Trustees revise suicide‑prevention, health and other policies; narrow driver’s‑ed, ethnic‑studies changes deferred

Trustees spent substantial time reviewing a large package of revised board policies and administrative regulations on Nov. 18, including suicide prevention procedures, comprehensive health and HIV-prevention instruction (and opt-out rules), courses of study, discipline procedures and related administrative regulations.

Key outcomes reached during the line-by-line review: - Suicide prevention (AR 5141.52): trustees directed staff to add parents to the list of people students are encouraged to notify and to make clear that the designated reporter who conducts a risk assessment "shall implement district intervention protocols as appropriate and notify parents." Staff agreed to add a parent-notification phrase so the regulation reads that designated reporters implement intervention protocols and "notify parents as appropriate." - Comprehensive health and HIV-prevention (BP/AR 6142.1 / 6142.1 AR): trustees asked that the administrative regulation explicitly require that written and audiovisual health materials be available for inspection by parents or guardians, and to set a minimum of 14 days' notice before sensitive secondary instruction so parents can request opt-out in line with state guidance (Mahmud-related opt-out wording was discussed). Trustees asked staff to align policy and AR language on the 14‑day notice requirement. - Courses of study (AR 6143): the board directed staff to specify that the district will "offer a one-semester elective course in ethnic studies commencing in 2025–26" (rather than listing ethnic studies as a graduation requirement), and to refine the driver's‑education language to clarify that high schools "shall offer automobile driver education per parent request," with staff returning in December with cleaner wording for that piece. - Discipline and restorative practices: trustees recommended changing references from "disciplinary strategies" to simply "strategies" to better include restorative and preventative responses (PBIS, counseling, positive behavior supports) and to ensure the AR clearly lists exceptions when immediate action is permitted (e.g., weapons, serious safety incidents).

Staff agreed to read back the edits, clean up formatting and strikethroughs and to return items that needed additional work (driver's education wording and course-of-study tweaks) at the December meeting. Several trustees emphasized transparency for parents, posting materials and offering preview nights for sensitive health instruction.

This reporting is based on the board's discussion and staff read-backs during the Nov. 18 meeting.