Board members reviewed proposed revisions on Aug. 5 to several district policies addressing attendance, weapons screening, student re-engagement after discipline and supports for student parents or victims of domestic violence. The policies were presented as proposed amendments intended to align district practice with state law and current procedures.

Why it matters: Policy language guides how schools handle absences, discipline reporting, mental-health access and protections for vulnerable students. The changes proposed would alter notification, reporting and designated-staff responsibilities at school sites.

The governance presentation summarized each proposed change: policy 7.7 (attendance and truancy) would describe additional valid reasons for absence, including fulfillment of parenting responsibilities and circumstances resulting from domestic or sexual violence; policy 7.14 would be revised to reflect current weapons-screening procedures; policy 7.19 would be updated to describe re-engagement of students after discipline and notification responsibilities to parents, law enforcement and the Illinois State Board of Education web-based incident reporting system following incidents involving firearms, drugs or staff battery; policy 7.25 would be amended to reflect a state law requiring annual notification for students 12 and older that counseling is available without parent consent, and designating a building resource person for students who are parents, expectant parents or victims; a new policy 7.255 would be created in response to a new statute requiring policies and resources for students who are parents, expectant parents or victims of domestic or sexual violence; policy 7.3 would remove references to Illinois High School Association bylaws no longer in effect.

During the presentation, a staff member summarized the new 7.255 requirement: “The basic overview is that we have to designate resource personnel at each school building to address students who are parents, expectant parents, victims of domestic violence or sexual violence. And those resource personnel has specific, statutorily mandated training, and trauma informed care and other areas as mandated by the statute.” The staff member noted that the policy will also require complaint-resolution personnel to address concerns about supports that families or students receive.

Next steps: Trustees heard the governance committee summary and had an opportunity to ask questions; the proposed policy revisions will be moved forward through the district’s policy process (public posting and a later vote) in accordance with board rules and state law.