Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Title Ix topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Saline Area Schools board adopts Title IX–aligned nondiscrimination policy amid public concern about 'supersedes' language
Summary
The Saline Area Schools Board of Education voted Dec. 10 to adopt Policy 2264, a Title IX–aligned nondiscrimination policy. Trustees and staff said the change aligns district procedures with federal guidance; some trustees and public speakers warned that a clause saying the policy 'supersedes' other district policies could strip stronger local protections.
The Saline Area Schools Board of Education voted Dec. 10 to adopt a new nondiscrimination policy (Policy 2264) aligned with recent Title IX guidance, concluding several months of review by the district policy committee.
Board President introduced the measure as a policy committee recommendation and Trustee Jenny Miller moved adoption. Policy committee members and human resources staff said the district selected the consultant version because it is updated frequently, pairs policy language with administrative forms and training, and allows quicker updates as federal guidance evolves.
Trustee Susan Estep objected to a provision that says the policy "supersedes any other nondiscrimination, anti‑harassment, and non‑retaliation policy" to the extent of conflict. "That to me ... popped up as a red flag," Estep said, asking how the clause would affect existing local policies and complaint structures. Estep urged staff to provide the Neola‑formatted policy text for comparison before blanket adoption.
Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Carol Diglio and policy committee members said Troon (the consultant policy referenced in committee materials) provides current compliance steps and that the district intends to post coordinator names on the website rather than embed them in the policy to avoid repeated revisions. Diglio said staff would cross‑reference potentially conflicting Neola policies and complete linking and administrative guidance after board approval.
Public commenters raised similar concerns. Tiffany Alexander told the board that "the law does not prohibit extending protections; it simply says this is minimum," and urged trustees to preserve any district protections that go beyond federal requirements. David Rosenfeld and David Hayward both warned that language giving the Title IX policy precedence could leave students with weaker protections if federal rules change.
Board President said the district would consult its lawyers on the specific wording raised by speakers and trustees before the next meeting. The board adopted Policy 2264 by voice vote after a final call for discussion.
The board also directed staff to complete cross‑referencing efforts and to publish related forms and the Title IX resource tab on the district website to improve transparency ahead of implementation.
