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Board hears Title IX–aligned policy overhaul, returns detailed grievance procedure in November
Summary
District administrators presented revisions to student and staff discrimination policies aligning with recent Title IX changes and said a two-part grievance procedure and role definitions will be brought to the board in November.
District administrators presented a package of Title IX–related policy updates and said they will return with a detailed grievance procedure next month.
Dr. Julian Pollard said Policy 3205 has been revised to expand protections to cover sex-based discrimination and related characteristics and to reflect recent legal changes passed earlier this year. "You'll see some of the Title IX changes reflected in the title," Pollard said, noting the policy language will include protections for gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and related conditions.
Pollard said the district will present a two-part procedure in November: Part 1 will outline the grievance process and Part 2 will define the Title IX coordinator role, training requirements and staff responsibilities. "It's a 2 part procedure... In November, we need a little bit more time, because it's quite robust," Pollard said.
Board members pressed for clarity on specific practices, including whether gendered locker-room attendance in some PE classes remains in use and how grievance roles will be staffed. Director (speaker 6) asked if practices around PE attendance persist and Pollard said he would investigate and return with confirmation. "I think having gender locker rooms in that space would... be in that practice of being in there, but there are a lot of questions," Pollard said.
The board discussed whether appeals should ultimately rest with the board of directors and whether the board should undertake additional professional development to prepare for possible appeals. Pollard agreed that the grievance and appeal structure should provide multiple checks and that the board historically has served as a final appeal body in some instances.
Administrators said staff training is provided through existing Safe Schools training (roughly 3–3.5 hours) but that additional, more in-depth training specific to Title IX issues may be warranted. Pollard said, "You could equally say 3 and a half hours just on this if we're really being honest."
Next steps: administrators will return with the proposed two-part procedure and additional clarifications about current locker-room practices and training expectations in the November meeting.
