Governing board approves revisions to safety, instructional and child‑protection policies

The Catalina Foothills School District Governing Board approved revisions to Policy EB (Safety Program), Policy IHA (Basic Instructional Programs), Policy JLF (Reporting Child Abuse/Child Protection) and Policy JLIF (Sex Offender Notification) during its regular meeting after second readings and discussion. The board voted unanimously on the four policy items.

The changes to Policy EB follow recent changes in state law and expand the district's purchasing and program options for school safety. "Specifically, the House bill expanded ARS 15-254 regarding the expansion of purchasing options for school safety programs to include technology, training, and infrastructure improvements," Superintendent Denise Bartlett said while presenting the revisions. The policy now defines school resource officers (SROs) and school safety officers, requires a school safety assessment using approved providers, and requires districts that receive monies for an approved school safety program to develop an emergency response plan at least every five years.

Policy IHA was revised to conform to ARS 15-71002 regarding 9/11 Education Day. The policy now specifies that instruction on the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks shall be provided to students in grades 7 through 12; previously the instruction applied to kindergarten through grade 12.

Policy JLF was updated to add a new section governing Department of Child Safety (DCS) caseworker visits. The revisions require that a DCS caseworker present official DCS identification before an interview may proceed; schools may ask to see a valid driver’s license or state ID and may request verification from the DCS office if identification is not presented. The policy clarifies that schools may keep a record of the DCS worker’s identification (but not the worker’s personal identifying information). Associate Superintendent Mindy Westover said the changes "bring district policy into full alignment with the updated statute."

Policy JLIF was updated to reflect revisions to ARS 13-3825. The policy now includes notification requirements related to level 1 offenders convicted of dangerous crimes against children and requires notification to a child’s school if an offender has legal custody or leaves legal custody of a child.

Board members discussed implementation details on several items. On JLF, members asked whether the policy should require ("shall") schools to retain a copy of a DCS worker’s identification or allow it as optional ("may"); legal counsel and administrators advised that keeping a copy is a permissible practice but not mandated by statute, so the policy remains permissive. For the IHA change, board members clarified that the revision responds to state legislation rather than a local policy decision.

The board approved each policy by voice vote with motions and seconds recorded in the meeting minutes; each motion carried unanimously. No public comments were made on the policy items during the meeting.