Policy committee to rescind nonresident rule, adopt consolidated residency policy

The Madison Policy Committee agreed to forward a rescind-and-replace to the full board that would retire the district's older nonresident policy and adopt a consolidated residency policy, Speaker 1 said during the committee meeting. Shipman and Goodwin had recommended repealing the older policy because it overlaps with the district's nonresident admission and tuition policy.

Speaker 1 noted the draft requires, "proof of age and adequate proof of health assessments and immunizations" "in accordance with state law and board policy," and asked the committee to confirm the language simply means the district will require whatever the statute and board rules require. Several members agreed that clarification was needed so the policy does not restate or misstate statutory requirements.

Committee members also flagged how the residency-documentation section reads. Speaker 1 said the current draft could be interpreted as asking for documentation from the child rather than from the parent or guardian and recommended rewording so the district "shall require of the parent, guardian, or adult student one of the following forms of documentation to establish residency." Speakers 2, 3 and 4 expressed support for that change.

Members questioned an older phrase describing a hearing record as a "tape recording." Speaker 1 suggested replacing "tape recording" with "audio recording"; Speaker 2 and Speaker 4 agreed that "audio recording" or "stenographic record" would be clearer and more accurate.

With those wording edits agreed, the committee indicated by consensus that it would send the revised 5060 residency policy to the full board for its first reading on the committee's stated schedule. The motion to send the policy forward did not include a formal roll-call vote in the committee minutes but was confirmed by member assent.