[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6328633,"mediaKeyId","2318518-e89ee4d4de8a7db7d2b6d0e26e9c45a4","parentId",2318518,"title","Public commenters press Vancouver School Board for clearer language, staff roles in draft immigrant/refugee policy; board schedules committee review","audioSeconds",1050,"startMs",2170000,"endMs",3220000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2318518-e89ee4d4de8a7db7d2b6d0e26e9c45a4&start=2170&end=3220","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2318518-e89ee4d4de8a7db7d2b6d0e26e9c45a4/thumbnail_2170000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6328633/Washington/Public-commenters-press-Vancouver-School-Board-for-clearer-language-staff-roles-in-draft-immigrantrefugee-policy-board-schedules-committee-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328633-8ea70b82e76fdc80799b5c0087e78177/orig.mp4?Expires=1776557644&Signature=FcONP4bTKAlCIaxbk2bjM24MvmcbZDBctE2BGK0wEPxsRhyXSOLiblXvwaI7nwxVG2~aoHahtZB89r2crqHtLbeZ77HSI5SQPvvOC5sI6mT0Q7nTVe8KjimqJ-oxYtF3oudeTh7wjQA6JuFc-DqtxlRwlqXMmqrsgW8c4rvbgNgc82wOWqxMFvwVlGwo7l4q50ri6qf80Ozmf1pjWY-sp6E7FXrg1BIKRrQuX5oTp5ITRWtI1BYmssfy5kjxDBEQ6hEfJjhm0nLkkOLJSq8MR3ORljqm3HxxAjkyMYlNFWId3LYp4YT0f6H0AF08BMu024JegnHSqel~1gAdd9Nbgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Vancouver School District, Washington","date","2025-02-14T16:44:21Z","article","Public comment at the Vancouver Public Schools board meeting focused on the draft first reading of policy 4300, the district’s new draft policy on immigrant and refugee students, families and staff, with speakers urging clearer staff role definitions, training, and parental-notification procedures.

Why it matters: Commenters said precise language and clear operational guidance will help staff, students and families understand who is responsible for actions described in the draft policy and reduce confusion that might keep students from attending school.

Fort Vancouver High School educator Bethany Rivard spoke during the in-person public-comment period and asked the board to clarify which staff members would be expected to carry out specific duties in the draft policy. Rivard asked whether “staff” in the draft refers to administrators only or to classified staff, designated advocates, certificated staff and others; she requested explicit definitions and strong, districtwide training so all staff understand what to do if protocol is triggered. She also asked whether the district has examined attendance data to determine whether concerns about safety affect school attendance.

Rivard told the board, “I would like to speak to the first reading of draft policy 4300 and express some questions surrounding certain areas of the document,” and asked the district to provide “clear guidance” on how sections covering student information and response protocols would be implemented.

Another commenter, Lauren Zeph, identified herself as a parent and business owner and urged the board to clarify how the district will handle diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) topics as state and federal policies change. She specifically raised concerns about state Senate Bill 5181 and the district’s obligations around parental notification in sensitive situations; she said she wants the district to focus on core academics and student safety. In transcript comments she said she has previously “come up here many times saying I’d like DEI out of the agenda.”

Board members acknowledged the concerns and directed the public to provide additional questions to Superintendent Snell and staff (including Mr. Richmond). Director Decker and staff said the draft policy will be included on the Committee of the Whole agenda next week for further review and that district administrators will accept follow-up questions after the meeting.

No formal vote on policy 4300 occurred at this meeting; the transcript records the item as a first reading with follow-up scheduled. Written materials and procedural clarifications were offered to the public, and the board emphasized that detailed procedural guidance may appear at the administrative/procedural level rather than in policy language.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","VPS Regular Board Meeting 02/11/25","oneSentenceSummary","Educator Bethany Rivard and other public commenters urged clearer definitions and communication in draft policy 4300 (immigrant and refugee students, families, and staff). The board said the draft will be discussed at the Committee of the Whole next week and invited written follow-ups.","taxTitle","Vancouver School District, School Districts, Washington","taxId",65133,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6328638,"Vancouver Public Schools board approves minutes, consent agenda and adopts two health policies to allow epinephrine nasal spray and opioid reversal in schools",64,3072000,3136000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2318518-e89ee4d4de8a7db7d2b6d0e26e9c45a4&start=3072&end=3136","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2318518-e89ee4d4de8a7db7d2b6d0e26e9c45a4/thumbnail_3072000.jpg","/articles/6328638/Washington/Vancouver-Public-Schools-board-approves-minutes-consent-agenda-and-adopts-two-health-policies-to-allow-epinephrine-nasal-spray-and-opioid-reversal-in-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328638-8af05f19f92b0f70e835684a9b8777c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1776557644&Signature=AMn8NmMPc0RPJsJij2q6hX0G20hWZ6JxITeixUYUIusEycJaESn328NAfr0yp~xfX-GIF~JlYCCkkD7czYJ2pr9O8Ohu6LkkD6Ceq4lv7ojnHpDHbX2mVnc79LTLx~bEFU5uCWhbiCYcDq-wshz049IttJgbDBj9-7mmkXj9zP3wAUPbhTS7UQBlCgaQadbeCqKOCEMtkX~5EcaQ5CdprQsi4zhjBbPs-ew9t3Zj87uroa8c~h9kHcq~a9eAcvD7ramCf0eFTbtDCoAXbDYtEw-t25dPAwZZNCeikztnAAltU0am5uHL9Px9vBEbJohB6dc9kmvzBYRgClo4LbnODQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its regular meeting, the Vancouver Public Schools board approved minutes from multiple January meetings, approved a consent agenda that included the 2025–26 school calendar and special-education system migration, and adopted two health-related policy updates that expand life-saving medication options in district schools.

Why it matters: Policy updates reflect state-level changes and give school staff and others clearer authority to carry or store emergency medications that can treat anaphylaxis and opioid overdose, which district officials said could save lives.

The board voted to adopt policy 34.20, updating anaphylaxis prevention and response rules to allow a supply of epinephrine nasal spray in addition to autoinjectors, reflecting the requirements of House Bill 1608. The board also adopted policy 34.24, clarifying that any person — including students and staff — may carry and use opioid-reversal medication (naloxone/Narcan) with a prescription or via over-the-counter purchase, language noted to align with RCW 28A.210.390.

Both policies were presented as practical updates based on changes in the Washington Association of School District Administrators (WASDA) models and state law; the board voted to approve both at second reading. The transcript records unanimous roll-call approvals from directors present.

In addition to the health policies, the board approved the minutes of Jan. 3, Jan. 9, Jan. 14 and Jan. 21 and the consent agenda, which included the district’s move of special-education programs into the Synergy system and the draft 2025–26 calendar. Directors said questions raised in committee meetings had been answered and expressed support for moving forward.

Votes at a glance:
- Approval of meeting minutes (Jan. 3, 9, 14 and 21): outcome approved; roll-call approvals recorded from Directors Spruill, Zavala, Smith, Perez and Board President Decker.
- Consent agenda (includes special-education Synergy migration, 2025–26 school calendar): outcome approved; roll-call approvals recorded from Directors Spruill, Zavala, Smith, Perez and Board President Decker.
- Policy 34.20 (Anaphylaxis prevention and response, second reading): outcome approved; roll-call approvals recorded from Directors Zavala, Spruill, Barras, Smith and Board President Decker.
- Policy 34.24 (Opioid-related overdose reversal, second reading): outcome approved; roll-call approvals recorded from Directors Zavala, Spruill, Barras, Smith and Board President Decker.

The transcript shows no amendments to the two health policies during the meeting; directors discussed them briefly and proceeded to a roll-call vote. The board chair closed the votes and the meeting moved on to first readings of other policies.

","The board approved routine minutes and the consent agenda and voted to adopt policy updates permitting schools to keep epinephrine nasal spray and opioid-reversal medication on site.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6328643,"City of Vancouver briefs Vancouver Public Schools board on immigration-enforcement policy changes",212,296000,508000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2318518-e89ee4d4de8a7db7d2b6d0e26e9c45a4&start=296&end=508","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2318518-e89ee4d4de8a7db7d2b6d0e26e9c45a4/thumbnail_296000.jpg","/articles/6328643/Washington/City-of-Vancouver-briefs-Vancouver-Public-Schools-board-on-immigration-enforcement-policy-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328643-2ef45f670989127e8f196ed7e956179e/orig.mp4?Expires=1776557644&Signature=JxlnV61AvOtqq2Yy9ONNEDFOhZ0N81gmQXbhWLz3L2sfud2b173nBOH8qSCewI~XIh89CLxZ9WgeIJXhbyl2eYesYHyY~PdzFdCXvrnmrhPS6LhbrJtq1VEK~C7CUH6pcQH0ywD-B8Hkq~wuHbK-qh19uVdoPqeEXRVE~ULA4aEioUL5zw~whNx86iHQHw5XeAjZdwIDsoKMMB0t3g9pjAH84y8H40ChlaqqRgjA1JeHEhVnGzT7Mli2IZW7WDvDoXVND~LcI3iCb9anU3dNOIS9dwK53X0pe8VnekFqduBFLdT1fdtVjxEUgJ7rdfsW7U6TtmpElMgv5rUHx3HBkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council member Ty Stober and officials from the Vancouver Police Department briefed the Vancouver Public Schools board on the city’s approach to immigration enforcement and efforts to ensure community members feel safe contacting police.

The presentation came after federal guidance was changed Jan. 20, a change Stober said gives immigration agents greater latitude to question people’s immigration status. Because the city and the school district interact frequently, Stober told the board the city has been reinforcing a policy in effect for more than five years and is training frontline staff on how to respond when immigration officials are present.

Why it matters: Board members said they share the district’s interest in making schools welcoming and safe for all students and families. Community members’ willingness to call 911 or report crimes affects public safety and the district’s ability to operate normal school functions.

Stober described the city’s practical steps: clarifying that Vancouver police are not immigration officials, training public-facing staff at facilities such as Marshall and Firstenberg community centers and city hall, and providing on-call city attorney support from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week to help staff distinguish between judicial and administrative warrants. He said the city will comply with judicial warrants signed by a judge but will provide frontline staff a clear decision path when immigration officials appear.

Stober said in part, “Vancouver Police Officers are not authorized immigration officials, nor do they have the capacity nor the training to act as such.” He added that “members of the public, regardless of their race, ethnicity, country of birth … must feel secure in asking for help, reporting a crime or calling 911.”

Board president Decker thanked the guests and noted the board’s intent to maintain policies and training that promote student safety and inclusion. Decker and Superintendent Snell said the district would continue to coordinate with the city and promised further discussion later in the evening.

The city officials’ remarks directly referenced the federal change and the city’s multi-pronged response; board members did not take formal action during the presentation.

The briefing closed with officials inviting further questions and promising continued information sharing between the city and district.

","Council member Ty Stober and Vancouver police leaders told the Vancouver Public Schools board the city is updating staff training and guidance so residents feel safe contacting police after federal changes to immigration-enforcement guidance.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public commenters press Vancouver School Board for clearer language, staff roles in draft immigrant/refugee policy; board schedules committee review

Vancouver Public Schools board approves minutes, consent agenda and adopts two health policies to allow epinephrine nasal spray and opioid reversal in schools

City of Vancouver briefs Vancouver Public Schools board on immigration-enforcement policy changes