Bedford School Committee Approves In-House HiSET Equivalency Prep Program

BEDFORD — August 9, 2021 — Bedford School Committee votes to launch in-house HiSET equivalency prep program, deferring COVID reopening decision. The board voted 3-0 to establish a local preparatory program for the HiSET high school equivalency test, ending the district's practice of referring students to programs in Goffstown and Nashua. Amy Woods, dean of alternative programming at Bedford High School, told the committee the outsourcing arrangement left the district unable to monitor student progress in real time, saying "that's what it feels like — and to a certain extent, that's what it is." The 30-week program, estimated at $9,300 to $11,335 annually, would employ two part-time teachers and enroll an expected 8 to 10 students per year, capped at 15. The board separately adopted policy BEDH on meeting procedures 5-0 and policy KD on social media privacy 5-0, and deferred a two-year transportation contract extension to August 23 pending legal review of a force majeure clause. On COVID reopening, Superintendent Mike Fournier told the board no decision would be made before the district received updated guidance from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services on August 11, with any plan changes expected at the August 16 combined meeting and retreat.