The Abington Board of School Directors on Aug. 26 conducted a multi-policy review and approved a first reading of several revised or new policies governing employee conduct, educator misconduct reporting, and tobacco and vaping rules. The board also voted to repeal two policies that administrators recommended removing from the district manual.

Administrators told the board the proposed changes clarify reporting procedures and investigatory timelines and align district policy with statutory responsibilities. The board considered a new policy on educator misconduct reporting that the administration said codifies the district’s duty to notify the Pennsylvania Department of Education when incidents trigger educator-misconduct reporting under state rules.

Other proposed changes include a new tobacco- and vaping-related policy to replace an older “no smoking” provision in a student-attendance policy; a retitled and expanded policy on conduct and disciplinary procedures for employees; and revisions that consolidate and clarify unlawful harassment and Title IX–related protections affecting staff. Two policies — on personal days for central staff and on personnel-records transmittal between buildings — were recommended for repeal because administrators said those procedures are now covered by bargaining agreements and digital records systems.

Board members asked about how staff are informed of policy changes and whether policies align with collective bargaining agreements; administrators said policies and corresponding superintendent administrative procedures are reviewed annually, presented at opening-of-school professional development, and tracked via principal checklists. The board approved the recommended first readings and later unanimously approved the repeal of the two named policies.