The Boyertown Area SD policy committee moved through a set of substantive district-wide policy updates at the meeting, including comprehensive planning, vision and mission language, academic-standards revisions and nondiscrimination policies for both students and staff.

On comprehensive planning (policy 100), the superintendent said this year begins the district’s three-year comprehensive planning cycle under the Pennsylvania School Code and that an administrative regulation (AR) has been added to outline stages and steps. A kickoff meeting was scheduled for Dec. 15 and staff said the board will likely be asked to approve the plan by March.

The committee reviewed an updated district vision and mission (policy 101). The superintendent summarized the vision as "to foster a welcoming and innovative learning community that empowers all students to thrive in future career paths and contributes as engaged and formed citizens," and said items previously labeled 'goals' were reclassified as 'values' because they were not measurable.

Policy 102 (academic standards) was updated to align with Pennsylvania Department of Education standards; the superintendent noted significant changes in technology and science standards and described how the district currently integrates AI through purchased programs and course content rather than a standalone AI course.

The committee also reviewed policy 103 (Title IX/harassment affecting students) and policy 103.1 (nondiscrimination for students with disabilities). The superintendent said the updates largely align with federal guidance and restore certain 2020 language; procedural safeguards and attachments for notice, evaluation requests and complaint forms were added.

For staff, policy 104 was revised to reflect changes to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and amendments related to breastfeeding accommodations under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Mr. Holland clarified that staff who meet one-year and 1,250-hour thresholds are eligible for FMLA (up to 12 weeks/480 hours).

Most of the discussed policies will be brought back to a larger committee or a committee-of-the-whole for further review; several are slated for first-read consideration at future legislative meetings.