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Northern Lehigh policy committee updates discrimination and Title IX language; several policies moved for first reading
Summary
Committee reviewed multiple policy updates (Policy 103 and related policies) to align district language with Title IX regulatory changes and Pennsylvania Human Relations Act amendments; board members present agreed to move the revised policies to the full board for first reading.
Dr. Stoker led a review of a suite of policy updates recommended by PSBA and district counsel to align with Title IX regulatory changes and state law. Key changes included replacing references to a specific federal officer with the broader 'office for civil rights', adding 'admission of students' to discrimination coverage, and updated definitions for pregnancy and religious creed to match recent amendments to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.
"It now says office for civil rights," Dr. Stoker said, describing a change that removes a named federal official reference and replaces it with an office‑level reference. Several policies (103, 103.1, 104, 113.1 and 113.2) were updated to use terms such as 'law enforcement agency' instead of local police department, to change 'verbal reports' to 'oral reports', and to clarify supportive‑measure procedures that involve special‑education staff when IEPs or Section 504 plans are implicated.
Board members agreed, without objection from those present, to move the revised policies to the full board agenda for a first reading and possible future adoption. Administration characterized many of the changes as legal‑liability recommendations and primarily terminology updates rather than wholesale policy shifts.
