The Lake Forest Board of Education on Thursday reviewed multiple policy drafts and engaged in detailed discussion about who is responsible for filing accident reports, the timeline for reporting bus accidents and whether the district should permit students to transport other students to school-sanctioned events.

Board members said policy language needed clarification so that responsibility for completing accident reports could not fall through the cracks. "I guess when I read it my thing is, who's ultimately responsible? Is that answer the building administrator to ensure that an accident report has been completed?" President Earl Dempsey asked during review of policy EBA on buildings and grounds inspections.

Administrators responded that the appropriate person depends on circumstances (nurses during the school day, coaches for athletic incidents, maintenance staff for facility incidents), and board members urged revised language that assigns ultimate responsibility to the building administrator to ensure a report is filed and routed to the central office.

On bus emergencies (policy EEA/EEA-E), staff proposed a reporting expectation to the superintendent. In response to a board question about timing, staff agreed a clear expectation would read that a report "is expected to be submitted to the superintendent within five business days," while recognizing that evidence-gathering or police investigations may delay final documentation.

Student transport concerns (policy EEBB, use of private vehicles) generated the most prolonged exchange. Current draft language forbids students from transporting other students to school-sanctioned functions without prior administrator and parental authorization. Board members described repeated real-world situations where students ride with teammates or family members and asked whether the policy should strictly prohibit such rides or set an explicit sign-out/authorization process. One board member said the district's liability insurer and counsel will be asked to advise whether permitting authorized student-to-student transport creates exposure for the district.

Why it matters: Clear policy language determines who completes and receives safety-related reports and how the district manages risk for transportation outside district-provided vehicles. Board members emphasized they do not want a policy that reads well on paper but fails in practice because roles are ambiguous.

Next steps: The board directed staff to revise policy language to:
- Clarify that the building administrator is responsible for ensuring an accident report is completed and routed.
- Set an expectation that bus-accident/ emergency reports be submitted to the superintendent within five business days unless an investigation requires delay.
- Consult legal counsel and the district's insurer about the liability implications of permitting student-to-student transport and return with a recommended, enforceable authorization procedure.

Ending: The board made no vote on these policy drafts Thursday; the policies were placed on the agenda as first-read items and will return to the board after staff revisions and counsel review.