Seaman USD 345 board reviews handbook revisions: embedded bullying guidance and AI guidelines added

District staff presented proposed revisions to student and classified handbooks designed to bring consistency across grade levels and incorporate recently developed guidance on artificial-intelligence use and bullying procedures.

Why it matters: The changes are largely editorial and procedural—linking handbook language directly to current district policies so updates propagate automatically—but they also add substantive material by embedding bullying guidance at every level and formalizing AI guidelines that were previously in draft form.

Details: Staff said Teresa Dunham reviewed the handbooks and reconciled references so that policies listed in each handbook now match district policy. Bullying information that previously existed in a separate handbook was embedded in each level’s handbook following work by Deidra and building principals. AI guidelines that staff had developed in draft form during the year are now included for teacher and student reference. Classified staff handbooks were updated to reflect an added paid holiday (the day after Christmas) for 12-month positions; the addition had previously been approved and is being recorded in the handbook language.

Board discussion and next steps: Trustees asked clarifying questions about the page references and minor typographical corrections; staff said these revisions will be approved in final form at the next meeting. No significant policy changes were proposed beyond aligning handbook text with existing policy.

Ending: Staff will return final handbook drafts for approval at the next board meeting and post the updated handbooks when ratified.