Stoneham Delegation Backs New Law Limiting School Book Bans

Stoneham's state delegation helped pass a new law setting statewide rules for how schools and libraries handle book removals, the top development in a day that also saw Stoneham Public Schools run a third busing lottery and early voting continue at Town Hall ahead of the state primary.

SCHOOLS

Stoneham Public Schools conducted a third transportation lottery drawing on Wednesday, Aug. 26, after two additional bus seats opened up, the district said on its website. The drawing follows an Aug. 25 lottery that placed four families, and the district says another round will run if more seats become available.

ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS

"Stoneham Delegation & Legislature Pass Law Keeping Book Bans out of Massachusetts Schools and Libraries," reads a headline from Stoneham Patch. Local official Jason Lewis wrote that the new law creates statewide guidelines for how schools and public libraries choose which books to offer and when titles can be pulled, per Stoneham Patch. (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/stoneham)

"Supreme Court Ruling Puts MA's Mail Ballot Rules In Flux," Stoneham Patch also reports. Massachusetts joined more than two dozen other states this week suing the U.S. Postal Service over proposed mail ballot rules, Patch reports, adding uncertainty as Stoneham's own early voting for the state primary continues at Town Hall. (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/stoneham)

"Massachusetts Residents Lost $24.5M To This Type Of Phone Scam: FBI," per Stoneham Patch. The FBI is warning that state residents have lost a combined $24.5 million to a specific phone scam, Patch reports, urging residents to stay alert. (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/stoneham)

COMING UP

The Stoneham School Committee meets by remote participation on Monday, Aug. 31, according to the town's online calendar.

Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.