Board adopts several policies including student board-member rules and search policy amendment

The Contoocook Valley School Board on May 20 adopted a package of policies, including changes to the student-school-board member rules, the school-year/calendar policy, a health-education exemption policy, a clarified student-searches policy and a memorialization policy.

Jim (policy committee chair) presented the policy slate. The board accepted Policy BBBF (student school board members) to formalize selecting two student members with staggered terms (one entering junior year serving two years); Policy IC (school year and calendar) updating how the district defines and makes up school days; and Policy IHAM (health education and exemption from instruction), which the administration said provides opt-out provisions for parents/guardians and students over 18 for discrete health-education topics identified in state guidance.

During discussion of Policy JIH (student searches and property), Board member Carl asked for clarification about the term "authorized persons." Administrators and the board amended the policy on the floor to specify "other personnel authorized by the superintendent" the first time the term appears. The amended policy was then adopted.

The board also adopted a memorialization policy establishing district guidance about appropriate and inappropriate ways to memorialize deceased members of the school community.

All policy motions were adopted by voice vote as shown in the meeting transcript; specific roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript excerpt.