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Board votes to revert district Title IX policy to 2022 version after legal guidance; debate prompts calls for board-operations review
Summary
After extended debate and public board discussion, the Winona Area Public School District board voted to revert a policy (policy 05/22) to the 2022 language on Title IX-related procedures following federal court guidance; board members asked that the matter be reviewed by the board operations committee.
The Winona Area Public School District board voted on March 20 to revert policy 05/22 to its 2022 wording for Title IX and related investigative procedures, following legal recommendations and a January federal district-court ruling referenced by staff.
Board members engaged in extended discussion before the vote, with several expressing concern that the decision had not come through the board operations committee. Advocates on both sides urged caution: some board members said reverting was legally necessary to align district practice with recent court rulings and advice from legal counsel and professional associations; others urged the board to use the operations committee to explore ways to protect affected students under state law and other district policies.
Legal context and administration’s advice Superintendent Jared Brzezinski and district legal resources told the board that a January 9 U.S. District Court ruling in the Eastern District of Kentucky (City of Tennessee et al. v. Cardona) prompted a recommendation from legal advisors and Human Resources that the district revert to the earlier policy language. Administration representatives reported that they had heard consistent guidance from multiple legal and association sources advising reversion as the prudent interim step while appeals and legal developments continue.
Board action and process concerns A motion to adopt the reversion (packaged with two other policies) carried on a roll-call vote after substantive debate. Several board members asked that the item be referred to the board operations committee for further review and recommended follow-up at the next operations meeting; chair and administration staff asked members to provide timely written feedback to support committee consideration.
Why it matters: Policy 05/22 governs Title IX coordination and investigative procedures for complaints involving sex discrimination, including matters that can affect students’ access to programs and protections. Reverting policy language changes the district’s procedural framework for investigations and investigations’ coordinators pending any legal appeals or future revisions.
What’s next: The board accepted the reversion by vote and staff will place the item on a board-operations meeting agenda for further review. Board members were advised to submit timely input so the committee can act at its next scheduled meeting.
