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Board withdraws proposed adult-student interaction rule after questions about home visits and chaperone language
Summary
Trustees pulled a draft policy on appropriate adult–student interactions (E 1.3) for redrafting after trustees and staff discussed whether home visits could occur with a single employee present and whether the policy should require a chaperone or clarify exceptions.
The Rialto Unified School District Board of Education on Feb. 5 removed a proposed board policy on appropriate adult–student interactions from the agenda after trustees and staff raised questions about the rule’s wording and the scope of permitted home visits.
The board had placed the first reading of the policy (E 1.3) on the consent calendar but members debated whether the draft clearly prohibited a single adult visiting a student’s home without a parent or another adult present. Trustee Stephanie Williams asked whether there were any legal situations in which a single staff member should visit a student’s home without a parent or guardian present. Ronda Kramer, a district staff member, described that a home visit is a school-organized activity and said the administration would not generally authorize an adult to visit a minor’s home alone without parental presence.
Trustee Williams and other members suggested strengthening the draft to add explicit language requiring another adult to be present or to use the term “chaperone” to make supervision requirements clearer. Vice President Martínez noted that the district typically sends two staff members for such visits and recommended redrafting rather than approving the policy at first reading.
Outcome: The trustees voted unanimously to remove E 1.3 from the agenda for further revision. The board also withdrew a related first-reading item (E 1.4) for further review. The board indicated it will return the items after staff reviews language, clarifies references to education code requirements, and confirms how consent and signatures should be handled for parents who cannot sign in writing.
Why it matters: The policy governs staff conduct and interactions with students. Speakers during the meeting’s public-comment period and trustees framed the matter as part of broader concerns about safeguarding students and ensuring consistent, enforceable protections.
Next steps: Board members asked staff to clarify statutory references (members discussed whether Education Code language applies) and to draft a version that explicitly addresses: when campus staff may conduct a home visit, whether a second adult or chaperone is required, how to treat visits for students 18 and older, and how to document parental consent for parents who are not literate or cannot sign.
Ending: The transcript records the unanimous vote to withdraw the item for redrafting; no revised text was approved at the Feb. 5 meeting.
