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Policy committee asks solicitor to confirm charter-school language, moves Policy 140 to first read
Summary
Keystone Central SD policy committee agreed to send Policy 140 (charter schools) to first read after members asked edits to match state wording, requested a cross-reference to transportation policy 810, and asked the solicitor to clarify insurance/liability phrasing.
The Keystone Central SD policy committee reviewed Policy 140 on charter schools and agreed to send the draft to a first reading after members requested wording changes to match state language and asked for legal review.
Members flagged a definitions paragraph that reads, in district text, that a "charter school means an independent non-sectarian public school established operated under a charter from the local board." Elizabeth asked the committee to change the phrase to "local board of school directors" so the policy mirrors the state link posted with the draft and adds the word "school" for internal consistency. Chair Chris and others supported the edit.
Elizabeth also recommended adding an explicit cross-reference to Policy 810 (transportation) so that readers looking only at the charter-school policy will see which transportation rules and administrative regulations apply to charter students. Members noted that transportation-related ARs appear in the transportation section and that a cross-reference will reduce confusion.
Committee members raised a separate concern about a paragraph that ties certain actions to "the sole discretion of the board" and whether that language, and references to insurance or liability limits, reflect what is already in the charter agreement or state guidance. The group agreed to ask the solicitor to review whether the board is required by statute or PSBA model language to "adopt" specific administrative plans or liability terms and whether that blurb should remain in the policy.
Chair Chris and Rachel recorded the committee's decision: make the editorial changes to mirror state wording and add the cross-reference to Policy 810, and forward the policy to first read; there will be a separate solicitation of the solicitor's advice on the liability/adoption language before final action.
The policy will appear for first reading as amended, pending solicitor guidance and staff updates.
