Panel reviews new restraint and seclusion rules

School Committee · Meeting of July 27, 2026

WELLESLEY — The Wellesley School Committee reviewed a revised restraint, seclusion and timeout policy ahead of an August state compliance deadline. Committee counsel Angela Smogula told members CPAC's proposed edits were "consistent with the law" except for one introductory paragraph that incorrectly framed timeout as a last-resort measure. Member Robert Sullivan pushed for faster parent notification after a restraint, saying "the parents have no idea what happened during that day" under the current 24-hour window.

A vote on the policy is tentatively set for August 18. Separately, Chair Niki Ofenloch reported a planned school solar installation has slipped from fall to spring due to panel sourcing delays, and that design funding for a school air-conditioning project will go before a special town meeting, with an Advisory Committee hearing expected around September 2. The committee voted 5-0 to approve its consent agenda and 5-0 to enter executive session on the superintendent's contract.

In the full story:

• Policy JKAA: Physical Restraint, Seclusion and Timeout
• Permanent Building Committee Updates: Solar and Air Conditioning
• Superintendent's Report and Consent Agenda
• Entry Into Executive Session
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,520 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of July 27, 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.