NORTHFIELD — While other districts are currently setting their competency determinations in the wake of Question 2, the Pioneer Valley Regional School District will instead take its time.

The district has plenty of breathing room to determine its local competency requirement because all of its senior class members already passed the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) test prior to voters repealing the state mandate that required all students in Massachusetts to pass the standardized test, as well as locally certified graduation requirements.

Superintendent Patricia Kinsella addressed the School Committee last week in a brief discussion on the topic. She pointed to December 2024 guidance from the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, which also included a memorandum from acting Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Russell Johnston stating that all students in the Class of 2025 who passed the MCAS by November have earned the competency determination and “are not impacted by the change in statute.”

“We’re off the hook because of the timing of things,” she said. “All of our current seniors have already met the state’s competency determination at the time, which was MCAS. We’re safe, we’re good for this year.”

The move is a shift from what other schools have done in recent weeks.

The Greenfield School Committee last week opted to set a D- grade benchmark for its students, which requires them to earn a D- grade or higher in algebra and geometry, in at least two of the four high school English classes, and in either biology, chemistry or physics to receive a diploma.

Also last week, the Frontier Regional School District School Committee tabled a proposal brought forward by the administration, which also requested the measure be tabled, that would have still required students to pass the MCAS or another similar standardized test to graduate.

The reversal by the administration came after what Frontier School Committee Chair Missy Novak called a “large volume of comments” from community members opposed to the idea. Instead, the committee voted to require students to complete 10th grade English, geometry, biology and U.S. history.

While no action was immediately needed by the Pioneer School Committee, Kinsella said the topic will be addressed over the coming year.

“There is much conversation to be had. Not only about what the official competency determination of this district will be, but, much more interestingly, what is our vision of a high school graduate?” Kinsella said. “That is rich, interesting conversation that the School Committee will engage with, [Principal Annie Scanlan-Emigh] will engage with and lead conversations and we need to bring in our community.”

Pioneer’s conversation may also play into what Massachusetts may implement statewide. In Gov. Maura Healey’s January State of the Commonwealth address, she announced she is directing a “statewide Graduation Requirement Council” to develop recommendations for a permanent and high standard.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.