Meridian board approves compensatory-services contract, student travel and multiple policies

At its March 11 meeting, the Meridian School Board approved a set of routine and time-sensitive items including a contract to provide compensatory special-education services, a student travel request and the adoption of several district policies.

District staff described an agreement with Hawthorne Learning Solutions to provide compensatory services for one student after district-mandated services were not previously delivered. The superintendent said the contract is approximately $13,000 to cover required hours; the board moved to approve the agreement, the motion was seconded, and the trustees voted in favor.

The board also approved student travel for an Ag Mechanics competition in Yakima, acknowledging the late submission of the request and that the event dates precluded later placement on a consent agenda.

On routine policy actions, trustees approved Procedure 2022p (Electronic Resource and Internet Safety), Policy 2023 (Digital Citizenship and Media Literacy), Policy 2108 (Learning Assistance Program), Procedure 3226 (Interviews and Interrogations of Students on School Premises) and Policy 3141 (Nonresident Students). Those items were moved, seconded and adopted by voice vote during the meeting.

The board did not indicate any pending litigation related to these approvals during the discussion; staff said systems and additional processes were put in place to prevent recurrence in the compensatory-services matter.

Details of the Hawthorne contract and the policy adoptions are recorded in the meeting minutes; staff said they would follow up with the affected family and with school-based processes where appropriate.