Board adopts annual policy updates; district adds limited open-enrollment rule for active-duty military families

Lebanon City Schools’ board on May 19 approved final readings of 29 district policies, including a new policy establishing interdistrict open enrollment limited to active-duty military families as required by recent state law changes.

Why it matters: open-enrollment rules determine who may attend the district’s schools without residing in the district; the board clarified that the district will continue to restrict general open enrollment but must accept active-duty military families under state law.

During the policy discussion board members explained that the district historically did not allow interdistrict open enrollment except where state law or contracts required it. Mr. Sievers and another presenter noted the state recently required districts to accept open-enrollment requests from some active-duty military families. “So we do have an open enrollment policy now,” a presenter told the board, adding that the change applies specifically to active-duty military families and not to the general public.

The board voted to adopt the annual policy updates on a roll call vote with unanimous support from members present. The packet included an overview of language cleanups and model policy changes the state provided, including a revised special-education model policy that district staff adopted after review.

Board members emphasized the limited scope of the new open-enrollment policy: unless a student’s family is active-duty military (as defined by state law), the district will continue to restrict admission to residents and other statutorily allowed categories (such as employees’ children where applicable).