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Board reviews policy updates covering board officer removal, opioid antagonists, pregnant students and gifts; moves items to second reading
Summary
The board reviewed several policy updates in a first reading, including rules about board officer removal, definitions for opioid antagonists, accommodations for pregnancy and parenting, and raising the administrative threshold for accepting donations; staff will bring the policies back for second reading.
The East Penn School District board considered a package of policy updates at first reading and directed administration to return the policies for second reading. Administration said the changes respond to court precedent, state statutory updates and audit recommendations.
Key updates presented: - Board officer removal (policy 005): Revised language reflects a recent court decision (Monte Muro v. Jim Thorpe Area School District) establishing that board officers have a property interest in their office and are entitled to notice and due process before removal. - Employment/resignation language (policy 308): Adds resignation guidelines and references the school code requirement that professional employees give 60 days’ notice for resignations. - Opioid antagonist (policy 823): Updated terminology to follow Act 135 and clarified district requirements for plans to annually inform parents, students and staff about availability and administration of opioid antagonists. - Pregnancy and related accommodations (policies 234, 336/339): Policies updated to reflect that paid or unpaid leave may be an accommodation under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, Title IX, ADA or other laws. - Gifts, grants and donations (policy 702): Administration proposed increasing the threshold requiring board acceptance from $1,000 to $10,000 so staff could accept smaller donations administratively (the administration said large gifts—such as a reported $13,498 grocery‑roundup donation—would continue to be brought to the board). - Food services attachment (policy 808 attachment): Removed language that set a refund threshold and clarified that donated funds can be used to address lunch debt more broadly rather than limiting use to debt accumulated by students on free or reduced lunch.
Board discussion included questions about due process for officer removal, how the district will notify families about opioid antagonist availability, safeguards around raising the acceptance threshold for gifts and practical accommodations (for example, lactation rooms) under the pregnancy policy. Trustees asked administration to confirm related cross‑references and to ensure any administrative authority granted would not undermine transparency.
Action: The board accepted the policies for first reading and instructed administration to return them for second reading with any clarifying language requested by trustees.
Ending: Administration will make technical edits and bring the policies forward for a second reading and formal vote at a later meeting.
