Belchertown School Committee approves revised student restraint policy

School Committee · Meeting of August 5, 2026

Belchertown School Committee adopts new DESE-mandated restraint policy, clears fall sports for stadium field. The board voted 5-0 to waive a second reading and adopt a revised Policy on Physical Restraint and Time-Out ahead of an August 17 state compliance deadline; staff warned the new seclusion rules could mean "more physical restraint" as students must now be released from timeout on request. Superintendent Brian Cameron told the committee the stadium field is safe for fall sports after months of hand-watering and reseeding but said a future rest period "is going to happen, I just don't know when." Boosters leader Lisa Stall urged the district to fund a long-term athletic-facilities plan.

The board also voted 5-0 to accept a five-year, $251,015-per-year Drug Free Communities grant and 5-0 to destroy outdated, surplus textbooks at the high school.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,034 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of August 5, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.