Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Handbook Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves 2025–26 online handbooks; district adds AI language, attendance guidance and elementary passing-time change
Summary
The school board approved the district’s 2025–26 online handbooks, which include a general AI-use policy, standardized attendance guidance, a technology quick-start for parents, and a five-minute increase to elementary advisory/passing time; high-school changes on grade retakes, EPO recognition and a parking task force were also noted.
The Shakopee School Board voted July 28 to approve the district’s 2025–26 online handbooks, which combine site-level guidance and four universal documents that district leaders said will standardize procedures for families and staff.
Assistant Superintendent Jim McClosic summarized the changes and said the handbooks now include a one-page technology guide for parents, a standardized attendance document developed by district leaders, a back-to-school resource section tied to the StopFinder rollout, and an intentionally general policy on artificial intelligence designed to give administrators discretion in classroom application.
Nut graf: The board framed the move to online handbooks as an effort to make information easier for families to find and to align site-level language with district-level policies on attendance, technology and academic integrity. The AI language was kept intentionally broad so building administrators and teachers can address misuse and preserve opportunities to teach original student work.
At the high school level, staff added a transcript policy clarifying that when a student retakes a class the original grade remains on the transcript but only the higher grade will be used in GPA calculations; the handbook also recognizes EPO (external program option) partnerships and directs a task force to study parking-lot challenges.
Board member Brophy moved to approve the handbooks; Aldrich seconded. The board approved the action by roll-call vote.
Ending: District leaders said they will make handbook materials publicly available online and that additional communications will explain the AI guidance, the attendance expectations, and the elementary passing-time adjustment before school starts.
