School Committee adopts seclusion, ICE policies

School Committee · Meeting of August 26, 2026

WOBURN — The Woburn School Committee adopted two state-mandated policies and named a conference room for a longtime former member. Members unanimously adopted a new DESE seclusion and restraint policy requiring written parental and physician authorization before secluding a student, and unanimously adopted the state's PROTECT Act model policy, which requires a judicial warrant before immigration agents can remove anyone from school grounds and designates one senior administrator as point of contact. Committee member Nagel presented both, calling the seclusion changes "a change in the law" rather than a district choice.

Members also voted, 6-0 with one abstention, to dedicate a conference room to the late Joseph T. Crowley Jr., a committee member of more than 40 years and father of current Vice Chair Ellen Crowley. Pastor Michael Davis urged the board to expand guidance counselor Katie Bolcom's role rather than reassign her.

The committee then entered executive session for a level three grievance.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,263 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of August 26, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.