Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Policy Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Policy committee reverses FOIA denial in part and discusses Title IX/bylaw updates
Summary
The board's policy committee voted to reverse an initial FOIA denial in part (redacting student and privileged attorney-client material) pending payment; committee members also discussed proposed Title IX-related bylaw changes and whether the board should resume approving certified teacher contracts.
The Gaylord Community Schools policy committee reported several governance actions and proposals to the full board.
On FOIA: Rachel said the committee, with guidance from the Clark Hill attorney, voted to reverse an initial FOIA denial and to honor the request in part. The committee will redact student personal information and any attorney-client privileged communications. Rachel also said the Mackinac Center has agreed to pay the required fee, and staff are working on providing the responsive records after payment processes are complete.
On bylaws and Title IX: Committee members reviewed proposed Title IX-related changes and discussed revising Article 5 (personnel) and Section 18 (discipline, demotion, discharge). Rachel said four district schools are currently subject to an injunction preventing changes to Title IX, so the district may keep its existing bylaw language for those schools; future Title IX investigations will follow 2020 regulations as discussed with counsel.
On contract approval: Committee discussion covered whether the board should resume approving certified teacher contracts (a practice the board had stopped in 2023). Counsel noted the superintendent typically manages day-to-day hiring and noncertified staff, while the board's role traditionally includes approval of initial hires and terminations for administrators and certified teachers; draft language to clarify the board's role was reported as being prepared for review.
What happens next: Committee members said draft bylaw language will be circulated and the committee plans regular monthly meetings going forward to keep policy work current.
