Committee backs model homeless‑student policy, debates athletics physicals and adds 'designated volunteers' to FERPA language

Nurses and committee members urged the board to adopt a School Board Association model policy (JLCA) on students experiencing homelessness, saying the model policy is more specific than the district’s current language and calls out athletics and other activities. The committee agreed to update the district’s terminology from “homeless students” to “students experiencing homelessness.” Nurses said the model policy better addresses conditional enrollment and athletic‑eligibility questions. Committee members raised concerns about a related change: the draft model removes an explicit marching‑band physical requirement that had been in prior district practice. Members debated whether the district should require a preparticipation physical for marching band and other active extracurriculars or rely on a permission/waiver or procedural guidance that balances access and safety. Committee discussion produced two implementation alternatives: (1) retain a clear preparticipation‑physical requirement for interscholastic athletics and specific high‑risk activities, or (2) use district procedures and standardized permission/waiver language so families understand activity risks without creating barriers to participation. Several members preferred using a permission/waiver or administrative standard to avoid unintentionally excluding students who cannot obtain a physical. On student records and emergency health care, committee members asked whether volunteers who regularly support teams or clubs may be treated as school officials with legitimate educational interest under JRA (the district’s FERPA policy). Legal staff and committee discussion indicated that designated volunteers who undergo background checks and are formally assigned to a program should be included in the list of school officials so they may, when necessary, see limited student health information (for example, a note that a student has a bee allergy) and assist in an emergency (for example, administering an epinephrine auto‑injector). Action: Committee members asked staff to insert language in JRA specifying “school officials, employees, or designated volunteers” as persons who may have legitimate educational interest. The committee likewise discussed whether JLCA should go forward as a two‑reading item; members agreed the change is material enough to merit two readings in committee. Directory information: A committee member asked how the district handles directory‑information opt‑outs; staff explained the opt‑out is handled annually through the district’s yearly paperwork (permission slips and technology/agreement forms) and that parents may decline release at that time. Ending: Staff will bring redlined JLCA and updated JRA language (including the designated‑volunteer wording) back to the committee for the next packet and recommended reading schedule. The committee instructed staff to retain language that clarifies athletic and performing‑arts participation standards, and to propose procedure language for permission/waiver practices if the board prefers that approach.