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Board holds first reads of several policy updates; members flag missing page in bullying draft
Summary
The board conducted first readings of multiple policy updates (background checks, field-trip policy, child abuse prevention and bullying/violence-prevention), and a member flagged a missing page in the bullying draft that removes definitions the board expected to see.
During a policy block, the Laconia School Board conducted first reads of several updated policies, including background investigations and criminal-record checks (GBCD), field-trip rules (IJOA), training related to child-abuse prevention (GBCE) and a revised violence-prevention/bullying policy (JICK).
A board member reviewing the JICK draft raised a substantive concern: a definitions section that appeared in the district's current policy was absent from the new sample, which removes the clear, multi-part definition of bullying the board relied on to interpret incidents and timelines. Members and staff concluded a page was missing from the packet and agreed to circulate the omitted language (the sample policy references New Hampshire statutes) before taking a second read.
Board members also discussed implementation details for the child-abuse prevention training policy, including how mandatory reporting training is scheduled through the district's vector training system, fingerprinting cycles for volunteers (every five years) and the need for HR to coordinate an active spreadsheet showing volunteer affidavit/fingerprint status. Staff said volunteer fingerprinting and the training cycle will be reconciled with HR prior to final adoption.
Other policy items were introduced for first read without board action. The board agreed to provide the missing bullying-policy page to members and return the policies for a subsequent reading once the packet is complete.
