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Board approves first reading of KSBA policy updates, delays maternity/traceable‑communications adoptions
Summary
Bath County trustees approved the first reading of the 2025–26 KSBA policy updates but exempted the wellness plan and traceable communications policy and signaled additional review of maternity/paternity leave language; staff and a board attorney urged careful legal review before final adoption.
The Bath County Board of Education on June 23 approved the first reading of the KSBA 2025–26 policy and procedure updates but exempted certain policies for further consideration, including the district wellness plan and traceable communications (policy 82324). The board also flagged policy 3.1233 (maternity/paternity leave) for additional review.
A board attorney or advisor (speaker 6) told members that some districts and school attorneys across the state are scrutinizing this year’s policy packet and called out several provisions that need attention. On policy 3.1233, the advisor said it "provides for 30 days for leave" but does not clearly define whether the 30 days apply to all employees or only certified staff; the advisor recommended clarifying whether the policy covers fathers as well as mothers to avoid unequal‑protection exposures.
The advisor also walked the board through policy 82324 on traceable communications, explaining the provision will limit direct, private texting and emailing between staff and students without parental consent and that districts may need to adopt apps or methods to keep communications public and recordable. Doctor Griffith (technology director) was reported to be evaluating tools similar to what Montgomery County uses to comply with the requirement.
Superintendent (speaker 1) supported a measured approach, proposing first readings in July for the wellness and traceable communications items and recommending that the maternity/paternity language be discussed among boards and attorneys before final adoption. The board voted to approve the remaining policies on first reading while separating the flagged items for additional review.
Board members were reminded that the state now pays for 13 sick‑leave days and that sick‑leave must be reported annually; the advisor cautioned that calculation and reporting rules will affect district leave accounting.
The first‑reading approval moves the bulk of KSBA policy updates forward while leaving the most legally sensitive provisions for further study and public review.
