Perris Union High trustees form subcommittee to review search-and-seizure and student mental-health policies

The Perris Union High School District Board of Trustees on Jan. 31 agreed to form a subcommittee to consult with district counsel on revising multiple board policies, including the district's search-and-seizure policy and language concerning student mental-health services.

The Chair opened discussion under Item 9.1 by asking trustees who wished to help "sit down and conversate with [the attorney] and clean up this language if possible," and proposed forming a subcommittee to review and modernize outdated policy language. "I would like to sit down and conversate with them and clean up this language if possible," the Chair said, then confirmed a subcommittee would include the Chair and at least one other member.

A committee member pressed for stronger parental transparency in policy language related to student mental-health supports, saying, "I just think that there's a lot that that that we need to add parent acknowledgment into it" so parents remain aware of services their children receive. That member also noted the draft language drew on recommendations from CSBA and said trustees could modify CSBA wording to add clarity. "CSBA has recommendations," the committee member said, adding the board could alter recommended terms to ensure parent notice and understanding.

The board identified a set of policies and administrative regulations for review, including BP/AR 5145.12 (search and seizure), AR 5142, BP 5141.5 and BP 5141.6, and AR 51 45.12/AR 51 42 as presented on the agenda. The Chair and trustees agreed the next step is for the subcommittee to meet with district counsel to draft revised language and return recommended edits to the full board for reading(s) and possible adoption.

Procedural items: earlier in the meeting the board moved into closed session under Item 4.1 and recessed at 9:01 a.m.; that motion passed unanimously but the board reported "nothing to report" when it reconvened at 10:43 a.m. The board also adopted a revised ordering of the agenda under Item 6.1 by a 5-0 vote and adjourned the special meeting under Item 10.1 at 10:53 a.m., again by a 5-0 vote.

Votes at a glance: Item 4.1, motion to adjourn to closed session ' passed 5-0; Item 6.1, adopt revised agenda order ' passed 5-0; Item 10.1, adjourn meeting ' passed 5-0.

No members of the public spoke on closed-session items or on agenda items during the meeting, as noted on the record. The board directed staff to facilitate the subcommittee meeting(s) with district counsel; the meeting ended with the Chair confirming trustees' intent to move forward with a review and modernization of the identified policies.