Baird Middle School Reports Suspensions Halved, Discipline Incidents Down by Two-Thirds

School Committee · Meeting of April 28, 2026

LUDLOW — Baird Middle School reported suspensions cut from 70 to 31 in two years as Ludlow's School Committee also learned that all fiscal year 2027 capital requests have been pushed to fiscal year 2028. Principal Jason Taylor told the committee at its April 28 meeting that discipline incidents fell from 1,130 to 418 over three years and that 82.1 percent of students now carry an A or B average, with chronic absenteeism among IEP students dropping 9.1 percentage points to 20.3 percent. The committee received a presentation on a technology overhaul replacing paper-based HR, payroll, and accounts-payable systems with Red Rover and MUNIS tools, secured at 60 to 75 percent of the previously budgeted ADP cost on a three-year deal.

Superintendent Frank Tiano confirmed the district received $25,000 in FY26 supplemental funds through Senator Oliveira to offset out-of-district special education tuition, and said the district must identify any emergency capital needs by April 30. Committee member Dr. Stratton noted the schools' approved 3 percent budget increase still leaves the district "with a little bit of a deficit this year."

In the full story:

• The complete report — 976 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of April 28, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.