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Board hears second readings of multiple policy updates; staff recommends rescinding communicable‑disease policy
Summary
District staff presented second readings on updates to employment, pre‑service training, nepotism and immunization policies and recommended rescinding Policy 420 (students/employees with infectious diseases), arguing federal, state and human‑rights protections now govern those matters.
District staff presented second‑reading updates on a set of district policies Tuesday and recommended rescinding Policy 420 — the district’s 2008 policy on students and employees with certain communicable diseases — because staff say existing state and federal protections and the Minnesota Human Rights Act address the concerns once covered by the policy.
Maria Stacchio, director of Equal Employment Opportunity, outlined revisions to Policy 401 (Equal Employment Opportunity) that update formatting and terminology and align cross references to Title IX grievance procedures and the district’s gender‑inclusion policy. Pat Pratt Cook said Policy 408.05 (pre‑service training) was updated principally to align with statute and clarify responsibilities for cooperating teachers and practicum supervisors.
On Policy 425 (nepotism), staff added definitions and clarified an exceptions clause and reporting expectations. Becky Schmidt, director of Health and Wellness, presented Policy 420 (communicable diseases) and said the district’s legal and human‑rights framework — including Section 504, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the ADA and the Minnesota Human Rights Act — provides protections for students and employees; staff recommended rescinding the policy and said they would provide updated cross‑references and guidance if the board agrees.
The immunization policy (516.01) saw smaller changes: staff added a purpose statement, updated exemptions for documented history of disease and homelessness and clarified that new enrollees will not be automatically excluded but will be worked with to become compliant.
What’s next: These matters were presented as second readings and informational updates; staff put the rescission and revised language into the board packet for consideration. No final votes on rescission were recorded at the meeting; the items remain on the policy review schedule for board consideration.
