Board adopts employee disciplinary-record disclosure and school temperature policies

The Starpoint Central School District Board of Education adopted two policies at its reorganizational meeting: a notification policy for disclosure of employee disciplinary records and a minimum-temperature policy for school buildings.

Board policy numbered 33-11 (notification of disclosure of employee disciplinary records) requires that employees be notified if disciplinary records are to be disclosed in response to a Freedom of Information Law request. The board adopted the policy at second reading; district staff had reviewed it at a prior meeting.

The board also adopted policy 5685, setting action thresholds for indoor temperatures. Staff explained that when classroom temperatures reach 82 degrees Fahrenheit the district must take action to “relieve heat-related discomfort” (for example, closing blinds or adding fans). If room temperatures reach 88 degrees Fahrenheit, the superintendent must direct principals to relocate students to cooler spaces or evacuate spaces when necessary. Superintendent and facilities staff told the board the district already uses temperature alerts tied to HVAC systems and has campus locations (including air-conditioned spaces) available to relocate students when necessary.

“Even before this was put into law, the district had put a lot of this into practice,” a staff member said during the meeting. The policy formalizes steps the district already takes and clarifies thresholds that will trigger staff actions.

Both policies were approved by the board during the meeting and will be incorporated into the district policy manual.