Board holds first reading of broad policy revisions covering surveys, instruction on identity, background checks and staff social media

Missoula County Public Schools trustees on Sept. 2 held a first reading of wide‑ranging policy revisions prompted by recent Montana legislation and legal guidance and voted to publish the updated policies for public comment with narrow exceptions.

Superintendent Hill presented a packet of required and recommended policy changes drafted with legal counsel and the Montana School Boards Association. Board members were shown a 350+ page legal compilation and a shorter "boiler" version with cover pages summarizing statutory changes.

Major policy changes discussed included student survey and privacy rules; new definitions and notice requirements for what the law labels "human sexuality instruction" and "identity instruction" with opt‑out/opt‑in distinctions; a new fingerprint‑based national criminal history background check requirement before any individual may have unsupervised contact with students; expanded rules on student health screening notices and opt‑outs; authorizing stock epinephrine, albuterol and opioid‑antagonist (naloxone) use and delegation to trained staff; revisions to enrollment and out‑of‑district attendance rules; recognition and commemorative day requirements (including newly added "Freedom Week"); and specific staff conduct guidance covering electronic communications, social media and employee use of artificial‑intelligence tools.

On student surveys and data: the revised policy requires that all surveys or instruments collecting personal information bear an educational purpose connected to board policy and gives parents the right to…