Massachusetts Association of School Committees

Public Policy Updates: February 2025 Board of Elementary and Secondary Education - masc.org Today’s regular monthly meeting of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education was fully remote due to the weather. The agenda is here; the recorded livestream is here. Today’s meeting...

Our Public Policy Report from today's Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education can now be found online here: www.masc.org/public-polic...

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meets next Tuesday in Everett. The agenda, including an update on early literacy and proposed amendments to regulations on special education and new regulations on interpretation and translation, can be found here:
www.doe.mass.edu/bese/docs/fy...

Day on the Hill - masc.org The MASC Day on the Hill Annual Education Advocacy Event at the Massachusetts State House brings together school leaders from across MA together with legislators in support of public schools.

Members, be sure you're signed up and planning to join us at this year's MASC Day on the Hill on March 30.

Information and registration: www.masc.org/events-landi...

#MAEdu #mapoli

Secretary Pat Tutwiler announcing he is stepping down Friday
He will be replaced short term by Early Ed Commissioner Amy Kershaw, long term by current Salem Superintendent (and former Holyoke receiver) Steve Zrike, who will become Secretary in March.

www.instagram.com/reel/DUl1X56...

Your periodic reminder that we send out The Daily Ed: News from Across the Commonwealth and Beyond each school day.

You can find today's edition, which has a sign-up link at the bottom, here: mailchi.mp/masc/the-dai...

#MAedu #mapoli

Members, be sure you've put our upcoming online Learning Lunches on your calendar! This Friday, we'll be discussing new member onboarding.

Find them all under "events" on our website www.masc.org/events/

The FY27 preliminary cherry sheets are also now posted:

Regional: dls-gw.dor.state.ma.us/reports/rdpa...

Municipal: dls-gw.dor.state.ma.us/reports/rdpa...

The chapter 70 and net school spending spreadsheets are now posted: www.doe.mass.edu/finance/chap...

Home | Governor's FY27 Budget Recommendation

Governor Healey's recommended FY27 budget is now posted:

budget.digital.mass.gov/govbudget/fy....

We will thread cherry sheet and foundation budget links below as they become available.

Superintedent of Schools - Hopedale, MA - masc.org Timeline February 27: Deadline for receiving applications/credentials March 2: Semi-finalists selected Week of March 9: Semi-finalist interviews Week of March 16: Finalists announced Weeks of March 23...

The Hopedale School Committee seeks their next superintendent of schools. Applications are due February 27; appointed is the week of April 6.

Details and application available: www.masc.org/job/superint...

Public Policy Updates: January 2026 Board of Elementary and Secondary Education - masc.org The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education had their first year of 2026 fully remotely, as travel due to the weekend storm was still difficult. The agenda is here; the...

Our Public Policy update from today's Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting can now be found on our website:

www.masc.org/public-polic...

High School Principal Search Moves Forward The search for the next principal of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School enters a new phase this month, as superintendent Richard Smith begins reviewing job candidates’ applications with the help o...

High school principal search moves forward

vineyardgazette.com/news/2026/01...

Hard Math For Monomoy District: Education Costs Scrutinized Over the past 15 years, Harwich’s per-student cost has increased by 24 percent; in the same period, Chatham’s per-student cost has risen by 15.6...

Hard math for Monomoy Regional - education costs scrutinized

capecodchronicle.com/articles/393...

Joint convention deadlocks on selecting School Committee member - The New Bedford Light Nominees Henry Bousquet and Marcus Coward each secured eight votes. But since neither could prevail after seven rounds, voting has been rescheduled for Jan. 21.

Joint convention deadlocks on selecting New Bedford School Committee member; voting rescheduled for Jan. 21

newbedfordlight.org/new-bedford-...

Whitman‑Hanson begins interim superintendent search

www.enterprisenews.com/story/news/2...

Debate over Lunar New Year school holiday has been hot-button issue in Quincy

www.patriotledger.com/story/news/e...

Former BPS school bus driver pleads the Fifth over role in deadly crash - The Boston Globe The family of the five-year-old boy killed in the accident has filed a civil lawsuit against the driver and others.

Former BPS school bus driver pleads the Fifth over role in deadly crash

www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/08/m...

Statewide leadership fellows visit Revere Schools as part of DESE’s Influence 100 Program Journal Staff | News

Statewide leadership fellows visit Revere Schools as part of DESE’s Influence 100 Program

reverejournal.com/2026/01/08/s...

School Committee continues review of proposed FY27 budget - WestfordCAT The School Committee continued discussions on the proposed FY27 school budget at its Jan. 5 meeting, following an initial presentation by the Superintendent in December.

Westford School Committee continues review of proposed FY27 budget

westfordcat.org/2026/01/scho...

Thanks to community support, high-tech learning device now in Shrewsbury classrooms SHREWSBURY – It had been on the Shrewsbury High School Science Department’s wishlist for quite some time.

Thanks to community support, high-tech learning device now in Shrewsbury classrooms

www.communityadvocate.com/education/th...

Worcester elementary school briefly evacuated due to smoke in bathroom

www.telegram.com/story/news/l...

Holden plans for override, project work

www.thelandmark.com/holden-plann...

Claims against Holyoke Public Schools superintendent in discrimination suit dropped, court docs say The federal discrimination lawsuit was filed in 2024.

Claims against Holyoke Public Schools superintendent in discrimination suit dropped, court docs say

www.masslive.com/westernmass/...

Westfield High School sophomore history class recreates 1930s Dust Bowl - masslive.com

Westfield High School sophomore history class recreates 1930s Dust Bowl

www.masslive.com/galleries/IN...

Early literacy bill may emerge soon for Senate debate Supporters of early literacy reform predict the Senate may take up its version of the bill as soon as this month.

Early literacy bill may emerge soon for Senate debate

www.statehousenews.com/news/educati...

As Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point Pushes Into High Schools, Dissension Follows

As Charlie Kirk's Turning Point pushes into high schools, dissention follows

www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/u...

States Are Banning Book Bans. Will It Work? Approved legislation aims to stop school libraries from removing books for partisan reasons.

States are banning book bans. Will it work?

www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Some pediatricians are already seeing negative effects of changing vaccine recommendations Pediatricians told ABC News they are urging parents to still vaccinate their children despite changing federal guidance

Some pediatricians are already seeing negative effects of changing vaccine recommendations

abcnews.go.com/Health/pedia...

DOL clarifies FMLA’s stance on travel time, school closure in opinion letters While the law protects time spent traveling to appointments, it doesn’t encompass stops for unrelated activities, the labor department noted.

Department of Labor clarifies FMLA’s stance on travel time, school closure in opinion letters

www.k12dive.com/news/dol-fml...

Trump wants prayer back in schools. Boston has a cautionary tale.
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/08/m...