Board reviews first readings of several policy updates on directory information, graduation requirements, credit weighting and naming

The Mahtomedi Public School District board conducted first readings of several policy updates on Monday, covering student directory information, graduation requirements, credit weighting for college/concurrent courses, and a naming policy for district facilities.

Administration said policy 5.15 was updated to reflect recent changes at the state level that alter what may be considered student directory information. The proposed revision removes student address, telephone and email from directory information and clarifies the notice the district must provide when data are requested by the Minnesota Department of Education.

Policy 6.13 (graduation requirements) was updated to reflect a new personal-finance requirement for students who are in ninth grade this school year and changes to how health and fitness appear in the credits table. Administration said the district is already complying with the statutory changes and the policy update aligns the written table with state standards.

Policy 6.20 (credit for learning) clarified weightings for grades tied to course rigor. District staff said the policy was revised to weight Advanced Placement courses only and not to assign the weighted label to concurrent-enrollment/CIS or PSEO courses. Administration explained that because PSEO courses are provided by outside institutions, the district cannot unilaterally judge which PSEO offerings qualify as academically rigorous for local weighting.

Policy committee members also presented a revised naming policy to guide future naming and donor recognition, including a statement that the board will generally not rename facilities that were named through prior board-approved community processes and that the superintendent or designee will convene a naming committee for new requests.

Nut graf: These are first readings; the board will consider second and final readings later. Administrators said the changes reflect state statutory changes, clarify internal practice, and set a process for naming and donor recognition in anticipation of future capital or fundraising activity.

Board members asked clarifying questions on how changes would affect course enrollment and grade calculations, and on the scope of directory-information changes; administrators said students already in affected courses would be accommodated and that implementation details would be handled in scheduling and communications.

Ending: The items will return for subsequent readings; staff will prepare communications for families where the changes affect student records or graduation pathways.