Faribault policy committee forwards multiple policy changes to school board; keeps testing retaliation protection

FARIBAULT, Minn. — The Faribault Public Schools Policy Committee on Feb. 4 voted to forward seven policy items to the school board, including a recommendation to rescind Policy 5.37 and a recommendation that the school board keep an employee protection against retaliation in the Student District Testing Plan (Policy 6.14).

The committee reviewed and approved sending updates and revisions to a range of district policies so the full school board can act on them. Most motions passed by voice vote; the committee also debated whether to remove a specific anti-retaliation provision from the district—s testing policy and recommended that the board retain it.

The actions affect several student- and grant-related rules. The committee recommended rescinding Policy 5.37, saying the document was drafted locally years ago, contains outdated expectation grids and duplicates handbooks and MSBA guidance. The committee voted to forward Policy 4.18 (Drug-Free Workplace/Drug-Free School) with a newly added paragraph reflecting a 2024 Minnesota law change protecting persons enrolled in the Minnesota medical cannabis registry from enrollment penalties in certain circumstances. The committee approved sending Policy 5.15 (Protection and Privacy of Pupil Records) after removing address and telephone listing language that MSBA attorneys said conflicted with state guidance. It also approved forwarding Policy 5.19 (Interviews of Students by Outside Agencies) with language revised to match Minnesota statutory phrasing on interviews alleging child endangerment, and approved reverting Policy 5.22 (Title IX nondiscrimination/grievance procedures) to the district—s 02/2020 Title IX language.

Committee members spent the most time on Policy 6.14, Student District Testing Plan and Procedure, where draft revisions proposed removing a specific provision stating that retaliation is prohibited for employees who report or raise concerns about testing interruptions. Committee members cited Minnesota Statute 181.932 (employee protection from retaliation) during discussion. Several members argued the testing policy—s specific language provides clearer protection for problems that occur while administering assessments; others said the statute covers the same ground. The committee voted that its recommendation to the school board should be that the anti-retaliation language remain in Policy 6.14 rather than be removed.

The committee also approved forwarding Policy 7.21 (Uniform Grant Guidance) with new items addressing cybersecurity protections for personally identifiable information and mandatory disclosure language for credible evidence of criminal or False Claims Act violations in connection with federal awards. Committee members noted federal updates to small-purchase thresholds and discussed a Minnesota law reference to a dollar cap; they directed that the full board review state and federal thresholds during its consideration.

All motions were passed by the policy committee and will be presented to the Faribault Public Schools school board for final action at a later meeting. The committee set its next meeting for March 4, 2025, at 3:45 p.m.

Committee members’ remarks occurred during agenda review and policy revision items; public comment or external testimony was not part of this meeting.

"The school district may not refuse to enroll or otherwise penalize a patient or person enrolled in the Minnesota registry program as a pupil solely based on the patient or person is enrolled in the registry program unless failing to do so would violate federal law or regulations or cause the school to lose a monetary or license-related benefit under federal law or regulations," read the revised language added to the Drug-Free Workplace/School policy; that text was included in the draft the committee voted to forward.

The committee refined language on privacy, testing procedures and grant administration but did not adopt any final district policy changes at this meeting; its votes were to send the recommended revisions to the full school board for formal adoption or further revision.

The meeting opened at about 3:47 p.m. and concluded after committee business and an adjournment vote; all items on the published agenda were considered.