Board approves first reading of Section 504/ADA nondiscrimination policy (F27); board discusses grievance procedures and broader nondiscrimination language

The Colchester School Board approved the first reading of a revised policy titled to reflect Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (policy F27). Carrie Lutes presented the draft, which adopts the model policy language recommended by the Vermont School Boards Association and replaces the district’s previous, more general nondiscrimination text with a grievance-procedure format.

Lutes said the model policy retains a nondiscrimination statement while adding a step-by-step grievance process and a complaint form, language many districts have been adopting. Board members asked whether the policy specifies how universal notice about the grievance process will be communicated to students and staff, and whether third parties who witness discriminatory conduct would be able to file a complaint. Lutes confirmed the draft addresses third-party reporting and contains notification steps, noting the model policy’s procedural elements resemble what would typically appear in procedures rather than the policy itself.

Board members also discussed broader nondiscrimination coverage and whether the district’s other policies (C3 non-discrimination and C1 equity policy) should be strengthened to ensure protections would remain if federal rules were to change. The superintendent said those adjoining policies could be reviewed to ensure local commitments remain clear regardless of federal changes.

A motion to approve the first reading of the Section 504/ADA nondiscrimination policy passed on voice vote at the meeting. Trustees directed staff to follow up on questions about public notification and to consider how the district’s non-discrimination and equity policies interrelate.