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Board approves second reading of policies tied to Black Parallel School Board settlement, removes willful‑defiance suspensions
Summary
The board adopted a package of policy revisions arising from the Black Parallel School Board settlement, including discipline reforms (prohibiting suspensions for willful defiance), updated special‑education language and a commitment to produce administrative regulations and implementation measures.
The School Board approved a second reading and adoption of a set of board‑policy revisions connected to the Black Parallel School Board settlement agreement. Acting Chief Academic Officer Erin Finley and the policy committee described a multi‑step process of community input, legal review and subcommittee feedback that produced the current drafts.
Key changes presented to the board included: removing or limiting use of "willful defiance" as a basis for suspension (the board added language clarifying students will not be suspended or expelled for willful defiance), harmonizing language across bullying/harassment and restorative discipline policies to emphasize culturally responsive practices, and modernizing special‑education terminology (e.g., using "general education" rather than "regular classroom"). Staff emphasized that administrative regulations (ARs) will provide implementation detail such as LRE checklists and parent‑facing materials.
Representatives from the Black Parallel School Board, including Carl Pinkston, congratulated the board for the policy work but urged additional changes and clearer, parent‑friendly procedural safeguards. The board accepted the policies as amended and directed staff to develop ARs and outreach materials that explain parents' procedural rights and implementation steps.
What happens next: Staff will craft administrative regulations and operational guidelines — including restorative discipline guidance and parent‑friendly descriptions of procedural safeguards — to accompany the adopted board policies and return with AR drafts in subsequent months.
