Board approves SRO agreements, language access plan and staffing changes in consent agenda

The Westonka Public School District Board of Education approved six action items on the consent agenda, taking up agreements for school resource officers and several personnel and policy items.

The board approved an agreement with the city of "Orange" for a school resource officer (action item 7a). The board then approved a separate agreement with the city of "Benatrista" for a school resource officer (action item 7b). Board members later thanked their local police departments for partnership and support.

The board approved the district's language access plan for ISD 277 (action item 7c). The plan coordinates district communications and supports families who do not speak English, district staff said.

Personnel items the board approved included: the addition of 1.0 FTE kindergarten teacher at Shirley Hills Primary School (action item 7d); the elimination of a 0.53 FTE kitchen assistant position and addition of a 0.53 FTE kitchen assistant II position (action item 7e); and the addition/appointment of 2.0 FTE technology education specialist positions for overload at Shirley Hills Primary School (action item 7f).

All six motions were moved by the board chair and seconded; each passed on a voice vote with the board responding "Aye" and no recorded opposing votes. The board did not record individual roll-call tallies in the minutes taken during the meeting.

Board members said the staffing additions were driven by enrollment and program needs (the kindergarten section addition at Shirley Hills) and thanked police departments for partnership on SRO coverage. District staff said the language-access plan will help ensure consistent translation and communication with families who need assistance in languages other than English.