EAST BRIDGEWATER — Oct. 26, 2026 — The East Bridgewater School Committee voted unanimously last Monday against a motion to support Resolution 1, Safe Zones, one of the 2026 resolutions headed to the Massachusetts Association of School Committees’ delegate assembly in November, with members calling it too demanding on the district as written. Ayes were heard for four other resolutions and a joint letter with the Select Board to Gov. Healey.
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Chair Ellen Pennington told the committee about attending an Oct. 14 resolutions clinic and then contacting MASC board member Jason Fraser for more information. By that account, Resolution 1 was written in the spring of 2026, before the governor signed related state legislation, and Fraser expected it could be heavily revised at the delegate assembly. Pennington relayed that the resolution affirms that all children, regardless of immigration status, should be safe in school, and that committees may request changes but cannot change the law.
Members who spoke opposed supporting it as written.
The only concern that I had with resolution one is I think it’s just the way it’s written today. It’s way too onerous on the school district.
— Dan Picha, School Committee Vice Chair 6:42
Another member, Don McDougall, said the PROTECT Act only provides emergency response guidelines and does not demand anything of the town specifically, while the resolution would.
McDougall also said the resolution would not allow a police presence on school grounds and contains items that need discussion. The committee debated whether to leave the decision to its delegate, then chose to vote. A motion to approve Resolution 1, as written or with modifications at the delegate assembly, drew no votes in favor, and the result was announced as a unanimous no. McDougall suggested going through the resolution’s items at a future meeting.
The committee then took up the remaining resolutions one at a time, with ayes heard on each and no count announced: Resolution 2, vocational technical representation on the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education; Resolution 3, vocational technical representation on the Massachusetts School Building Authority Board; Resolution 4, on clarifying seclusion standards within emergency behavioral response procedures under 603 CMR 46; and Resolution 5, allowing regional school committees to access special education reserve funds by majority vote. Pennington said Resolution 5 would spare regional districts from seeking approval from every select board in their district. Members also voted to continue previously approved resolutions, which the chair said include full, stable funding for METCO, with a budget the chair put typically at $32 million to $36 million.
