[{"_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",6620248,"mediaKeyId","2812820-150870d2e1f3df06b86b79faf840dc08","parentId",2812820,"title","District reviews safety after school bus struck crossing arm at Brailey Road; no major injuries reported","audioSeconds",123,"startMs",3983000,"endMs",4106000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2812820-150870d2e1f3df06b86b79faf840dc08&start=3983&end=4106","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2812820-150870d2e1f3df06b86b79faf840dc08/thumbnail_3983000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6620248/Massachusetts/District-reviews-safety-after-school-bus-struck-crossing-arm-at-Brailey-Road-no-major-injuries-reported","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620248-dc471b70abf439ea4135abb399e83a29/orig.mp4?Expires=1770968215&Signature=LYubvOUvtfy4F7JH84fjzXMlD1qSSm9zfcRQ0BAR3tJKge0~eaQpMIFsKrT9XO9OMG-pQKq9erL7xpyIGYJ-mPvGSrxffXNb0Up4xVdIrJcJdRxUSysaxlhJbecsm4WBWLPoG1FLDdvDhPvIJkXrlMgApZkQzBO1BcS5gS1pwWwZ49yccVtlksHZfN8nIk-dWwwwaUtf2QnGKvFvwh43iU~2LthY1tToaKxUrl6caAPiBC4bVj3OaHvEszWtE9nz-4qZsSVkxq-uw8bKo8KeXLOE6mDvUVy-BFGyF6fykyHaGQZBYmjmnxfeHu9gpY3hnqMLkNpy~HbI8LThrjOPgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Freetown-Lakeville Regional School District, MA","date","2025-03-28T00:00:00Z","article","School business director Jack Higgins briefed the committee on an incident yesterday involving Bus 17 at the Brailey Road railroad crossing during an afternoon run.

According to Higgins, the driver stopped at the painted line, checked visually and audibly for trains, and began to proceed. Bells and lights activated before the bus reached the track, and the driver stopped and then reversed to the stop line; as the bus was reversing, the crossing safety arm contacted the top of the bus. The train passed about 45 seconds after the warning devices activated.

Higgins said the district and the bus company have been in direct contact with the MBTA about sight‑lines and warning timing at that crossing. He said the district provided counselors today for students as a precaution, and that the town, the bus company and MBTA are coordinating to address sight‑line and warning issues.

Higgins said 14 of the district's 24 buses have routes that cross rail tracks at some point during the day. The district is exploring added measures including bus monitors for affected runs, increased daily communication with the vendor, training from town fire departments, and participation in the MBTA's safety initiatives.

Higgins attributed limited sight lines at the Brailey Road stop to vegetation and other obstructions; he said the MBTA is the agency responsible for maintaining sight lines at crossings and that the district is continuing conversations with the vendor and MBTA.

Clarifying details: incident location: Brailey Road rail crossing; train passed ~45 seconds after bells and lights engaged; number of buses with crossings on routes: 14 of 24. The district reported counselors were made available as a precaution and is considering bus monitors and additional training.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Freetown-Lakeville Regional School Committee, 3-26-25","oneSentenceSummary","School officials reported that a PM run on Bus 17 reached a railroad crossing where bells and lights engaged; the bus backed and the crossing arm struck the top of the bus. District and bus vendor are in contact with the MBTA; the district is exploring bus monitors and additional training.","taxTitle","Freetown-Lakeville Regional School District, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",71628,"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},6620253,"District reports mixed Student Opportunity Act results: absenteeism down overall, some MCAS targets missed",548,2228000,2776000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2812820-150870d2e1f3df06b86b79faf840dc08&start=2228&end=2776","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2812820-150870d2e1f3df06b86b79faf840dc08/thumbnail_2228000.jpg","/articles/6620253/Massachusetts/District-reports-mixed-Student-Opportunity-Act-results-absenteeism-down-overall-some-MCAS-targets-missed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620253-d7bdd82ceabf78fe1426e5b3def2df34/orig.mp4?Expires=1770968215&Signature=ocnGn6aUuYt2K60N9UunJdlVR4yMvDcb4ZeKiJSnoQJ5cAixt8D6Qt3NCBtTME9EZ-m-1JHyG0tL1YNHTrYyg66ycP5vx9bJqSAVhkJdoLNfaFJRt5VAKtZOt7dZJsW5xA5OXJdg5Ac5lQIND-5GysRcFbRk86NWJ9XwFzdeaPispKNB-sLQpUTx7Eyl92gJQ383WgiUyIYHOBHAbP4AOGwKu1kHWIBEEgM53yI-czAhOADF7WD6dKyIZSRbLSWbBN1yve-frJwdy1Hfs8DCvpbnFm6TsqJvzNms6kMDEtHZgWSvPuwt5Prb-rIbkCSoUD9tsENj1MTlkkKxpGX5fQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Terry Fleming presented the district's annual update under the Student Opportunity Act, reporting a mix of improvements and areas that still require work.

Fleming told the school committee that districtwide chronic absenteeism among targeted populations decreased from 21% to 20% in the first year of the plan. She said absenteeism for students with disabilities fell from 29.6% to 21.2%.

Fleming also reported that grade‑6 MCAS math proficiency for the measured cohort dropped from 44% to 41%, and she cautioned that the year‑to‑year comparisons are not cohort‑based. By contrast, ninth‑grade passing rates rose from 58.5% to 81.2% among the target population; students with disabilities in that metric increased from 69.7% to 80.5%.

The presentation noted that the district was approved for two grant programs: innovative career pathways at the high school and Project Lead The Way at the middle school, both framed as early career exposure opportunities. Fleming said the first year of the district's dyslexia/early literacy screening implementation is a baseline data collection year and that staff are receiving training on using the screener data.

Fleming said stakeholder engagement activities — roundtables, student voice work, expanded multilingual communications and parent panels on technology and AI — are ongoing and are part of the next steps. The district will submit the required progress report to the state and will report again next year before writing a new plan in 2027–2028.

Clarifying details: chronic absenteeism change: 21% → 20% (targeted populations); students with disabilities absenteeism: 29.6% → 21.2%; grade‑6 MCAS math: 44% → 41%; ninth‑grade passing rate (target): 58.5% → 81.2%; students with disabilities ninth‑grade pass rate: 69.7% → 80.5%. All figures presented by district staff as part of the Student Opportunity Act update.","District staff reported declines in chronic absenteeism overall and for students with disabilities, gains in ninth‑grade passing rates, but a drop in sixth‑grade MCAS math; the update includes first‑year implementation notes for new literacy screeners and approved career pathway grants.",{"_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},6620257,"Freetown-Lakeville officials recommend $47.98 million FY26 budget placeholder as educators urge rejection",811,192000,1003000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2812820-150870d2e1f3df06b86b79faf840dc08&start=192&end=1003","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2812820-150870d2e1f3df06b86b79faf840dc08/thumbnail_192000.jpg","/articles/6620257/Massachusetts/Freetown-Lakeville-officials-recommend-4798-million-FY26-budget-placeholder-as-educators-urge-rejection","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620257-88bda7eccd5f96c931813fbfb6550a77/orig.mp4?Expires=1770968215&Signature=Cj57WyngMXvd1jONALg9zpARwpYJLtd9BPvKhO5eXQn5kzR2zw2AyRypdBQeQesRdP~piFK03tzYIJMhsmkDwci6QOA4fV448p8Wg73oQZcYcsFIrBNPUozd82nFNpSSeY9zr511yY0DCy7I2kD05UMp-rlaMnVh4qfLSiO5BZ-AS95OT2O-trKiy9wEnBZxnSXYnNlZI-dFtkvP3lMSBqjfHldV~2eDdyeKe27FHAAfyW9tddObvOW2KLFUG7r0O6npAsKqZxN0-QbwvqKAcQRo3FWYjB3gKrQ~rfORzH3A9EwMMfXWC6Vz~V8PsCKWmQHh69IDhVFPNReRcpxnkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jack Higgins, the district finance presenter, told the Freetown‑Lakeville Regional School District School Committee that administrators recommend the committee vote an FY26 budget of $47,975,033 — $400,000 higher than a $47,575,033 draft — using $400,000 from school‑choice funds as a placeholder while awaiting possible state aid.

Higgins said the budget process began in November and produced an initial level‑service proposal of $49,135,217 that included a 3% contract increase for teachers, paraprofessionals and secretaries. After meetings with town finance officials and updated salary and health‑insurance numbers, central office identified roughly $500,000 in savings; further reductions would require staff cuts tied in part to declining enrollment, Higgins said.

Higgins: \"It is my recommendation ... that the budget number would be voted at $400,000 greater at $47,975,033 with $400,000 as a placeholder being used from additional money from our school choice fund.\" He said the placeholder gives the district time between the committee vote and town meetings to see whether anticipated state aid arrives.

Why it matters: Committee members were told that, without additional state funding or the placeholder, the remaining areas to reduce are primarily staff positions. Higgins described an administrative accounting change that moved positions previously funded through IDEA grants into the general fund by reallocating related out‑of‑district transportation costs; he said the change did not raise the overall budget, only shifted line items.

Regional context: Committee member Courtney Brightman told the committee the regional finance committee voted unanimously to support the option that uses the $400,000 school‑choice placeholder. Higgins said he had attended a Ways and Means hearing at UMass Amherst and that state Chapter 70 funding calculations remain a concern for the district.

Public comment: Multiple district educators urged the committee to reject the proposed budget when it comes to a vote on April 9, saying the revised proposal would still cut services that support vulnerable students.

Dan Rutledge, who identified himself as a district educator, said: \"I urge the school committee to reject the proposed budget on April 9.\" Alex Duff, a music teacher, Jacqueline Hinckley, a middle‑school staff member, and other teachers and paraprofessionals made similar appeals, warning of larger class sizes, reductions in paraprofessional and intervention services, and cuts to extracurricular and maintenance needs.

What’s next: The committee discussed both the $47,575,033 figure and the recommended $47,975,033 placeholder budget. Committee members and town officials will take the recommendation to upcoming town meetings; Higgins and others said the district will continue to pursue state funds and work with the towns to avoid staff reductions.

Clarifying details: Initial level‑service proposal: $49,135,217; draft revised budget after savings: $47,575,033; recommended placeholder budget: $47,975,033; identified additional administrative savings (Feb. 26): approximately $500,000; placeholder proposed to be funded from school‑choice funds: $400,000 (not an additional town assessment).","District finance director Jack Higgins recommended the school committee vote a $47,975,033 FY26 budget with a $400,000 school‑choice placeholder; teachers and staff during public comment urged the committee to reject the proposal at the April 9 vote, citing possible cuts to student services.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District reviews safety after school bus struck crossing arm at Brailey Road; no major injuries reported

District reports mixed Student Opportunity Act results: absenteeism down overall, some MCAS targets missed

Freetown-Lakeville officials recommend $47.98 million FY26 budget placeholder as educators urge rejection