[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":73},"mediaId",6531788,"mediaKeyId","3452981-2efb86699d6aa40bdcf4720dd0dc86df","parentId",3452981,"title","District completes AES generator, advances HVAC controls and outlines school‑psychologist and BCBA roles","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",3721000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3452981-2efb86699d6aa40bdcf4720dd0dc86df&start=3721&end=3721","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3452981-2efb86699d6aa40bdcf4720dd0dc86df/thumbnail_3721000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6531788/Massachusetts/District-completes-AES-generator-advances-HVAC-controls-and-outlines-schoolpsychologist-and-BCBA-roles","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531788-dd605dc178ead154b1ca8ff474ab78f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770966409&Signature=LX361B40a-fmCr4UrjI8Y4ZfawL6sd5nDbSZi4h-Z2lCKrNNO4u~DtfySmW7UKiwwerg2tAzRjDdV2sfWy0JZKU-X4z35wzD7zynw7Aj0iBZRuZ3noeAjwOg7I09ZcInzVZM9ki1DDKYFlNNUha6glixDTbcr-vDbq1XqmL3MNV4p8zPx~Y-9vmv5ynoiRNVpEL12NlK84XJth~IZk1oaJcnhHPJOpz5b8N42eCAc4boLJQHXhBhL9bkl5PaIiP3j26oGbbhqrj9KNe6J03SavJ~h4u16U9JumfviSIGPx4hso~lBhXpfFKUqOddyBJI5~NRVrPwHBW50w22tygIOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lakeville","date","2025-05-23T00:23:25Z","article","The Freetown‑Lakeville school committee on May 20 received a facilities update reporting completion of the Asawompsett Elementary School generator installation and progress on HVAC control upgrades at Freetown Elementary School. District staff also described a likely cause and planned remediation for recent late‑afternoon smoke‑alarm activations at the high school and summarized how the district conducts special‑education evaluations.

Facilities and safety updates
The district's director of finance and facilities reported that the AES whole‑building generator installation was completed during April vacation and that final asphalt patching was scheduled for the week of the meeting. The director said the generator can support the building in an emergency and could also be useful to the Town of Lakeville.

At Freetown Elementary School, the district completed a multi‑month HVAC control project intended to bring a modern control system into the building so occupants can see and manage temperature, ventilation and occupancy controls. The director said the new controls bring exhaust fans fully online, improve air circulation across the campus and allow automatic adjustments based on classroom occupancy and measured CO2 levels.

Smoke‑alarm activations: staff reported three smoke‑alarm incidents in recent weeks and said vendor inspection found the HVAC and alarm systems operating correctly. Staff told the committee the most likely cause is pollen and particulates obstructing the laser smoke sensors; the district will schedule a full cleaning of smoke alarms and continue monitoring.

Special education and evaluations
Kelly Steele, a district staff member reporting on special education, told the committee the district currently has 82 families participating in its homeschool program and that DESE regulations govern progress reporting and homeschool intent notifications.

Steele clarified the district's evaluation model: school psychologists conduct cognitive and academic achievement testing, classroom observations, rating scales and initial and re‑evaluation work (reevaluations occur at least every three years). The district uses one full‑time BCBA and additional contracted BCBA days to perform functional behavioral assessments (FBAs) and to write behavior intervention plans; Steele said the district recorded 34 FBAs this school year. Steele also explained the district's decision to retain school psychologists rather than shift testing to special‑education teachers, noting that outsourcing evaluations previously cost the district tens of thousands of dollars and that in‑house staff have reduced those external costs.

Why it matters: The generator and HVAC control upgrades improve building resilience and indoor air quality; clarifying who performs evaluations and how FBAs are handled affects special‑education service delivery and budgeting.

Next steps: The district will schedule smoke‑alarm cleaning with the service company, continue HVAC monitoring and maintain the current staffing model for evaluations while monitoring costs and service capacity.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Freetown-Lakeville Regional School Committee, 5-21-25","oneSentenceSummary","District staff reported that the Asawompsett Elementary School generator installation is complete, HVAC controls upgrades at FES are operational and smoke‑alarm nuisance activations are being addressed; separately, administrators summarized the district's approach to school psychologist evaluations and BCBA‑led functional behavioral assessments.","taxTitle","Town of Lakeville, Plymouth County, Massachusetts","taxId",58187,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6531792,"Freetown‑Lakeville leaders plan schedule changes after bus delays, cite train crossings and driver shortages",332,3162000,3494000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3452981-2efb86699d6aa40bdcf4720dd0dc86df&start=3162&end=3494","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3452981-2efb86699d6aa40bdcf4720dd0dc86df/thumbnail_3162000.jpg","/articles/6531792/Massachusetts/FreetownLakeville-leaders-plan-schedule-changes-after-bus-delays-cite-train-crossings-and-driver-shortages","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531792-283571ddc6db0303ad622f9a14e00761/orig.mp4?Expires=1770966409&Signature=CjiNBImPADCYMrPpyQjpstTUh3vMUvdCiXKn9F-FwMpFCwwo9-IhN6kn-5iGcqFsukt5eULILpzDQToHo~Zwa8AiYAg6Vlv4t4u3-JYS3KtmHYXrAxvBUZX1HemVvZ7YI2TiSz8Rk~BoYGXwmlDRLRRSrQqSZxydQKs3CXksKt9yNbf4hhAul4o9aNxfEjMwrCyZ3sg6fRxLAlzRqxpTe-QL1EI7U9nGq-gQbOsqjj4~-eG8Ti9l6I54Zt9U1-qHyaYLDP0CjGmYfhyEb0cUfJmO34lb7I~oYDNwryd2uwhyoC6omD2y-Bnup0RImz2pHolZOtHHdyBF1tbjm~F25Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Interim Superintendent Dr. Barbara Starkey and district staff told the school committee on May 20 that the district continues to work on repeated afternoon bus delays and is planning schedule changes for next school year to reduce late‑arrival times for elementary students.

Dr. Barbara Starkey, the interim superintendent, said the district has increased daily communication with bus operator First Student and school principals about late buses, conducted bus evacuation drills and provided railroad‑safety training to drivers. She said the district has met with Ken Resendiz of First Student and principals to \"expedite communication in the afternoon\" and that the company and schools are now notifying parents when buses arrive later than expected.

Why it matters: Committee members and administrators said lengthy afternoon rides and late elementary drop‑offs are a pressing concern for families and that addressing the problem will require route design changes, consideration of start and end times across buildings and accounting for railroad crossings where trains are delaying buses.

Planned steps: The district reported it will
- distribute an ARHS (high school) ridership survey this spring to inform route planning for next year;
- run route trials with the bus company based on residency data to see whether changes reduce late runs for elementary students;
- return to the school committee in June with specific proposed alterations to school start and dismissal times.

District officials noted the changes to school day length included in the ratified contracts factor into schedule planning: additional learning time at several elementary and middle schools next year means start or end times likely will shift. The district said it is also considering after‑school activity schedules, students who care for younger siblings, the number of buses, route distance and time students spend on buses.

Ending: Administrators asked for continued patience from families while trials and a proposed schedule come back to the committee in June.","District officials described ongoing afternoon bus lateness tied to train crossings and driver availability and said they will survey ridership and present proposed start/end time changes at the June meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6531797,"Freetown‑Lakeville school committee adopts revised FY26 budget, ratifies one‑year contracts and approves $665,960 transfer from reserve",433,2663000,3096000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3452981-2efb86699d6aa40bdcf4720dd0dc86df&start=2663&end=3096","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3452981-2efb86699d6aa40bdcf4720dd0dc86df/thumbnail_2663000.jpg","/articles/6531797/Massachusetts/FreetownLakeville-school-committee-adopts-revised-FY26-budget-ratifies-oneyear-contracts-and-approves-665960-transfer-from-reserve","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531797-b9bb377354b31f686ccfe621cde8f3aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1770966409&Signature=d~NXCczSGmCtTs~-dAujeSGQIPrdIUVQ5H7tYsNbEWdcreqiMRfZzJiQvuQwaQbF7MXQttuQqgVLajy4lSv7VRNNkcQ0Y2q2yrkzK40jbMFObkhJcNDrqkoZid~WY3KRIQYglJr6EBAypTKDuhBPIyonn0Duqa~AluXklQ3uipH0ieALjP0Zeyqr1OMGcwPhQ0MY5FWlYy~MSYnXaVRMUJT1W67vE26FXy-EH~cycuseofMrcFhjPbfscV4XsOPMGXOEqYtAtuQMJxkNsTHbeTtdy-yAfyaOt~gIVlT7~LBajIxiryRYyF1WcRKKSrH7~i91iWM2FEYhTbc8LihZtg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Freetown‑Lakeville Regional School District School Committee on May 20 adopted a revised fiscal year 2026 budget, ratified one‑year memoranda of agreement (MOAs) covering district staff units and approved a $665,960 transfer from the district's excess and deficiency (E&D) fund to cover the contracts.

The action followed a clarification from the committee that a May 7 vote on budget changes did not meet DESE guidance and the district's legal advice because the committee should have voted to adopt a revised budget rather than amend an already‑approved budget. Interim Superintendent Dr. Barbara Starkey told the committee that \"a budget can only be amended after it is voted on or approved by the member towns,\" and that under the district's rules a revised budget requires a two‑thirds vote of the full committee; because only four members voted in favor on May 7, \"the motion did not pass,\" she said.

Why it matters: committee members said the ratified contracts and revised budget restore funding that district leaders said would otherwise require staffing cuts to stay within the previously voted budget. Jack Higgins, a district staff member who answered committee questions on the floor, said that without funding the contracts \"it would require significant staffing cuts in all areas in order to come in under the budget number\" previously approved.

What the committee approved
- A motion to transfer $665,960 from the district's excess and deficiency account contingent on (1) ratification of two one‑year MOAs and (2) board approval of a revised FY26 budget. The motion passed on a roll call vote recorded at the meeting.
- Ratification of a one‑year MOA with the EAFL teachers unit and authorization for the chair to execute the agreement and delegate enforcement to the interim superintendent. The committee approved ratification by roll call.
- Ratification of a one‑year MOA with the EAFL prior professionals and secretaries unit (also authorized for execution and delegation to the interim superintendent). That motion passed by roll call.
- Adoption of a revised FY26 budget that the superintendent said contains the amounts necessary to fund the ratified contracts. The committee adopted the revised budget by the two‑thirds threshold the superintendent had described.

Votes and procedure: The meeting record shows the committee took each vote in sequence after a legal and procedural clarification that the May 7 action should have been a revised‑budget vote requiring a two‑thirds majority. The committee used roll call votes for the transfer, each MOA ratification and the revised budget adoption. The meeting transcript records the clerk calling members by name during each roll call; the moderator announced \"Motion passes\" after each roll call.

What the committee did not decide tonight: The May 7 procedural issue remains a matter of record and the committee said no further action will be taken on that earlier vote at this time beyond adopting the properly constituted revised budget.

Next steps and context: Town meetings for member towns were scheduled in early June; the revised budget adopted by the committee will be presented to the member towns as the district proceeds through the local approval process. The committee also noted that ratifying the MOAs and budgeting to fund them was intended to preserve staffing and avoid raising member‑town assessments, subject to town approvals where required.

Ending: Committee members thanked staff who worked on negotiations and administrators who clarified the legal requirements. The committee adjourned after completing the agenda items.","At its May 20 meeting the Freetown‑Lakeville Regional School District School Committee voted to adopt a revised FY26 budget, ratified one‑year memoranda of agreement for staff units, and approved a $665,960 transfer from the district\u000e2\u000080\u000099s excess and deficiency reserve to fund contract costs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District completes AES generator, advances HVAC controls and outlines school‑psychologist and BCBA roles

Freetown‑Lakeville leaders plan schedule changes after bus delays, cite train crossings and driver shortages

Freetown‑Lakeville school committee adopts revised FY26 budget, ratifies one‑year contracts and approves $665,960 transfer from reserve