Speaker 1, a staff member for the Littlestown Area School District, presented multiple policy updates and recommended that the board consider formatting and limited substantive changes.

“This policy doesn't change at all. It is just in the PSBA format,” Speaker 1 said when introducing Policy 205. For that item staff recommended retaining the policy’s purpose but updating language to reflect current practice on assignment requests: principals may consider, but are not required to honor, parent requests for assignment to specific classrooms or staff.

Speaker 1 said Policy 207 (confidential communication of students) would expand qualifying administrators who may receive confidential information to include “the superintendent or designated administrator,” not only a building principal. Policy 208 (withdrawal from school) contained no substantive changes and was updated only to PSBA formatting, staff said.

On opening exercises, Speaker 1 said a new Pennsylvania law enacted in June 2024 requires a moment of silence on Sept. 11; the proposed Policy 807 includes that requirement. “We have to have a moment of silence on September 11. So that is now included in this policy,” Speaker 1 said, and noted the district’s current practice has been to honor the date on a nearby school day when Sept. 11 falls on a weekend.

Staff recommended removing redundant employee-clearance language from the transportation policy (Policy 810) because such requirements are already covered in the district’s 300-series employee policies. The transportation policy also adds two required statements specifying the district must provide transportation for students in foster care and for students experiencing homelessness, Speaker 1 said.

On acceptable use and electronic devices (Policy 815), Speaker 1 said the PSBA version uses a much more concise definition but retains coverage of devices; staff recommended adding depictions or descriptions of school violence to the acceptable-use policy’s prohibited content section. The draft also contains wording on tracking systems, website maintenance and an accessibility section that staff described as new.

Nut graf: The items presented are largely formatting and alignment to PSBA model language, with a handful of substantive updates the board must consider—most notably the explicit Sept. 11 moment-of-silence language and transportation obligations for foster and homeless students.

Board action: Staff framed these as recommendations for board consideration; the transcript records discussion and explanation but no formal motions or votes on the policies during the excerpt provided.

Ending: Staff said the board or committee can accept PSBA language, reinstate redundant provisions if it prefers, or request edits; staff will return with revised drafts if directed.