Duluth policy committee reviews administrator ethics, harassment, fundraising, textbooks and budget policies

The Duluth Public Schools policy committee met Tuesday, May 12, to conduct annual reviews of several district policies, including the administrator code of ethics, the harassment and violence policy, fundraising rules, textbook and instructional‑material guidance, and budget procedures. Chair Rosie Lefkertkamp said the reviews are informational and that the items will appear on the school board’s consent agenda next week.

A committee member noted that the Minnesota School Boards Association’s model policy language had been updated to insert the Minnesota Code of Ethics for school administrators into Policy 306, making the district wording align more closely with the state ethics language. Committee members agreed the change clarified expectations without adding district‑specific obligations.

On Policy 413, the harassment and violence policy, staff reminded the committee that the policy language appears in the student handbook, which will be presented to the full board next month. Committee members asked for a minor correction in the reporting procedures section so the policy names the executive director of human resources and operations by title rather than naming an individual; staff said the regulation would be corrected before inclusion on the consent agenda.

Members discussed the fundraising policy (Policy 511) and its associated regulation, which staff described as having minimal changes: some MSBA language was reinserted, district‑specific wording retained, and a clearer procedure added for notifying the facility use coordinator when an event is scheduled at a district site. Staff emphasized that school‑run fundraisers must be approved by both administration and the board before they begin; fundraisers run by separate organizations such as PTAs, booster clubs or the school foundation are treated as distinct entities and do not require board reporting.

The committee also reviewed Policy 606 on textbooks and instructional materials. Staff noted a federal citation was added to the district policy (20 U.S.C. 1232h(a)) and said the district’s fuller local language is intended to give clearer guidance and a transparent process for material selection in case of challenges.

Budget policies (701 and 701.1) were reviewed as informational updates; staff said the revisions align with auditor recommendations and applicable Minnesota statute. No formal votes or policy adoptions were taken at the meeting; the committee concluded by directing staff to post corrected regulations and move the reviewed items to the regular board consent agenda.