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Board moves forward on policy updates including Title IX revisions, wellness coordinator designation and student handbook authority
Summary
The board reviewed several policy changes and approved a set of second-reading policies that revise Title IX implementation language, designate the director of nutrition services as the district wellness coordinator and align procurement and equipment thresholds with state guidance.
The district’s policy committee presented revisions and the school board adopted several policy changes at second reading that affect how the district implements Title IX, wellness coordination, student handbooks and federal grant guidance.
Policy committee chair Mr. Lustig reviewed eight policies at first reading and several at second reading later in the agenda. Notable first-reading items included administrative changes such as: replacing gendered pronouns with neutral language in the code of ethics, clarifying that the superintendent (or designee) will approve student handbook changes rather than the board, and designating the director of nutrition services as the wellness coordinator in response to a Minnesota Department of Education nutrition services audit recommendation.
At second reading the board approved four policies: a revised procedure for interviews of students by outside agencies (Policy 519), Title IX policy revisions (Policy 522) that revert certain 2020–2024 rule changes following recent federal court action, a budget-establishment clarification (Policy 701) allowing use of fund balance when projected expenditures exceed revenue, and a uniform grant guidance policy (Policy 727) that increases the equipment threshold and aligns procurement thresholds with state sealed-bid requirements and adds required cybersecurity language for sensitive data protection.
Board members discussed how Title IX changes interact with existing harassment and nondiscrimination policies (policy 102 and policy 413 were referenced) and confirmed that protections for pregnancy and gender-identity concerns remain covered under other district policies and state law (Minnesota Human Rights Act). The board also approved policy removals for redundant student-testing and student-recognition policies recommended by the committee.
The changes passed on a board vote; see the Votes at a glance article for the detailed roll-call tallies. Board members asked staff to clarify cross-references in the policy manual and to ensure communications to staff and families explain where related protections and procedures can be found.
