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Board asks superintendent to study expansion of foreign exchange program, flags policy updates
Summary
A board member asked staff to research a more robust foreign exchange program and update a 2014 policy; the superintendent agreed to review feasibility, potential FTE funding, housing protocols and policy language vetted by CSIET.
A board member asked the superintendent's office to research whether the district should adopt a more formal foreign exchange program and to update the district's existing 2014 policy.
Board member Ms. Rosario presented background material and a recommended policy template drawn from Saint Johns County; she noted the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) vets organizations that place foreign exchange students and said the district's policy should follow that national standard.
The board discussed discipline, housing and capacity. Staff said students enrolled in district schools generate FTE funding for the district and that charter schools with well‑established exchange programs usually assign a coordinator to manage placements, housing and discipline. Board members asked whether the district's current policy limit of five foreign exchange students per high school (language from the 2014 policy) should remain; several members suggested principals should have discretion to accept additional students where seat capacity permits.
Superintendent Dr. Moore said he would examine the policy, investigate operational implications (housing, coordinator workload and discipline procedures) and report back to the board. Board members offered cautious support for a program committee to bring feasibility, costs and proposed policy language back to the board for consideration.
Ending: Staff will evaluate CSIET‑vetted program partners, discipline and housing protocols and the number of currently enrolled foreign exchange students, and return with recommendations and draft policy language.
