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Franklin Pierce board adopts revised field-trip, student-search and leave policies
Summary
The Franklin Pierce School Board unanimously adopted revised policies clarifying field-trip approvals, student search procedures and several personnel leave rules; procedures add detail and give the superintendent limited expedited approval authority for unexpected travel.
The Franklin Pierce School District Board of Directors voted unanimously at its May meeting to adopt a set of revised policies, including Policy 2320 (field trips, excursions and outdoor education) and Policy 3230 (searches of students and student privacy), along with updated personnel leave policies.
Deputy Superintendent (speaker 3) explained the field-trips policy changes aim to "create some delineation between what would be considered a district sponsored field trip and a nondistrict sponsored field trip" and that the district updated related forms and a decision tree to guide staff. Board members asked whether overnight or out-of-state trips that arise after qualifying competitions could be approved after-the-fact; the deputy superintendent pointed to the procedure, which authorizes the superintendent to approve expedited travel when timing prevents board approval and then submit the request at the next board meeting.
On student searches, the deputy superintendent said language that previously required a partner of the same sex for a physical search was removed from the procedure following state-level edits and local counsel input, and that the procedure now includes wording allowing searches "to the extent feasible" so staff can act in emergency situations. "They took it out because...they're trying to create space if there was an emergency," the deputy superintendent said, explaining the change followed a local incident in which quick action was required.
The board also approved consolidated, more durable language for personnel policies covering sick leave (Policy 5401), emergency and discretionary leave (Policy 5403) and family and medical leave (Policy 5404); staff said the objective is to avoid bringing statutes or small statutory tweaks back to the board repeatedly.
All motions were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The board asked staff to return any connected procedures for final review where needed.
