Weymouth School Panel Adopts Seclusion Policy, 5-1

School Committee · Meeting of October 1, 2026

WEYMOUTH — The Weymouth School Committee voted 5-1 to adopt a revised seclusion and restraint policy over member Kelly McClean's objection. McClean, who read a lengthy statement calling seclusion "an inhumane practice," said she would "not support or vote to approve any policy that normalizes seclusion as a response to student behavior." The committee added language requiring staff to notify a caregiver within 24 hours of any timeout. Separately, members voted unanimously to launch a feasibility study on the 75-year-old Johnson Elementary School, built in 1951, with public hearings expected by spring.

The board also resolved three open meeting law complaints with outside counsel finding no violations, though a remote commenter, Doug McLean, later questioned in writing whether a disputed roll call on one complaint "would not constitute the majority of the members present." Superintendent Melanie Curtin reported grades three through eight ELA scores now exceed the state average for the first time in years.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,449 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of October 1, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.