The Harrisonburg City School Board considered a set of policy updates during the Nov. 6 meeting and approved multiple items on first reading. Staff presented each policy using Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) model language where applicable, identified required statutory changes, and noted where local practice was already compliant.

Items discussed and approved on first reading included updates listed in board materials as policies 407, 438 (new state-required language), 452 (threat‑assessment teams), 716 (teaching about drugs, alcohol and tobacco), 416 (student conduct and related regulation 416-R), 440 (weapons/disciplinary process), and 433 (student fees and charges). Staff told the board they had reviewed curriculum or practices where required and confirmed compliance for the newly required elements. Board members requested small editorial or cross-reference edits to clarify the text in places; staff agreed to those changes before final adoption.

A notable exchange occurred during the presentation of policy 438, a new state requirement addressing notifications around overdose-related events. A board member strongly criticized the legislative approach as stigmatizing and expressed concern about privacy and unintended consequences; nevertheless the board approved the policy language on first reading. The transcript records a single abstention on that vote.

Votes at a glance (first-reading approvals):
• Policy 407 — approved on first reading.
• Policy 438 (new state-required notification language, discussed as concerning by one board member) — approved on first reading with one abstention recorded.
• Policy 452 (threat-assessment teams) — approved on first reading with editorial cleanup noted.
• Policy 716 (teaching about drugs, alcohol and tobacco) — approved on first reading; staff to adjust wording to reflect superintendent’s administrative role in grade-level determinations.
• Policy 416 and associated regulation 416-R (student conduct / transportation referrals) — approved on first reading; staff will add cross references and continue transportation/discipline process improvements.
• Policy 440 (weapons and disciplinary process) — approved on first reading with clarified language expanding prior firearm-only text.
• Policy 433 (student fees and charges) — approved on first reading with wording updates to reflect current practice (e.g., virtual learning language, electronic-device considerations).

Where the transcript identifies specific editorial changes, staff agreed to incorporate them and bring the corrected language back as required by the policy-adoption process. Board members emphasized that some policies were being updated to reflect state law and VSBA model language rather than to create new local practices.

Provenance: Each policy was introduced in the information-items section beginning about 00:43:10 (transcript start ~2590.65); votes on these items are recorded at the times shown in the meeting timeline. The board took individual motions and recorded approvals on first reading for each listed policy.