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Board reviews policy manual changes: add nepotism language to employee ethics, expand lunchroom training and name school social workers and psychologists
Summary
Board members discussed restoring nepotism language into policy 5120, adding Heimlich/CPR training for lunchroom supervisors in administrative procedures, and explicitly naming school social workers and psychologists in the guidance-and-counseling policy; no formal policy votes recorded.
Board members reviewed proposed updates to the D26 policy manual during the May 19 Committee of the Whole and discussed three main items: reinstating nepotism language, ensuring lunchroom supervisors receive Heimlich/CPR training, and expanding guidance-and-counseling policy language to include social workers and psychologists.
Board member Catherine Potter (referenced by discussion) raised that former policy 515—language addressing supervisor–subordinate relationships and nepotism—was not present in the new manual. Dr. White and staff proposed inserting the nepotism language into policy 5120 (employee ethics, code of professional conduct and conflict of interest) under a new heading "Nepotism" so it will continue to be updated when the press updates that policy type. One board member noted a minor editorial suggestion to add a hyphen in the phrase "supervisor-subordinate relationship." The board discussed that preserving the language as a named section within 5120 would ensure periodic review and avoid creating a custom policy that would not be automatically updated.
Board members also urged adding training for lunchroom supervisors. Potter suggested requiring at least a review of the Heimlich maneuver prior to supervising students; staff reported that the district will provide Heimlich/CPR training (and other required staff development) for building administrators, office staff, PE teachers, coaches, social workers, psychologists, teachers, ECE staff and lunchroom supervisors. Staff said the training will be listed in the administrative procedures (AP 5100) rather than as a required statutory policy because it is not a state mandate.
Finally, the board considered policy 6270 (guidance and counseling program). Potter recommended explicitly naming school social workers and psychologists in the policy’s first sentence; Dr. White agreed and suggested adding the current positions by name while also allowing for “other mental health professionals” in case roles change in future. The board expressed general support for that language.
The transcript records discussion and a clear willingness to proceed with the edits, but it does not include a formal vote adopting the specific policy text during the May 19 meeting.
