Pasco board previews discipline and conduct policy changes and reads PERC ruling into the record

Board staff presented two policy updates and read a required PERC notice into the public record.

Assistant Superintendent Sarah Thornton told the board Policy 3300 (student discipline) is being updated to align with new permanent OSPI rules and model language; much of the substantive detail will appear in revised procedures designed for families and staff. "The most of the substantive changes to the discipline rules are going to be found not in the board level policy. They'll be found in the procedures," Thornton said, and staff will return a revised policy/procedure package to the board for additional review.

Miss Johnson presented a recommended update to Policy 5121 (professional conduct) to add inappropriate digital communications with a student as unprofessional conduct, reflecting recent WAC guidance and expectations for reporting to OSPI.

Assistant Superintendent Thornton also read a PERC (Washington State Public Employment Relations Commission) decision and the ordered remedy into the public record. Thornton summarized that PERC found the district committed an unfair labor practice related to an email sent by a principal to a union representative and that the remedy requires the district to retract the email, post a notice to employees and read the notice into the public board meeting record. "Although the district does not agree with that conclusion, we accept the decision and will abide by it," Thornton said.

Board members heard that the discipline policy changes and the professional conduct update will be placed on a future consent agenda and procedures will be refined with stakeholder input to ensure clarity for families and staff.

Next steps: Revised policy language and procedures will return to the board for further review and placement on the consent agenda at a subsequent meeting; the district will carry out the PERC remedy steps described in the posted decision.