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Edina board adopts several policy updates; moves student transportation policy to discussion
Summary
The school board approved four policies under rapid review, reviewed several additional policies for discussion and moved student transportation policy 7-13 from action to discussion for further review after board questions about land use and operational detail.
The Edina Public School District board on Monday approved a set of policy updates recommended by the administration and its policy committee and moved its student-transportation policy (Policy 7-13) from the action calendar into the discussion calendar for additional review.
Policies approved under the board’s rapid-review process included updates to the district’s alcohol-and-drug workplace rules, the school weapons policy, student-records and privacy policy changes, and an update on disposal/donation of old instructional materials. The updates largely implemented statutory changes or adopted Minnesota School Boards Association model language, board members said.
Assistant Superintendent Swenson and the policy committee chair summarized the discussion items earlier in the meeting. The committee recommended reviewing technology policy (Policy 208) biannually rather than annually given the pace of change and keeping an expedited process for urgent statutory or technological updates. The board discussed two related student-health policies (including allowing opioid antagonists and epinephrine delivery systems under state standing orders) and acknowledged that the statutory revisions enable students to self-carry opioid-antagonist medication under Minnesota law.
On student transportation, Director Mert Woodard and City of Edina guests discussed stormwater and facilities earlier in the meeting; the board asked for more clarity before taking action on Policy 7-13. Administration told the board that state law had removed certain grade-specific timing deadlines from the statute and that the draft policy contains no substantive changes, but board members asked detailed operational questions including how student training is implemented, how the policy applies to students transported by third-party vendors, and when training occurs. Swenson said transportation safety training is coordinated in classrooms with district staff and the transportation department.
The board voted on the rapid-review package on the same night, as permitted by district procedures. The chair called for the vote after the discussion and the board approved the package. Members said they valued the policy committee’s work and asked administration to ensure clear communication to students and families when statutory changes — for example, those permitting opioid-antagonist self-carry — affect day-to-day practice.
No appeals or objections were recorded to the rapid-review approvals.
