Policy changes coming: board hears legislative update from Mr. Taylor on bills that may require new school policies

At the South Montgomery Community School Corporation meeting, Mr. Taylor delivered a detailed legislative briefing, telling the board that the recent session produced "a very very very busy legislative session" that will require the district to adopt or revise policies.

Mr. Taylor highlighted a string of measures he said the board should watch. On ballot placement for school board candidates he summarized the new rule by saying, "It'll be Republicans first," explaining that order will vary by county and is tied to the last Secretary of State election. He also noted that the Classic Learning Test has been placed on an equivalency standard with the SAT and ACT.

The presentation flagged several items the superintendent and staff will likely have to address in district policy: a study of maternity and paternity leave provisions for teachers; a new model policy for restraint and seclusion the district will probably have to adopt; and new technology-related policy expectations, which Mr. Taylor said "you're going to need some new policies" to implement, particularly around internet filtering and parental controls.

Mr. Taylor also described statutory changes that could affect vendor contracts, saying the legislature moved to invalidate clauses that require out-of-state choice of law and automatic renewals for some contracts, a change he described as addressing onerous "adhesion contracts" used by some technology vendors. He said the change would make those automatic-renewal or forum-selection clauses unenforceable going forward if the bill is signed.

On student work-based learning, Mr. Taylor said employers will be required under new law to provide coverage so students injured during job placements are protected by workers' compensation in many cases; he called the change "a real good protection." He pointed the board to a number of other provisions — grants aimed at rural teacher recruitment, studies on per-pupil funding disparities, and expanded executive-session authorities — that could change local practice or require board action.

The briefing closed with Mr. Taylor urging the board and administration to review the summary he provided and prepare for multiple policy updates and vendor inquiries. The board did not take formal action on Mr. Taylor's items at the meeting; staff were tasked with following up and returning with recommended policy language as needed.