Carmel policy committee reviews complaints policy, presses for clearer FOIL/FERPA routing and appeals

The Carmel Central School District Policy Committee on an evening meeting reviewed draft revisions to Policy 1400, the district’s public compliments and complaints procedure, and discussed operational changes to how complaints and records requests are routed and tracked.

Community member Jessica Olson, speaking on behalf of Samantha Foley, told the committee she is “concerned” that existing rules focus on student discipline while failing to hold adults to the same standard. “I would like to see policies added or amended that hold adults to a higher standard than the children that they are employed and care for,” Olson said, urging the board to add or amend language to enable removal or stronger discipline for staff who do not meet expectations.

Board members spent the meeting reviewing a redline of Policy 1400 and an associated exhibit intended to provide a public-facing…