Board member questions adding 'ethnicity' to student records policy; staff cite Florida DOE rule

Summary

A school board member objected on principle to adding 'ethnicity' to the district policy on student education records, asking why the data was needed and whether reporting would be voluntary. School attorney and staff said the policy language mirrors Florida Department of Education/state rule and that the field is voluntary/self‑reported.

During consideration of consent item 7.9 (proposed revisions to school board policies on student education records), a board member raised a lengthy principled objection to the inclusion of 'ethnicity' among categories of protected or recorded information.

The board member said the addition was new and questioned the need for the district to collect ethnicity (offering examples such as 'Hispanic, Latino, Irish, Jewish, Chinese, Japanese'), calling it a matter of personal privacy and saying, "There is no need for any branch of government to know my ethnicity." The member said they support the Florida DOE and the governor but would "vote my conscience" and wanted to learn more about the state requirement.

School counsel and staff responded that the policy language is consistent with state statute and Florida DOE guidance and that the field is voluntary and based on self‑identification by the student or parent. Staff offered to have the district follow up with the DOE and to provide additional information. The transcript records the objection and staff assurances but does not record a final board vote on the policy amendment at this workshop.