Superintendent Dr. Rice reviewed a package of policy revisions and new policies that the Ross Local School District board discussed at its regular meeting and said the board will vote on the items next month.

Dr. Rice told the board the packet included revisions to IGDJ (interscholastic athletics) and IGD (co‑curricular/extracurricular activities) to reflect House Bill 147, which “expanded the ability for students to participate in interscholastic athletic activities at a district other than the one in which they are enrolled or which they are a resident.” He said districts may permit home‑educated students and students enrolled in other districts to participate, provided the student meets age and grade requirements and the same participation qualifications as other students.

The superintendent also presented two new policies: EHC (cybersecurity) and EDEC (artificial intelligence). “The goal of these policies is not to comprehensively cover both topics as they’re ever evolving,” Dr. Rice said, adding the policies establish basic expectations from which district and building procedures will be developed. He thanked staff and RMS students who collaborated on the AI policy.

Dr. Rice cited Senate Bill 29 when describing the AI rollout, saying approved platforms will be published so staff, students and the community know which tools are vetted. On uniform classroom application of AI rules he said, “One of the things that we've always done in school districts is have approved platforms that folks can use. And we publish those.”

The board also discussed revisions to IKF (graduation requirements) to reflect state expectations that include financial literacy and instruction on capitalism, and changes to JFCK, the district’s policy on student use of electronic communications equipment, to align with House Bill 250. Dr. Rice said the cell‑phone policy must “emphasize that student cell phone use be limited as much as possible during the school hours” while allowing use for learning or health needs, including accommodations in an IEP. He said building principals (identified in the discussion as Mr. Salier at the middle school and Mr. Martin at the high school) contributed to drafting that policy.

On safety and health items, Dr. Rice said the district is compliant with a new statutory requirement to place automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in each school and added that staff training on AEDs will be included in compliance checks. He also noted KGB (public conduct on district property) was updated to restrict campaigning during school hours while allowing supporters to wear campaign shirts at non‑contracted events.

Separately, the board approved the superintendent’s personnel recommendations, including employment and supplemental stipends (spring coaches, club sponsors), resignations and retirements; accepted a district gifted intervention specialist job description tied to specific funding sources for gifted services; approved an 8th‑grade field trip proposal to Washington, D.C.; and approved three proposed school calendars. The board made a single motion to approve items A through E of the superintendent’s recommendations; the motion passed on a roll‑call vote with board members Gunther, Webb, Beckman, Kleinfelder and Young recorded as voting yes.

The board also approved the treasurer’s reports (a then‑and‑now invoice, the Red Tree monthly investment summary, and the general fund and cash summary for December) by roll call with the same five members recorded as yes. The meeting ended with a motion, second and roll‑call approval to enter an executive session to discuss negotiations and the terms and conditions of employment; the board said it would adjourn following that executive session with no further action.

Why it matters: The package of policies would alter district guidance on student eligibility for athletics, classroom use of AI, student cell phone limits and graduation content. Dr. Rice said the board is reviewing policy now and will vote next month, meaning any operational changes would be implemented after final board approval and after the district develops building‑level procedures.

The board did not adopt the draft policies at this meeting; it advanced several administrative items (personnel, trip, calendars) by formal vote and directed staff to prepare the policies and procedures for the next meeting.