School Committee OKs handbook, tables Protect Act policy

School Board · Meeting of September 14, 2026

Middleton School Committee approves new handbook, delays vote on state immigration-arrest policy. Superintendent Scott Morrison told members the Protect Act, signed by Governor Maura Healey on August 5, bars civil immigration arrests on school grounds without a judicial warrant, but the committee wants legal advice before adopting local procedures, pushing the item to its October 5 meeting. Members separately discussed a family's safety concerns about the unfenced playground at Fuller Meadow Elementary, where enrollment stands at 228 students, including 86 kindergartners.

The committee unanimously approved the 2026-27 handbook, which replaces a list of specific religious holidays with broader accommodation language, and unanimously approved bills and payroll. The Parent Teacher Organization reported 42 business sponsors and a $60,000 goal for its October 15 fun run, and Morrison said the district is tracking a new federal tax credit worth up to $1,700 per donor that requires state opt-in.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,808 words

Source: the School Board meeting of September 14, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.