Board tables mandatory sunscreen (sun-protection) policy after operational and health concerns

District administration presented Policy 5339.01, a mandatory sun‑protection policy required by state guidance, offering two board options: Option A would require written parental permission for students to carry or use sunscreen and staff monitoring; Option B would allow sunscreen in aerosol, spray, lotion or cream form with the district prohibiting products the principal deems harmful to students with asthma or disruptive to others.

Board members debated the operational details. Some members favored Option A to capture parent allergy information and to record permission through routine annual forms; others said written permissions could be cumbersome for aides or volunteers during events such as field days. A district nurse who later spoke during public comment criticized both options as incomplete, noting the policy does not specify who applies sunscreen, where it is stored, or how staff workload and nurse responsibilities would be affected for very young children.

Members also raised questions about disciplinary language in the draft policy for inappropriate use and whether products with SPF as cosmetic ingredients would be covered. After discussion, a board member moved to table the sunscreen policy for further review; the motion was seconded and the board carried the motion by roll-call vote. The policy was not adopted on Jan. 7; administration and nurses were asked to return with clarifications.