Grand Island board adopts model-language nondiscrimination, dress-code and related policies, including protective-hairstyle list

The Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education voted Aug. 14 to adopt revised nondiscrimination, dress-code and related policies that add model-language protecting “natural and protective hairstyles” and add military/veteran status to district nondiscrimination statements.

Board members approved the nondiscrimination policy (Policy 13-10) as revised to “include skin color and protective hairstyles, which could include, but are not limited to, braids, locks, twists, tight knots, curls, cornrows, bantu knots, afros, weaves, wigs, and head wraps,” language the administration said matches the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) model policy. Superintendent Matt Fisher described the change as the policy committee’s recommendation after reviewing the statute, the model policy and feedback from building leaders.

Why it matters: The statute enacted in 2023 requires districts to adopt policies that protect natural and protective hairstyles; the board’s action brings district policy language into alignment with the state model and expands nondiscrimination language to explicitly include military and veteran status in staff and student policies.

Board and staff said the explicit list helps administrators applying the rules. “They felt like it was helpful to them in administering the policy to have the the specific hairstyles listed,” Fisher said during the meeting.

The board also approved a group of related policies with similar language changes: bullying and harassment (Policy 13-11), staff bullying and harassment (Policy 62-15), student dress code and grooming (Policy 84-30) and student discipline (Policy 84-50). The student-discipline update added a clause addressing the creation or distribution of obscene or lewd images, including “deepfakes” and computer-generated images, citing recent legislative language.

Votes at a glance: The board made individual motions to approve the nondiscrimination and each related policy and the motions passed. Several motions were seconded by Board Member Lisa Albers; the nondiscrimination motion was recorded as seconded by Board Member Garcia Mendez.

What the board and staff said: Fisher summarized the research the committee conducted — including federal and state precedents, the NDE model policy and conversations with building leaders — and said the committee recommended adopting the NDE phrasing. Board discussion included a request to ensure the military/veteran language appeared consistently across procedural paragraphs.

Public comment and context: During public comment, parent Amber Harper asked the board specifically to adopt the NDE model policy and cited LB289; she described personal experiences with hair-related questions and differential treatment at school and urged the board to “continue to protect our students from any and all forms of harassment, bullying, and protect them in our dress code.”

Next steps: The board folded the new language into the student handbook approval later in the meeting and directed staff to make the handbook consistent with the adopted policies. Fisher and the policy committee said the district will monitor implementation and may make future adjustments based on how the changes play out in practice.

Ending: Board members framed the revisions as alignment with state guidance and an administrative effort to make expectations clearer for staff and families in applying nondiscrimination and dress-code standards.