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Olentangy Local updates student handbook to reflect recent legislation; adds consolidated district handbook
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Summary
Board received recommended changes to a consolidated Olentangy student handbook and aligned athletic handbook language to several recently passed state measures affecting attendance, dress code, harassment policy,College Credit Plus and technology monitoring.
At the May 21 Olentangy Local School District board meeting, district staff presented a consolidated student handbook and several legislative‑driven changes the board was asked to approve for the 2025–26 school year.
Dr. Blackley, who presented the handbook updates, said the district combined previously separate elementary, middle and high school handbooks into a single Olentangy student handbook with level‑specific addenda (the preschool handbook remains separate). The consolidation followed a year of legislative changes and alignment work, Dr. Blackley said, and included accessibility improvements for individuals with impairments. He said attendance procedure changes include email notification to parents and the inclusion of the county school attendance officer in intervention planning; the district removed out‑of‑school suspension as a consequence for students who finally attend after excessive unexcused absences. The handbook will require students to be in good academic standing for approval of alternate learning experiences or student vacation days.
Legal and legislated changes highlighted by the presenters include:
- House Bill 214: added up to three religious‑expression days to the excused‑absence section. - House Bill 206: added language permitting expulsions of up to 180 days for actions that pose imminent and severe danger to health and safety. - Dress code language was revised to use a “substantially disrupts the educational process” standard and to remove a shoulder‑strap ban to avoid creating a rule that could be applied only to one sex. - Hazing/harassment language was consolidated to include all types of harassment. - Senate Bill 104: aligned College Credit Plus application deadlines with state requirements. - Senate Bill 29: added notification of general monitoring in the technology use section. - House Bill 8: added a parental notification and opt‑out option related to health services. - House Bill 70: replaced the term “authorized drugs” with “prescription and over‑the‑counter drugs.”
Mr. Smith reviewed complementary changes in the athletic handbook to mirror the student handbook edits and proposed three athletic‑handbook adjustments: changing “should” to “shall” for coaches’ rules communication (players, parents and athletic directors must receive team rules), aligning hazing/harassment language, and giving the district discretion to deny an athlete’s return‑to‑play regardless of written medical clearance if district staff determine it is in the student’s best interest.
Board member Dr. Wallach praised the dress code changes as overdue and said the revised language is an improvement. The board was asked to approve the consolidated student handbook as part of the superintendent consent items on the agenda; the consent slate was approved later in the meeting.
