Lenox School Committee votes to support bus stop-arm camera enforcement law

LENOX -- April 13, 2026, Lenox School Committee endorses bus stop-arm cameras and adopts an earlier school year calendar. The committee voted Monday to support the town's adoption of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 71, which authorizes municipalities to install and operate school bus stop-arm violation detection systems, a step required before the town can formally act. Superintendent Amy Porter said she personally observed two vehicles pass a stopped school bus on Route 7and subsequently secured support from the police chief; one member abstained citing an unstated conflict of interest. The panel also approved the 2026-27 academic calendar with a staff start date of August 27 and a projected June 11 last day, the earliest close in recent memory, enabled by mutual agreement with the Lenox Education Association to move up from the contract's latest-allowable September 1 date. School choice revenue for the coming year is projected at approximately $1.8 million, with 23 new choice students anticipated at Morris Elementary. Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Brenda Kelly presented a Pre-K through Grade 8 review identifying a roughly 15-point MCAS achievement gap between Grade 6 general-education students and those identified as low-income. Six residents spoke during public comment on the Millionaires mascot question, all in favor of keeping the name; committee chair Warren made clear the school committee does not anticipate taking any formal vote without first routing the decision to the town.