The Silver Falls School Board reviewed first readings of several policy updates affecting student conduct, staff and family communications, food service procurement and restraint/seclusion procedures.

Acceptable use and electronic communications: Tony (policy/legal) presented revisions to the district's acceptable‑use policy and associated administrative regulation. The changes clarify permitted uses of district systems, reference the district's acceptable‑use exhibits, and note that board members and volunteers should generally avoid using district equipment or servers for personal or political activity because such use can be discoverable. "Board members... don't want to use district equipment or the district server to do your personal stuff," Tony said, citing legal and ethics concerns. The AR will link to updated exhibits and acceptable‑use agreements for staff, students and parents.

Graduation requirements: The board reviewed a housekeeping change confirming that district graduation requirements include a half credit of personal finance and a half credit of career/CTE; the language also applies to modified diplomas.

Transportation and bus conduct: Policies and an administrative regulation on student conduct on district transportation were presented. District representatives said bus drivers report incidents to First Student's office, which forwards citations to principals for investigation; the board discussed ensuring the AR requires that principals be notified when a citation is issued and that video is preserved for investigations.

Wellness and food service: Policy committee members proposed streamlining the district's wellness policy to meet federal National School Lunch Program minimums but not to add resource‑intensive staff wellness activities immediately. A separate administrative regulation sets a clear process for parents to request special diets or menu modifications and for the district to require medical certification where appropriate.

Procurement and food services: Staff presented an administrative regulation aligning food procurement procedures with applicable Code of Federal Regulations for federal meal programs; it mostly mirrors district procurement policy but adds federal references and thresholds required for grant compliance.

Seclusion and restraint: The board reviewed policy language updated to reflect 2023 state law (Senate Bill 1024) requiring preservation of recordings and prompt notification when seclusion or restraint occurs. Tony noted the law requires parents be notified within two days and a debriefing meeting that includes parents; the AR adds procedures for preserving video and documentation and for required oral and written reports to authorities.

Cell‑phone ban: Tony said the district is preparing a separate cell‑phone ban policy (required to be adopted by October 31 under upcoming state guidance) and that staff had already begun collecting community input; the district anticipates exemptions for narrowly defined medical needs and will present a draft at a subsequent meeting. Superintendent Kellison said the district currently enforces no‑phone use during instruction and is working to align lunch‑period practice with the new state requirements.

Next steps: the policy committee will refine AR language, coordinate technology and HR exhibits (acceptable use), confirm transportation reporting procedures with First Student and return policy and AR drafts for second reading and formal adoption at future meetings.