Marlborough School Committee approves homework policy over parent objection

MARLBOROUGH — October 12, 2021 — Marlborough School Committee approves no-grade homework policy after parent pushback. The committee voted to adopt Policy 7.700 on second reading, allowing homework at teacher discretion but barring it from student grades, after parent Amber Aftimus of 38 Beverly Drive told members teachers had been "directed not to give homework unless requested by students or parents" since Sept. 1. "If homework is only given at the request of parents, this is not equity," Aftimus said, warning of falling test scores. Member Jaime Hennessey defended the policy as protecting GPAs from being "massively impacted" by homework completion alone and acknowledged "some form of miscommunication" this year. The committee also ratified three MEA and paraeducator agreements previously approved in executive session, approved Superintendent Michael Bergeron's FY22 goals, accepted $1,612.26 in donations including 32 cases of hand sanitizer from Target East Marlborough, and split 8-1 on MASC resolutions, defeating only the proposed ban on Native American school mascots.