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Policy committee tables disciplinary-policy wording, seeks solicitor and HR input on authority and firearms language
Summary
The committee reviewed Policy 3.17 and related administrative regulations on employee discipline, raised questions about weapon/ firearms language and the proper role of HR versus "designee," and decided to seek the solicitor's and HR director's input before next action.
Keystone Central SD's policy committee on May 14 discussed revisions to Policy 3.17 (conduct and disciplinary procedures) and associated ARs, focusing on delegation language and definitions for weapons and firearms.
Board members pressed for clearer delegation of responsibility for employee-discipline matters. Elizabeth (Board member) and other members asked whether wording that currently reads "superintendent or designee" should instead specify the district's human-resources department. Several members argued that naming HR would reduce perceptions of arbitrariness and provide a single, consistent intake point for disciplinary matters.
Christine (Superintendent) explained that the phrase "superintendent or designee" offers flexibility for districts of varying sizes and for different types of incidents'for example, a Title IX matter may be routed differently than a personnel misconduct case. Dr. Redmond (Board member) and other board members asked that HR be explicitly mentioned in places dealing with employees.
Weapons language also drew sharp attention. A board member proposed that authorization to carry or possess weapons on school grounds should go to the school-safety/security committee and then to a local judge, and that the policy be reworded to exclude firearms (which are handled separately for school police officers). Committee members asked staff to clarify whether the policy should reference firearms explicitly and to align wording with statutory definitions of "weapon." Mr. Varelli (Staff) and others noted that statutory definitions can be broad (for example, pocket knives under certain circumstances).
The committee agreed to table final action on the disciplinary-policy package until Justin (Title/HR/federal programs staff) could attend and provide subject-matter input. Members directed staff to revise the draft to: (1) consider replacing "designee" with "superintendent/HR or designee" where appropriate; (2) rework the weapons paragraph to clarify it does not pertain to firearms covered under separate policy; and (3) mark the listed progressive-discipline steps as documented and clarify recordkeeping expectations.
No final policy was adopted at the meeting; the item was tabled for a future committee when the solicitor and HR staff can advise on statutory and procedural language.
