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Board approves multiple harassment and conduct policy second readings; land-swap authorization discussed
Summary
The board approved second readings and deletions of several nondiscrimination and harassment policies after committee discussion; members debated mixing federal and state definitions. A separate motion to authorize a 2,200 sq. ft. land swap at Manchester Elementary was introduced and overviewed; the transcript ends during the overview and the final land-swap vote outcome is not recorded in the provided transcript.
At its March 12 meeting the RSU 14 Board of Directors advanced a package of policy revisions and deletions and considered a land‑swap authorization for Manchester Elementary.
Policy action: The board approved second readings and associated deletions for multiple policies, including AC (nondiscrimination/equal opportunity/affirmative action), ACAA (student harassment definitions and Title IX alignment), ACAB (harassment of employees), ACAR and ACABR (complaint procedures), JIE (pregnant students) and JICC (student conduct on school buses). Motions were made and seconded on the floor and, where recorded, the chair called for voice votes and said "Motion carries." Policy committee members and others framed the revisions as restoring definitions and procedures aligned to federal Title IX and state Human Rights Act requirements. One board member cautioned that the changes could make it harder for students to file certain harassment complaints and requested further legal review; the committee chair and other members explained the committee's intent to clarify which government process applies based on the protected class and type of complaint.
On the record, board member (speaker 4) urged calmer public discourse and emphasized the board’s fiduciary duty to comply with applicable law. Another member (speaker 17) asked for additional legal input on mixing federal and state language; the policy chair (speaker 14) explained that the revisions were intended to make procedures clearer for administrators and Title IX officers.
Land swap overview: A separate motion was made to "authorize land swap at Manchester Elementary School" (mover recorded as speaker 7) describing a 2,200-square-foot swap with Shadd Enterprises to improve property lines and provide an easement to make Manchester School walkable from Collins Pond. The superintendent said attorneys are finalizing an easement and that the swap had already been approved by voters. The provided transcript ends during the land-swap discussion and does not record the final vote outcome.
What happened next: The board carried the policy motions during the meeting; the land-swap motion was moved and described but the ballot/checklist vote outcome is not present in the transcript excerpt provided.
