Board updates homelessness policy to match McKinney-Vento requirements

The Prosser School District presented a first reading of Policy 3115 (students experiencing homelessness, enrollment rights and services) on Feb. 20, with staff recommending minor but necessary updates to align the district policy with McKinney-Vento requirements.

District staff explained the prior wording incorrectly required a threshold of "10 or more unaccompanied youth" before naming building points of contact; staff said the correct practice is to maintain a building homeless liaison/counselor in each school. "A building point of contact is required in all the buildings, which we already do," the presenter said, adding that the policy language needed to match practice.

Staff also described how the district implements school-of-origin transportation for homeless students, including coordination with neighboring districts (Sunnyside, Grandview) and practical limits where a long bus ride would not be in a student’s best interest. In some short-term or exceptional circumstances the district provides mileage reimbursement or gas cards to enable continued attendance in school of origin.

The presenter noted that the policy references optional language that had been added for informed healthcare and that keeping or removing that language would not change day-to-day practice; staff said they would redline the policy and return it for formal first and second readings at subsequent meetings.

Trustees asked for clarifications to ensure the policy explains McKinney-Vento terminology and the range of living situations covered (doubled up, couch surfing, temporarily staying with relatives), and requested any further changes be highlighted before the next reading.