Policy committee advances several policy updates, debates onboarding and DEI language; affirmative-action wording tabled

The policy committee of the Rochester Board of Education considered a slate of policy updates and governance changes Dec. 3, 2024, forwarding most items for board consideration while deferring a proposed revision that would remove a reference to an "affirmative action officer." Committee members also debated whether commissioners-elect should be allowed to attend executive sessions before taking office.

Committee chair Commissioner Griffin opened the policy committee meeting and asked general counsel to summarize recommendations sent by the New York State School Boards Association (NISPA). Counsel noted three recommended edits: records/disclosure changes already expedited to comply with freedom-of-information-law changes; a students-and-personal-electronic-devices recommendation that overlaps with the district's code of conduct; and suggested updates to school safety plan and safety-team procedures.

The committee received an update from the Code of Conduct Committee and heard that the review body of roughly 30 members had been meeting biweekly since October with an expected end in February; members are focused on awareness and making staff, families and students aware of the code changes.

Interpreter requests and public-comment logistics The committee approved revised language aimed at balancing access and operational practicality: speakers should "try to…