Beverly School Panel Votes 7-0 to Update Student Handbooks for Fall

BEVERLY -- June 9, 2021, Beverly's curriculum subcommittee unanimously approved a package of student handbook changes for the 2021-22 school year at its June 9 meeting, voting 7 to 0. Dr. Dorothy Flaherty presented the revisions, which incorporate attorney-recommended legal updates across all three school levels covering discipline, Title IX, FERPA student records, homeless-student enrollment rights, and physical restraint procedures. The high school's attendance threshold reverts from five absences back to three, and a dress code provision was changed from the word "revealing" to "distracting" to match standing School Committee policy. All students will see free regular breakfast and lunch reflected in next year's handbooks. The meeting closed with a screening of a district-wide video produced by Ayers School parent and professional videographer Jeb Fisher documenting the pandemic school year.