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Antioch Unified adopts governance handbook and health‑education policy; superintendent highlights data dashboard and student 'Start with Hello' initiative
Summary
Trustees adopted a board governance handbook, updated health and comprehensive health policies with opt‑out language, and heard a superintendent report on a new district data dashboard and student 'Start with Hello' campaign aimed at improving attendance, school climate and targeted supports.
At its Nov. 19 meeting, the Antioch Unified Board of Education approved a revised board governance handbook intended to establish norms and an annual review process, then adopted revised health and comprehensive health policies that add opt‑out language consistent with recent legal guidance.
Trustees Lathan and Cobo Smith said they helped draft the governance handbook with facilitators and recommended annual review. "It feels like for the first time that I've been on the board... we are all moving in the same direction," Trustee Cobo Smith said during discussion.
Staff also presented revised board policies on health and HIV/AIDS prevention and a new policy recognizing religious beliefs and customs; staff said the changes reflect California School Boards Association (CSBA) recommendations and recent Supreme Court guidance and specifically add opt‑out provisions for elementary‑level materials.
Superintendent Dr. Williams used his report to describe a new district data dashboard and a series of "learning impact dialogues" that allow principals to present site‑level I‑Ready and CAASPP data, suspension and chronic absenteeism metrics, and drill down by subgroup (English learners, African‑American students, students with disabilities). He said the district launched the dashboards upon his arrival to give principals digestible, shareable reports for teachers and families.
Student advisory council members presented on the 'Start with Hello' initiative, explaining it as a simple, student‑led effort to reduce isolation by encouraging peers to notice and include students who appear alone. One senior and peer advocate said the program has produced positive results at Antioch High School and urged a districtwide rollout with student leader training at each site.
The board also received informational reports about developer fees and other administrative rules; the annual developer fees report will return to the board on Dec. 10, 2025 for formal review per Government Code requirements.
Next steps: staff will share the developer fees annual report at the Dec. 10 meeting and monitor implementation of the governance handbook and revised policies.
