York Public Schools Board approves policy package, student handbooks, interlocal Spanish-teacher agreement and accepts resignation

The York Public Schools Board of Education met July 8, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. at the Office of the Superintendent in York and voted on a slate of routine and policy items, approved an interlocal staffing agreement and accepted a board member's resignation.

The board first approved the June 10, 2024 minutes by roll call following a motion from Amie Kopcho and second from Alison North. The board then moved to approve district bills; Alison North made a motion to approve the bills except for the Kopcho Sanitation bill so that Amie Kopcho could vote on it separately. The board approved the bills with that exception. The Kopcho Sanitation bill was then considered separately; Alison North moved approval and Brien Alley seconded. Amie Kopcho abstained from that vote due to a family connection; the remaining board members voted to approve the Kopcho Sanitation bill.

The board unanimously approved a large package of policies in a single first-and-final reading. The package included policy items listed on the agenda such as Complaint Procedure (2006), Meetings (2008), Public Participation at Board Meetings (2009), procurement rules tied to federally financed construction (3003.1) and purchasing (3004.1), nondiscrimination and Title IX provisions, audio/video recording, firearms and weapons for non-students, FMLA leave for employees, compulsory attendance, student discipline, student cell phone and electronic device policy, prekindergarten program language, and an item listed as Malcolm X Day Education. Pepper Papineau moved to approve the policies as presented; the motion passed by roll call.

Administrators presented the YPS budget update and a summary of summer projects in the district. Details of the budget status and the summer projects were included in the administrators' reports on the agenda; the transcript records that those reports were presented but does not list specific dollar amounts or project schedules.

The board approved the 2024–25 student handbooks as presented after a motion by Amie Kopcho and second by Alison North; the roll-call vote was unanimous. The board also approved an interlocal agreement to share a Spanish teacher with Cross County Community Schools; Brien Alley moved the motion and it passed unanimously.

The board accepted the resignation of board member Barb Skaden; Amie Kopcho moved to accept the resignation and Alison North seconded. The board recorded its thanks for Skaden's years of service and approved the resignation by roll call.

The meeting concluded with announcements and adjourned at 6:20 p.m. Gayla K Knight is listed as secretary on the meeting record.

Votes at a glance - Approval of June 10, 2024 minutes: motion carried, unanimous (board members present voted yes). - Approval of bills (excluding Kopcho Sanitation for separate vote): motion carried, unanimous. - Approval of Kopcho Sanitation bill: approved; Amie Kopcho abstained (reason stated: family connection); remaining members voted yes. - Policies (first & final reading, package): approved, unanimous. - 2024–25 student handbooks: approved, unanimous. - Interlocal agreement to share a Spanish teacher with Cross County Community Schools: approved, unanimous. - Acceptance of resignation of board member Barb Skaden: approved, unanimous.

Next steps: The minutes record routine approval items and do not specify follow-up actions beyond standard recordkeeping and implementation of approved policies and agreements.