Beloit policy committee recommends new booster‑club rules, renames HR committee and approves multiple policy changes

The Beloit School District Policy Committee on April 10 recommended adoption of a new district booster‑club policy, voted to create a policy and human resources committee to review personnel matters before full‑board action, and approved a series of largely procedural policy changes including a new rule on flags in classrooms and a lowered public‑gift reporting threshold.

The committee, chaired by Vice President Brian Nichols, said the measures aim to standardize oversight of outside groups that raise money for schools and to clarify internal processes for personnel and governance. The committee voted to advance each item to the full Board of Education; committee votes recorded in the meeting minutes were unanimous among the two voting committee members present (committee chair Nichols and Board Member Tom Hankins). Motion language approved at the committee level unanimously recommended final adoption by the full board and waived first readings where noted.

The most substantive change was a proposed District Booster Clubs policy (policy 881.1) drafted by district staffer Mr. Gratz and introduced by district administrator Doctor Garrison. The draft requires booster organizations to hold IRS 501(c)(3) status and to provide documentation annually on or before July 1; to use a certified financial professional (for example, a CPA or an independent financial specialist) to prepare tax filings and financial statements; and to adopt bylaws that require any remaining funds to be distributed to the group(s) the booster club served if the booster club dissolves. Mr. Gratz told the committee that the policy draws on Parent Booster USA guidance: "Parent Booster USA is a nonprofit started by legal attorneys, skilled in nonprofit and tax law, to help protect organizations around the country." Doctor Garrison said the change was prompted in part by past events that had raised questions about "lack of transparency... around booster club finances." The draft also proposes a 10‑day timeline to…