Board affirms annual ethics statement and approves handbook change for Safe Schools closed‑session requests

The Salt Lake City School District Board of Education read its annual statement of ethics aloud and voted Tuesday to affirm the commitment in a public meeting. Board member Ashley Anderson moved to place the ethics statement on the action agenda for public affirmation, and the board approved the motion by roll call.

Later on the action agenda, the board voted to ask general counsel to draft a handbook amendment creating a procedure whereby two board members may request a closed session on a Safe Schools case by the Friday prior to a meeting. The motion also directed the superintendent to work with staff to try to have Safe Schools memos available earlier in the week (by Wednesday when possible) so members could decide whether to request closed session before the meeting.

General counsel clarified that attorney‑client privileged communications can be shared with the full board to support closed‑session discussion and that the proposed handbook language would be consistent with statutory requirements. Board members said the change aims to reduce last‑minute requests and ensure adequate time to schedule closed sessions when required.

Both motions passed by roll call; the board will consider draft handbook language in the policy/handbook committee and return a proposed amendment for future consideration.