SD U-46 policy committee reviews Press Issue 117 updates; administration seeks exception for vandalism fines

The SD U-46 Board of Education Policy Committee reviewed Press Issue 117 on board policy updates and discussed an administrative recommendation to allow the district to assess fines for intentional damage to school property above $500 even when a student would otherwise meet eligibility for a fee waiver.

Tricia Olsen, chief legal officer, presented Press Issue 117 and said, “Tonight, I bring forward Press Issue 117 for the board's consideration.” Olsen walked the committee through dozens of policy edits and footnote updates tied to recent public acts and court decisions.

The package includes mostly technical and citation updates across policies governing ethics and gift bans (2:105); board officer qualifications and Open Meetings Act references (2:110); board member development and required training on student outcomes, behavior, and trauma-responsive environments (2:120); fiscal and business management (4:10); revenue investments (4:30) in light of Public Act 103-880; borrowing and bond authority (4:40) tied to Public Act 103-591; purchases and contracts (4:60); facility management and altered board-authorization thresholds for building renovations (4:150); environmental quality and air-quality resources (4:160 and Public Act 103-736); automated external defibrillators (4:170, Public Act 103-1019); targeted school violence prevention (4:190); employment nondiscrimination and recruitment…