School Committee approves plans, new ICE policy

School Committee · Meeting of September 22, 2026

WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield School Committee approved its 2026-2027 school improvement plans and a new immigration-enforcement policy while hearing budget warnings for fiscal 2027. School Business Administrator Christine Bufagna said state circuit breaker reimbursement will rise to $3.2 million from $2.3 million, an increase of $869,000, but cautioned it covers only "40 to 43 cents on the dollar" of actual special education costs. More than 40 additional students qualified for free lunch this year, the highest number ever recorded in Wakefield, and out-of-district transportation for homeless students rose from four to nine in a year.

The committee voted unanimously to approve Policy ACL, covering staff interactions with civil immigration enforcement officers, and tabled two other policies, on bus driver tuberculosis testing and physical restraint reporting, for a vote October 13. Vice Chair Stephen Ingalls and Superintendent Douglas Lyons also discussed a new high school schedule designed to match the district's new building under construction.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,665 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of September 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.