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Policy review committee advances first reading of updated electronic technologies acceptable-use policy
Summary
The Burnsville Public School District Policy Review Committee reviewed major revisions to Policy 6.34 to align with MSBA model language and recent Minnesota statutory changes, discussed cell-phone implementation plans by grade bands, and recommended annual review.
The Policy Review Committee of the Burnsville Public School District reviewed a substantially rewritten electronic technologies acceptable-use policy (Policy 6.34) and agreed to move the draft forward as a first reading.
The committee heard that the draft aligns the district policy with the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) model language and incorporates legislative changes from 2022 related to student data and governance. "This policy is a rather complex and ever changing policy," said Dr. Chris Belmont, assistant superintendent, describing the district's effort to capture both current law and anticipated changes such as student data privacy, AI integration and cybersecurity. Rachel Gorton, director of technology, said staff have worked with building leaders to create one-page vision statements and implementation plans for K-5, 6-8 and 9-12 grade bands to guide local practice.
Committee members pressed for clarity on procedural elements and wording. One member asked that rules and procedures be written to reference K-5, 6-8, 9-12 and special programs rather than specific buildings; Belmont said staff would draft language to be more inclusive of programs such as community education. The committee also discussed whether the policy review cycle should be annual because technology and law change frequently; Belmont and Gorton recommended annual review and flagged that some changes will require district-level implementation work this summer.
The draft moves several district-specific customizations back toward the MSBA template to stay current with statutory changes. The policy text includes an exemption or special handling for students with individualized education plans (IEPs) or 504 plans; committee members suggested replacing phrasing that says a section "does not apply" with language that the section is "governed by" the student's IEP or 504 plan to reflect individualized accommodations.
Committee members identified editorial issues (typos and Roman numeral references) and discussed presentation options to make redlines easier to follow. The chair confirmed the committee would treat the draft as a first reading to allow further refinement before a board vote.
Staff indicated next steps will include cleaning up language, incorporating committee feedback on implementation and review frequency, and returning the policy for further consideration. No final vote on adoption occurred at the meeting.
