CUSD board approves instructional materials and advances several policy updates; consent calendar and closed‑session readouts recorded

At the Jan. 28 Capistrano Unified School District board meeting trustees approved the recommended instructional materials from the Instructional Materials Review Committee, voted to waive second readings and approve first readings for several updated board policies, and approved the consent calendar. The board also recessed twice to closed session and the clerk reported multiple closed‑session votes.

Instructional materials: Trustees praised additions such as the AP music theory text and the inclusion of Hidden Figures and approved the IMRC recommendations by roll call (motion carried 6–0–1).

Policy updates (first reading approvals, to be returned for ratification): The board moved to waive second readings and approve first readings for several policies with plans to return the items on consent at the February meeting. Noted policies and discussion points included:

• BP 3580 (District Records): staff said the policy was last updated in 2018 and the revision brings it up to date with current technology and state and federal privacy laws.

• BP 5131.2 (Bullying): staff said the policy was last revised in 2022 and updates respond to federal program monitoring; trustees raised concerns about wording that states parents "may" be notified 'when appropriate' and asked staff to strengthen language to make notification expectations clear.

• BP 5145.3 (Nondiscrimination/Harassment): similar federal‑monitoring prompted updates; trustees again questioned the 'when appropriate' phrasing for parental notification and asked for clearer language.

• BP 5145.7 (Sexual Harassment): staff noted Title IX‑coordinator contact information will move from the policy into an administrative regulation posted alongside the policy.

Consent calendar and closed session readouts: The board approved the consent calendar by roll call (6–0–1). In closed sessions the clerk reported votes approving staff recommendations on student readmissions and expulsions, trustees giving direction on anticipated‑litigation items, multiple votes approving staff recommendations on ADR and OAH cases, and a vote approving rejection of a government liability claim (government claim number 2514189).

Next steps: Policy changes will return for ratification on consent at the February meeting; staff will review and amend parental‑notification language in the bullying and nondiscrimination policies as requested.