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Board reviews revisions to 800- and 900-series policies including facility use and records retention
Summary
The policy committee presented first-reading changes to the 800 series (school community relations) and a single 900-series policy on facility retirement; the revisions include a four-tier facility use structure, a new records-retention policy based on WASB templates and a simplification of weapons language.
The West Bend School District board reviewed first-reading policy changes developed by the district’s policy committee, including a reworked facilities-use policy, a new records-retention policy and minor revisions to policies in the 800 and 900 series.
Mr. Jenkins, who chaired the policy committee meeting on Aug. 19, told the board the committee revised the district’s facilities-use rules from three classifications to four. “We created that from 3 structures to 4 structures,” Jenkins said, describing a new tiered approach that separates youth-focused community events (tier 1), a reduced-fee category for certain groups (tier 2), adult-focused community groups (tier 3) and business or outside groups (tier 4).
The committee also proposed a new records-retention policy that would formalize schedules for how long district records are held; the draft policy follows recommended language from the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB). Jenkins said the district will publish the detailed retention schedule alongside the new policy so the board can see how many years different types of records will be kept.
On a separate policy addressing weapons and use of school forests, committee members recommended removing a specific reference to hunting from the policy; Jenkins said any use of district property for controlled herd or wildlife management would be brought to the board for approval if needed. Board members discussed whether to list weapon types explicitly in policy or to rely on statute; the committee favors referring to state law so the policy does not require frequent edits.
The board also reviewed a policy on naming district facilities and a single 900-series policy on retirement of facilities; committee members recommended handling naming requests case by case and keeping the retirement language flexible to address future decisions. The policies reviewed are primarily format and alignment edits, with a few substantive changes highlighted at the meeting.
All items discussed represent a first reading; the board will consider the policies for possible action at its next meeting. Jenkins suggested the board could place unanimously agreed items on the consent portion of the next agenda to streamline action.
