Alpine School District board adopts consolidated harassment policy, defers final action on bullying policy

The Alpine School District Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt a single, consolidated harassment policy (Policy 71-50) and held further discussion — but took no final action — on a revised bullying-prevention policy (Policy 71-10).

Board members and legal counsel said the consolidated policy is grounded in the current Title IX framework and incorporates input from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Legal counsel Craig Brinkerhoff described the adopted policy as applying to "all persons within the district" and said the language follows the 2022 Title IX regulations that the district is directed to follow.

Board adoption of Policy 71-50 followed a policy committee review and a briefing from the district’s Title IX coordinator, Kimberly Moore. Supporters said the new policy combines multiple previous harassment-related policies into a single, clearer document that covers certificated and classified employees, managers and students and that it reflects OCR recommendations.

Discussion only: bullying-prevention policy

Board members kept Policy 71-10 (bullying prevention) in discussion rather than approving it. District staff said the proposed bullying definition was reorganized into two parts — staff bullying and student bullying — to narrow the definition and make complaint handling clearer. Staff recommended postponing adoption until several linked documents (resources for parents and administrators including a "bullying tree" and landing pages) are finalized and vetted.

Appeal process and levels of review were central points of discussion. Board member King flagged that an appeal path had changed; legal counsel Craig Brinkerhoff clarified: "It doesn't end with legal counsel. It ends with the supervisor. The first take at the apple, first bite of the apple, if you will, is the administrator that investigates the bullying response. If parents and students or staff are unhappy with the results of that investigation, then they can appeal it, which would go to the next level of supervision." He said the revised approach provides a single formal level of appeal after the initial investigation, whereas earlier versions had two levels.

Several board members asked staff to compare the single-appeal model to practices in other districts and to consider restoring a second level of appeal (for example, to the superintendent) if the board prefers. Staff said they would research comparisons and that the district could reinstate an additional appeal level if desired.

Formal action and next steps

The board unanimously approved the consolidated Policy 71-50 following a motion by Board Member Beeson and a second from Board Member Bateman. The board did not approve Policy 71-10; staff recommended returning it for action after the linked resources are completed and after any committee revisions. Staff noted the district must report on the OLAG audit recommendations to the legislature and preferred having an updated policy framework in place for that reporting.

The board directed policy-committee review and requested any additional written feedback from board members before the next meeting. Staff also said they would compare appeal procedures with other districts and, if necessary, bring language back for revision.

Ending: implementation and reporting

District staff said the consolidated harassment policy reflects current law and federal OCR input and that the bullying-prevention policy will return to the board once linked guidance and final language are in place. Board members asked staff to send committee members and other board members the draft documents for review prior to the next meeting.