The Bedford School Board on Monday, June 9, reviewed first readings of a large package of updated district policies covering workplace safety, accident reporting, vandalism, drone use, food service management, copyright compliance and technology use, and asked staff to vet the language before returning the items for final action.

Board members said the policy packet was intended largely as housekeeping and alignment with state rules, though several members asked staff to seek practitioner input — especially from nurses, technology and facilities staff — before adoption.

The proposed changes included withdrawing some out-of-date policies on facilities and building grounds, adopting a consolidated accident-reporting policy with new classifications and training requirements, and a six‑page drone policy that distinguishes recreational and compensated use and references FAA Part 107 rules.

“Obviously, these are all just first reads,” the superintendent told the board as the group started review. Board members and administrators repeatedly asked that drafts be circulated to the nurses, the district’s joint loss management committee and IT staff for more detailed feedback before a final vote.

Board members and staff highlighted these specifics:
- Workplace safety and joint loss management: The district already has a workplace safety program and a joint loss management committee that visits each school; members asked that the policy be updated to cite current statutes and administrative rules.
- Accident reporting (EBBB): The draft adds classifications for general accidents, insurance notification, requirements for deaths or serious incidents, and an explicit training component; staff said training needs improvement because reporting is often handled by nurses and administrators.
- Vandalism (ECAC): The draft combines definitions, identification steps, parental notification and restitution procedures. Board members noted it appears to fold in procedural steps and cross-referenced student-discipline policies (JICD).
- Drone use: A new policy sets separate rules for non‑commercial versus compensated operations and notes FAA compliance (Part 107) for commercial operations; the board asked the policy be made more concrete (for example, how distance from the airport and weight thresholds apply to specific Bedford locations) and suggested consulting town ordinances.
- Food service: A new policy clarifies that the food service director reports to the principal and superintendent/designee, and lists certification and sanitation requirements tied to RSA and New Hampshire administrative rules.
- Technology and EHA (acceptable use): The draft reiterates limited expectations of privacy on district systems and contains dated language about “personal discs”; the board asked the technology coordinator to review and propose modernized wording.

Board members flagged several cross-referencing and implementation items that need clarification before adoption: removal or retention of older policies referenced in new drafts, confirming which RSA citations are required, and whether some language belongs in a procedure rather than a policy (for example, detailed cleaning or mop procedures).

Administrators agreed to circulate drafts to nurses, administration, IT staff and legal counsel where needed, and to confirm statutory citations. The board set no adoption votes at the June 9 meeting; members indicated they expect follow-up and possible redrafting based on practitioner feedback.

The board also discussed restorative justice language present in a separate digital‑citizenship/deep‑fake policy (JICN). Several board members said restorative practices are in use at the high school informally but asked staff to confirm whether restorative justice appears in handbooks or district practices before leaving the term in the policy language.