[{"_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",6340824,"mediaKeyId","2258793-54acbfaf4a6594caea79c5429552f7ac","parentId",2258793,"title","Votes at a glance: Gardner School Committee approves consent agenda, several policies, school choice and calendars","audioSeconds",484,"startMs",2020000,"endMs",2504000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2258793-54acbfaf4a6594caea79c5429552f7ac&start=2020&end=2504","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2258793-54acbfaf4a6594caea79c5429552f7ac/thumbnail_2020000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6340824/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Gardner-School-Committee-approves-consent-agenda-several-policies-school-choice-and-calendars","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340824-346b6e7b3aeda08fa17ca0ad6d7f7cca/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437394&Signature=cWkYemFFIkEoR8FZNOAUp4qvh~AM91pBl5D7jJ6~TgS7b8k0182YgAKXXq8R2qaRSLpk8pNFPNco4n0TM7xbzaziUCLqMm8Cq3ofqanZ4DLfgbmcgIRyu7Y1~83Q5ZSgrR69aKroczPx0kZ~i4BGVmwHRntMx7S3qxjMBquyY5hCHF4gd8~Ly5RrunQteP5YRlkpX-z7hFX~uPUXMpjHj7xnxceOi5LG2AuKo7ZkyyoGbqeFtgvpbyTbpkC-TYN1O07eueazSIRJnlWqEiZeX~VrOBwTA3EhnHeZIsL9eLFphCEcIU8y4~sNrVbaYNbQR2OIGqV7DbbvMNcGsMLcfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Gardner Public Schools, MA","date","2025-02-11T00:00:00Z","article","The Gardner School Committee held several formal votes at its Feb. 10 meeting. Below are the motions the committee passed, as recorded in the meeting transcript. Where the transcript did not record a roll‑call tally, the minutes record a voice vote and the clerk’s announcement that the motion \"carries.\" If a mover or seconder was not clearly identified in the spoken record, that field is listed as \"not specified.\"

Votes at a glance

1) Consent agenda — approved
Motion: \"to accept the consent agenda as presented.\" The consent agenda, included in the meeting packet, contained a $100,000 grant acceptance to support student social‑emotional work.
Mover: Mr. Swart (as recorded in transcript)
Second: Ms. Swart (as recorded in transcript)
Outcome: approved (voice vote; transcript: \"Aye. Opposed nay. Motion carries.\")
Notes: The meeting transcript records the consent agenda vote as a voice vote; no roll‑call tally was provided.

2) Second reading — multiple policies — approved
Motion: \"to accept the policies as read, for second reading.\" Policies on second reading included JLC (Student Health Services and Requirements); JLCA (Physical Exam of Students); JLCB (Immunization of Students); JLCC (Communicable Diseases); JLCD (Administering Medication to Students); JLCE (Food Allergies); JRD (Student Photographs); KBBA (Noncustodial Parent Rights); KCD (Public Gifts to the Schools); KDB (Public Rights to Know); KHA (Public Solicitations in the Schools); KHB (Advertising in the Schools); JQ (Student Fees, Fines and Charges); KDC (Community Use of Digital Resources).
Mover: Mrs. Hearst (as recorded in transcript)
Second: Mr. LaFreniere (as recorded in transcript)
Outcome: approved (voice vote)
Notes: Transcript reported voice vote \"Aye. Aye. Opposed nay. Motion carries.\" No individual tally included in the spoken record.

3) Removal of policy KCDA (Computer Donation Policy) — approved
Motion: To remove policy KCDA from the policy manual as redundant or unnecessary per Massachusetts Association of School Committees guidance.
Mover: not specified in transcript (motion recorded; speakers exchanged)
Second: not specified in transcript
Outcome: approved (voice vote)
Notes: The committee voted by voice to remove the policy; transcript states the policy was recommended for removal and the motion carried.

4) School choice acceptance 2025–26 — approved
Motion: \"Move to accept school choice.\" The district reported it is not accepting elementary or middle school students for school choice due to capacity; high school and alternative school remain open to school choice.
Mover: not specified in transcript
Second: Ms. Ward (as recorded in transcript)
Outcome: approved (voice vote)
Notes: Voice vote recorded; no roll‑call tally in the transcript.

5) School committee meeting calendar (2025–26) — approved
Motion: Accept the schedule of school committee meetings for 2025–26 (second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers).
Mover: Mr. Schwartz
Second: Mr. LaFreniere
Outcome: approved (voice vote)

6) Annual school calendars (2025–26 and 2026–27) — approved
Motion: Accept the proposed school calendars for 2025–26 and 2026–27 (in packet).
Mover: not specified in transcript
Second: Miss LaFrenier (as recorded in transcript)
Outcome: approved (voice vote)

7) Adjournment — approved
Motion: Adjourn the meeting.
Mover: Attorney Polaven (as recorded in transcript)
Second: Miss LaFreniere (as recorded in transcript)
Outcome: approved (voice vote)

Notes on voting record: The meeting transcript records results using voice votes with the clerk announcing \"Aye\" and \"Motion carries.\" The transcript does not provide roll‑call tallies or individual member votes; where the transcript lists a motion maker or seconder, that name is recorded above. No defeated motions were recorded in the spoken record for this meeting.

Ending: Several informational reports and presentations accompanied the votes, including the MTSS/PBIS update and school improvement plan presentations; those were received as informational items and did not require committee votes at this meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Gardner School Committee Meeting Feb 10 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Gardner School Committee approved the consent agenda, multiple policy adoptions on second reading, removal of a redundant computer donation policy, school choice acceptances for the high school and alternative school, and annual calendars at its Feb. 10 meeting.","taxTitle","Gardner Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",69224,"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},6340828,"Gardner Middle and Elementary describe school improvement plans focused on Tier 1 instruction, SEL and family engagement",1304,719000,2023000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2258793-54acbfaf4a6594caea79c5429552f7ac&start=719&end=2023","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2258793-54acbfaf4a6594caea79c5429552f7ac/thumbnail_719000.jpg","/articles/6340828/Massachusetts/Gardner-Middle-and-Elementary-describe-school-improvement-plans-focused-on-Tier-1-instruction-SEL-and-family-engagement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340828-a8e1747e6fdea2eb33f1ebe77627a0f9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437394&Signature=czQaJGlmRzj4Szj6bX9LYhDNltw~jMLAtWlHpC4klXykGElzbjAyK8ZO3Lz0vOJwvffSUtQWSjTHTJDtguxWuC7x4-i~yqOhRU6IWpK5cuIfi~uX~4CqN5H9R0b4SclEHh29mGC6MwmktVru95yrldXu3jJszSh9WrqIhkOvretVbSwsiX4taNSirAqmsWYmjRYnRGydlNAAM17ldS8c78kzmk3ZECwaPF-5060Ia-yB6W5NLljH-Rd4BVof6BYkfDL1fCw-Tk55CnM2a6d35g3AGREbWBvMYSCTIjTMnm4bcYgBavF7dpJW5JrGG8dh~6hP-Y3KJk1FAL2Kcq~pLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Gardner School Committee meeting on Feb. 10, principals from Gardner Middle School and Gardner Elementary presented draft school improvement plans that align with district priorities around high‑quality Tier 1 instruction, social‑emotional learning and family engagement.

Becky Earl, who presented the Gardner Middle School plan, said the school's goals flow from the district priority to implement Tier 1 lessons using high‑quality instructional materials with fidelity. \"Currently, we have 3 of our 4 core areas [with] high quality instructional materials,\" Earl said, and reported that ELA was added this year using the Amplify curriculum. Earl described behavioral and SEL goals tied to MTSS and PBIS, said the middle school recently implemented school‑wide expectations and routines, and said the school is evaluating its advisory SEL curriculum.

Earl emphasized literacy and attendance as priority outcomes. She said the middle school did not see the same chronic absenteeism improvements reported elsewhere in the district and identified improving attendance as an intended outcome from academic, social‑emotional and family partnership work.

An elementary school presenter (not named in the transcript) described aligned objectives at Gardner Elementary: the same focus on Tier 1 instruction, fidelity checks of classroom practice, specific literacy interventions (the district uses a Foundations program for early literacy and a data tool called Open Architects), and family engagement initiatives such as book nights, decodable texts and a PBIS book‑vending machine supported by a Rockwell grant.

Both building presenters described specific targets: shrinking the percentage of students below grade‑level literacy (the presenter set an objective to reduce the “red” category to 15%), improving teacher implementation fidelity through targeted professional development, and reducing the share of students requiring Tier 3 interventions (noting the district target range of 1–5% versus a prior 28% level in one metric).

Committee members asked questions about family reading at home and district supports. One member identified as Mr. Martin asked whether reading gaps were caused by lack of reading at home; presenters said the district is promoting home reading through software and a Read Across America campaign and emphasized focusing on instruction the district can control.

The school improvement plans were presented as draft documents for committee review; committee action on the plans was not taken at the Feb. 10 meeting.","Principals presented draft school improvement plans at the Feb. 10 Gardner School Committee meeting, emphasizing Tier 1 instructional fidelity, literacy, SEL and family engagement.",{"_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},6340833,"Gardner School Committee recognizes MTSS/PBIS team after districtwide drops in suspensions and chronic absenteeism",2496,101000,2597000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2258793-54acbfaf4a6594caea79c5429552f7ac&start=101&end=2597","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2258793-54acbfaf4a6594caea79c5429552f7ac/thumbnail_101000.jpg","/articles/6340833/Massachusetts/Gardner-School-Committee-recognizes-MTSSPBIS-team-after-districtwide-drops-in-suspensions-and-chronic-absenteeism","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340833-5b4c2e2c9dc49e5ffeb18b233123036c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437394&Signature=RnnmKkYoLc7TYX1fQV-0ZaSHFmsIH6IgAylKNqOhxEmVKUnlwZRhZYtNiPW4xqtQdgPpKQFBlcyr2zEY3Fp2qIH6o3gbpmXcot3JZtGmgxt9ou6A6pN5U5h2tPFdvkYSc3U-U237Q~92W7Ks0fIgItCE7kdh-ecyCdcnf5E~2bZFb6SAYGSURxebd-UDc~uowcuHrF9U-u0bk3cEHq9G2fYoFXCCZEC0OCNTc0WiqanG63~9EmqISZUbBS6SVj2gP~fPL5RE8PqtCIT0B21JpxsMSCA~1DvP71hTyV2xE~Q6jEgRVHd-~hKxn7-GCZMk4BNMLpcRNE7DrXI7i5Irew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its Feb. 10 meeting, the Gardner School Committee recognized the district MTSS/PBIS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports / Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) team and heard a presentation on five years of district work that officials say reduced chronic absenteeism and suspensions across Gardner Public Schools.

Amber Caspant, director of MTSS programming, told the committee the district was one of two Massachusetts districts with gold status in the Northeast PBIS district recognition program and one of five in New England to receive the honor. Caspant said the district has seen a 28% decrease in overall chronic absenteeism and large subgroup improvements: 23% for students with disabilities, 24% for multilingual learners, 30% for Latinx students and 56% for Black/African American students.

\"We have decreased chronic absenteeism rate as a district by 28%,\" Caspant said. \"We have also been able to reduce in‑school suspensions by 83% and out‑of‑school suspensions by 36% from the fall of last year to the spring of last year.\" She added the district reduced use of time‑out/calm‑down rooms by about 75% over three years and reduced elementary school restraints by 9% year over year.

Why it matters: district leaders told the committee those changes reflect combined work on Tier 1 instruction, school‑wide expectations, family engagement and PBIS systems rather than single short‑term interventions. Superintendent Dr. Pellegrino and several committee members credited building‑level teams and staff training for the progress and noted the district has been asked to present its work at state, national and international conferences.

Committee members praised the outcome data and the recognition. One committee member, identified in the meeting transcript as Mr. Fritz, said he was \"outstanding\" with the progress and noted the district's invitations to present their work. Dr. Pellegrino said the district's MTSS and PBIS work has become a consistent part of how Gardner schools operate.

The update was an informational item; no formal vote or policy change was taken during the MTSS/PBIS presentation. The committee later listed the MTSS/PBIS update among the reports included in the meeting packet.

Ending note: Caspant and district staff described continued work on fidelity of implementation and family engagement as the next steps to build on the reported declines in absenteeism and disciplinary referrals.","At its Feb. 10 meeting, the Gardner School Committee recognized the district MTSS/PBIS team and heard a presentation showing reductions in chronic absenteeism and suspensions across the district.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Gardner School Committee approves consent agenda, several policies, school choice and calendars

Gardner Middle and Elementary describe school improvement plans focused on Tier 1 instruction, SEL and family engagement

Gardner School Committee recognizes MTSS/PBIS team after districtwide drops in suspensions and chronic absenteeism