With Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School being shut out of in-person recruiting at Wareham Middle School, Wareham Public Schools Superintendent Kimberly Shaver-Hood proposed an alternative to the School Committee on Jan. 29.

Shaver-Hood proposed a procedure that would allow in-person recruiters to speak to students after the school day is over. She said in an earlier interview that recruiters were shut out to increase students' classroom time.

“We want our students to understand all of the choices that are available to them,” said chair Rhonda Veugen.

The regional technical school serves the towns of Wareham, Bourne, Sandwich, Falmouth and Marion. However, Wareham students make up more than one-third of the student body. With each town’s assessment for school expenses based on the number of students it sends, Wareham’s Upper Cape assessment has been controversial in each of the past two years.

The proposal states a face-to-face meeting would happen on an annual basis, immediately after the school day and last no more than one hour. It also adds this would be done upon request, and students would be given written notification.

In January, Upper Cape Tech officials went public with their unhappiness about being shut out of in-person recruiting at middle schools in Wareham and Bourne. In Wareham, the shut outs have occurred in just this academic year.

Member Cliff Sylvia came out against the proposal.

“I’m ready to vote no,” said Sylvia. “If they have access to our rosters, their promotional campaign is their business. If they want to come in and do presentations or roast beef dinners or whatever else they do, that’s their business. It’s not our business to provide time or space.”

“As long as they have access to our kids and their families, that’s all they really need,” Sylvia added.

Shaver-Hood added that students have received at least four different mailings and phone calls from Upper Cape Tech.

“They certainly have had access for sure,” said Shaver-Hood.

School Committee member Michael Flaherty disagreed with Sylvia’s position.

“I think this is a good compromise,” said Flaherty. “If we have a guy that comes in to do yoyos… then we can have Upper Cape and Bristol Aggie come in to come in and discuss pretty important life decisions, too.”

Since this is a proposed procedure, the committee could not take a vote on the matter. Shaver-Hood, wanted some initial feedback, though.

Before it can be approved, the proposal must go through the Policy Review Committee. The proposed policy would also apply to Bristol County Agricultural School.

According to Shaver-Hood, Upper Cape Tech requested to visit the middle school, but Bristol did not.