Superintendent’s office outlines draft changes to subcommittee rules, equity advisory committee requirements
Summary
Acting Superintendent Frost briefed the board on two pending state bills that would change how district subcommittees are treated under public‑meeting rules and require a community equity advisory committee that reports to the superintendent.
Acting Superintendent Frost told the board on May 19 that proposed changes in state law will affect district subcommittees and equity advisory committees and that the district is monitoring progress and planning next steps.
Frost said Senate Bill 1109 (as cited at the meeting) had the unintended effect of classifying some subcommittee activity under public‑meeting requirements. The bill had passed the Senate and was scheduled for a House Education Committee hearing; until a bill becomes law, Frost said, subcommittee meetings must be posted, recorded and treated like other public board meetings. If the bill is signed as revised, district subcommittees and advisory committees would be able to meet as they did previously without the additional public‑meeting requirements.
Frost also described House Bill 2453 (as discussed in the meeting), which was described as creating a district equity advisory committee made up of community members that would report to the superintendent. The bill would require districts to convene a committee by a fall 2025 deadline (the superintendent noted a reference to Sept. 15 in statute discussion), include an application and appointment process and make the committee an advisory body reporting to the superintendent — not a body that reports directly to the board.
Frost recommended that the board consider the future structure and purpose of any subcommittees at an upcoming retreat and suggested waiting to finalize the equity committee’s structure until the district’s next superintendent is in place. Board members asked clarifying questions about the reporting chain and the timeline for getting an equity committee in place.
Discussion points - Senate Bill 1109 (implications for subcommittee meeting posting and recording). - House Bill 2453 requiring district equity advisory committees composed of community members and reporting to the superintendent, with a statutory convening timeline.
Direction/duties assigned - Superintendent’s office to prepare a plan to open applications and assemble committee materials so work can begin in July–August should the board wish to move forward; staffing and final structure to be coordinated with incoming superintendent.
Decisions - No final decisions made; board to discuss subcommittee structure at a future retreat and to await law finalization before reconstituting committees.
