Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Policies topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Trustees discuss employee-student communication policy (BP 4119.24); board decides not to revise now
Summary
Trustees reviewed Board Policy 4119.24 on adult-student interactions and communication boundaries after a trustee raised concerns about outside organizations and board-member interactions. Trustees agreed the policy is sound but asked legal staff to clarify applicability to volunteers and visitors; no policy revision was approved.
Trustees at the Santa Clara Unified School District board meeting reviewed Board Policy 4119.24, a policy intended to set professional boundaries for adults who interact with students. The discussion, prompted by Trustee Vicky Fairchild, highlighted how district-approved communication tools (for example, apps used by coaches that allow parents to monitor messages) can protect students and provide transparency.
Fairchild described a coach-parent communication example and urged trustees to be aware of the policy when interacting with students. Trustee Andy Rotterman raised concerns about the policy’s impact on outside organizations and volunteers who connect students with extracurricular opportunities, suggesting the board examine whether a practical mechanism exists to allow vetted outside groups to communicate with students without violating boundaries.
Superintendent Damon Wright said he had already asked legal counsel to review a proposed amendment from Trustee Rotterman and that the item would return for further discussion if needed; he recommended the matter be examined further by legal and possibly the policy committee. Trustee Jody Muirhead noted that BP 4119.24 is part of the 4000-level (employee) policies and said volunteer and board conduct are governed in other policy sections.
Trustee Vicky Fairchild read aloud the opening paragraph of the policy to underline its intent: “The governing board desires to provide a positive school environment that protects the safety and well-being of district students... The Board expects all adults with whom students may interact at school or in school-related activities, including employees, independent contractors, and volunteers, to maintain the highest professional and ethical standards in their interactions with students.” Fairchild said the policy’s “boundary blurring” language helps parents and staff spot inappropriate behavior early.
Trustees agreed there was no immediate need to change the employee-focused policy. Several trustees asked staff to clarify how outside organizations and volunteers should communicate with students and families (staff noted existing paths such as Peachjar for community flyers and school career/college centers for student-focused opportunities). No board motion to revise BP 4119.24 received support at the meeting; trustees asked staff and legal counsel to return with any recommended procedural clarifications.
