Board approves attendance policy revisions, deletes truancy policy and updates agenda rules
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Summary
On Feb. 18 the Thompson School District board approved a revised student absences and excuses policy and related exhibit, voted to delete the separate truancy policy, and approved changes to agenda procedures; all votes passed unanimously.
The Thompson School District Board of Education approved multiple governance items on Feb. 18, voting unanimously on a package of policy updates and procedural changes.
Sarah Rasmussen, assistant superintendent for learning services, introduced the second reading of the revised student absences and excuses policy (JH/JHA/JHAB) and an accompanying exhibit. Dr. Jennifer Goethals summarized three substantive changes: clarified acceptable documentation sources, added a sentence to address makeup-work requirements for high‑school courses tied to external certifications, and incorporated statutory truancy requirements from a separate policy into the exhibit. The board approved the second reading by roll call with a 7‑0 vote.
The board also approved the deletion on second reading of policy JHB (truancy), consistent with the incorporation of those requirements into the student-absences exhibit. In addition, the board approved changes to policy BEDB governing meeting agendas (renaming study-session updates and adding a board-communication section). Each vote was recorded 7 in favor, 0 opposed.
Board members asked for follow-up steps to operationalize the changes, including updates to school handbooks and standard operating procedures for school attendance teams. Assistant Superintendent Rasmussen said the district will identify handbook updates, clarify semester-versus-quarter absence rules for concurrent-enrollment courses and provide implementation timelines for schools.
No members voted against the measures; each motion passed by roll call.