Revere board reviews wide set of state-driven policy changes, schedules first readings

At a May 13 work session, the Revere Board of Education reviewed a package of revised and new board policies that district staff said were prompted by recent Ohio legislation and code requirements. Board members discussed the changes but did not adopt policy at the session; staff said the items will be on the agenda for a first read next week and a second read in June.

The board’s review covered more than a dozen policy updates drafted by the district’s attorneys. Keith Berdine (identified in the meeting as the session facilitator) told the board that attorneys provided the language and that the session was an opportunity for the board to “review policies that have been provided to us by our attorneys.” He said the items included mostly revisions and “one new” policy that the board must adopt by statute.

Among the specific policy changes discussed:

- Policy 1.09 (Officers of the Board): The draft removes a provision that made the board president the custodian of a treasurer’s surety bond. Berdine said the district now uses employee dishonesty and faithful-performance insurance rather than a surety bond, and the bond language is therefore being deleted from policy.

- Policy 4.01 (Employment of Substitute Teaching Staff): Language was added to reflect House Bill 147 (effective in 2024, according to the materials) requiring that when the district removes an individual from the list of substitute employees for conduct “unbecoming of the teaching profession,” the district must promptly notify the Ohio Department of Education (the superintendent of public instruction) with the person’s name, Social Security number and a factual statement about the matter.

- Policy 6.05 (Interdistrict Open Enrollment): Draft language cites Senate Bill 208 (signed Jan. 8, 2025) and says that, even in districts that prohibit open enrollment, children of active-duty service members stationed in Ohio must be permitted to enroll and that the district must use the procedures applicable to districts that allow open enrollment, including establishing capacity limits by grade, building and program.

- Policy 6.06 (Enrollment of children of district employees): The draft adds language reflecting Ohio Revised Code 3313.64(f)(8) allowing children of full-time district employees to attend district schools regardless of residence and states the district’s policy for that practice.

- Policy 6.26 (Dangerous Weapons, Bomb Threats and Violent Conduct): The draft adds several pages reflecting House Bill 206 (signed Jan. 8, 2025). The new language permits a superintendent to expel a pupil for up to 180 days when the superintendent determines the pupil’s conduct poses “imminent and severe endangerment” to others. The policy requires conditions for reinstatement, including assessment by a licensed psychiatrist, licensed psychologist or licensed school psychologist, evaluation of rehabilitation before reinstatement, and the potential for district-provided alternate education during expulsion.

- Seizure-safety policy additions (policy 6.6): The draft permits a student to possess a prescribed medication to prevent or treat seizures at school or at school-sponsored events, provided the district has written physician approval and, for minors, parental or guardian approval; principals and assigned school nurses must receive the approvals as specified in the draft.

- Extracurricular participation (policy 716): The draft reflects House Bill 147 language that allows the superintendent to permit some nonresident students (including home-educated students or students from other districts) to participate in interscholastic athletics when they were the victim of harassment, violent conduct, or certain violations by a school official or volunteer. The student must meet the district’s age, grade and academic/financial requirements.

- College Credit Plus, procurement and federal-funds procedures: The board reviewed technical changes to the district’s College Credit Plus policy to match Senate/House changes (House Bill 104 was cited for an enrollment deadline), as well as updates tied to federal Uniform Guidance and Office of Management and Budget changes affecting procurement thresholds, inventory and disposition of federal-award equipment, and whistleblower protections.

- Food sales and ticketing pricing (policy on cash and school books): Pursuant to House Bill 147, the draft forbids charging different prices based on payment method (cash vs. electronic payment), though a processing fee for card payments is permitted; it also requires student ticket prices to be lower than adult prices for school-affiliated events.

- New policy 9.39 (Parents’ Bill of Rights): The board reviewed a draft required by House Bill 8, which the materials say the district must adopt by July 1. The draft sets parental-review and opt-out provisions for certain instructional materials described in the law, requires parental notification for substantial changes to a student’s services (including counseling or monitoring), and outlines a complaint and appeal process (principal → superintendent hearing → board hearing). Berdine said the district will present the item as a first read next week and accept public comment before the second read in June.

Board members asked clarifying questions about timing and administrative details: one member asked whether dates in the open-enrollment draft (for example, application deadlines such as April 1) came from the Ohio Revised Code or were included for planning; another asked how seizure medications would be stored and whether building- or age-based decisions would be used. Staff responses in the meeting described those parts of the draft as intentionally flexible and “age-appropriate,” and said principals and school nurses would be involved in implementing storage and supervision decisions.

No policy was adopted at the work session. Berdine told the board the public would have the chance to comment at the first read next week and indicated the board expects a second read in June ahead of statutory deadlines.

Ending

District staff repeated that most items in the packet reflect either new state law or updated state administrative guidance; the board scheduled the policy package for formal readings at upcoming public meetings so members and the public can review and comment before any final votes.