Anderson School District 5 board approves community-use policy and advances fundraising and class-ranking changes
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Summary
The board approved second reading of Policy KF (community use of school facilities) and advanced first readings for a tightened student-fundraising policy (JJE) and revised class-ranking policy (IKC). Revisions clarify when students may be solicited, limits on food events and how valedictorian eligibility is calculated.
The Anderson School District 5 Board of Trustees approved the second reading of Policy KF governing community use of school facilities and moved forward with first readings on student-fundraising and class-ranking policies.
The board adopted the community-use policy on second reading after an administrator presented the text and confirmed there were no recommended changes since the Oct. 21 first reading. Board members then voted by show of hands to approve the policy.
The first reading of Policy JJE tightens rules on student fundraising. The draft read aloud by an administrator says, “No individual organization may solicit, meaning to urge or require the giving of money or donations from students at any time, and under no circumstances should students be compelled or pressured to contribute.” The proposed policy also bars paid admissions to school-sponsored activities during instructional hours, restricts door-to-door fundraising for pre-K through eighth graders (with limited courier roles allowed), and limits non-USDA-compliant food sales to 30 approved events per year subject to director approval.
Board members asked clarifying questions about whether teachers or employees might be required to participate in outside fundraising and requested an explicit reference to 'organization' to ensure employees would not be compelled. The administrator agreed to add language and return the revised wording at a future meeting.
The board also considered revisions to Policy IKC on class ranking and grade-point averages. The proposed changes replace a cross-reference to an administrative rule with a requirement to use the current course catalog and weighted course scale to compute rankings. The draft clarifies valedictorian and salutatorian eligibility by requiring students to be enrolled in the graduating high school for the final four continuous semesters immediately preceding graduation and complete the fourth year of high school. A board member raised concerns about the term 'coursework' and asked it be changed to 'course' to avoid confusion about retaken tests or assessments; the administrator agreed to investigate and bring language edits to the next meeting.
What happens next: JJE and IKC advanced on first reading; staff said they will update online policy documents and return any revised language for subsequent board action. The community-use rule that implements Policy KF is administrative and will be applied by staff without a separate board vote.