Committee Adopts Protect Act, Declares Chromebooks Surplus

School Committee · Meeting of October 21, 2026

RAYNHAM — The Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School Committee heard a stark enrollment and MCAS update and approved several budget and policy items. Superintendent Ryan Powers reported district enrollment fell to 5,236 students as of Oct. 1, down 222 from last year and 446 over two years, while per-pupil spending remained among the lowest in Massachusetts. Committee member Dupont warned that persistent declines could trigger a "death spiral," and Fitzgibbons questioned heavy classroom Chromebook use given screen-time concerns.

The committee voted 5-0, with one abstention, to approve general ledger warrants, approved a $37,800 three-year Intrasystems email-security contract, declared 1,000 Chromebooks surplus, and adopted the "Protect Act" policy on staff interactions with civil immigration enforcement officers. Raynham-side capital requests of $581,920, part of a $1,015,000 district plan, await a special Oct. 28 vote.

In the full story:

• Public Comment I: A Parent's Access Dispute
• Student Advisory Committee Reports
• Superintendent's Report: Enrollment and MCAS Data
• Quarterly Business Officer Report
• Budget Subcommittee Report
• Policy Subcommittee Report: The Protect Act
• Safety and Security Subcommittee Report
• New Business: General Ledger Warrants and MASC Delegate Authorization
• Other Business: Music Education in Bridgewater Middle Schools
• Public Comment II: Vendor Billing and Restraint Reporting
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 3,497 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of October 21, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.