state representatives for any fee or ramp construction proposals. No formal votes were taken on changes to ramp operations during the meeting.","Officials from Lakeville and Freetown discussed overcrowding at the shared boat ramp, invasive‑species risk, parking overflow and limitations imposed by state ownership during a joint meeting. They heard that a staffed community approach and signage were recommended by state representatives rather than a state‑funded boat wash station.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lakeville and Freetown agree to review 14‑year regional school agreement; audits, financial reports and recall process raised

Lakeville and Freetown chiefs stress annual joint active‑shooter drills, urge budgeting for training and SRO support

Rising summer use, invasive weeds and state ownership complicate management of Assawompset and Long Ponds