Board hears first readings on mental‑health protocol, telehealth services, nonpublic special‑education requirements and involuntary transfers

The Tahoe Truckee Unified School District board on March 5 received first readings of four policy updates addressing student mental health, school health services (including telehealth), nonpublic school obligations for special education and involuntary student transfers.

Dr. Anna Marie Cohen, the district’s executive director of student services, summarized proposed revisions to BP 5141.5 to align with the U.S. Surgeon General’s guidance on social connection and the effects of online social media, updates requiring twice‑annual notices to students and parents about access to mental‑health services, and district responsibilities to identify training programs for behavioral and mental‑health support. Cohen said the item was a first read and would return for adoption at a subsequent meeting.

Staff also presented updates to board policy and administrative regulation 052006 on school health services. The draft includes expanded language encouraging equity in health access, authorizing telehealth delivery of services to students when appropriate, adding behavioral health to the list of services a district may provide, and allowing districts to seek reimbursement from a student’s health plan subject to appropriate parental notification and approvals.

The nonpublic school policy (BP 6159.2) was revised to reflect a December 2022 resolution agreement involving Davis Joint Unified School District and the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights related to use of seclusion and restraint and free appropriate public education in nonpublic schools. The draft clarifies that nonpublic schools and agencies serving district students must adhere to district policies and procedures.

Trustees discussed a minor edit request: a board member asked staff to add a definition of “digital resilience” and to explicitly name “social media” when describing risks, to make the policy’s purpose clearer to parents and the public. Cohen said staff would incorporate feedback and return the items for action at the next regular meeting.

Ending: Each policy was presented as a first reading only; the board did not take final action and will consider adoption at a future meeting after staff revisions.