York Public Schools board approves policy omnibus, student handbooks, Spanish-teacher pact and accepts resignation

The York Public Schools Board of Education on July 8 approved a broad package of policy updates, adopted student handbooks for 2024–25, approved an interlocal agreement to share a Spanish teacher with Cross County Community Schools, and accepted the resignation of board member Barb Skaden.

The meeting opened at 5:30 p.m. at the Office of the Superintendent, 1715 N. Delaware Ave., York. The board verified that the public notice was published on June 20, 2024. All six board members — Barb Skaden, Alison North, Amie Kopcho, Matt Holthe, Pepper Papineau and Brien Alley — were recorded present.

On a motion by Pepper Papineau, seconded by Barb Skaden, the board approved an omnibus set of district policies on a first-and-final reading. The list included policy 2006 (Complaint Procedure); 2008 (Meetings); 2009 (Public Participation at Board Meetings); policies governing bidding and fiscal management when federal funds are used (3003.1, 3004.1); nondiscrimination (3053) and Title IX (3057); rules on audio/video recording (3059) and firearms/weapons for nonstudents (3060); employee leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (4011); conflict of interest (4053); and student-related policies including compulsory attendance (5001), student cell-phone use (6025) and a Malcolm X Day education entry (6041), among others. The roll-call vote approved the policies as presented.

The board approved the proposed student handbooks for the 2024–25 school year on a motion by Amie Kopcho, seconded by Alison North; the motion carried on roll call.

On financial business, the board approved payment of vendors and checks, initially moving to approve all bills while setting aside the Kopcho Sanitation invoice so that Board Member Amie Kopcho could vote on the other bills. The board subsequently considered and approved the Kopcho Sanitation bill separately; Amie Kopcho abstained from that vote because of a family connection and the motion carried.

The board also approved an interlocal agreement to share a Spanish teacher with Cross County Community Schools. Brien Alley moved to approve the agreement; Barb Skaden seconded and the motion passed by roll call, authorizing district leadership to implement the shared staffing arrangement.

In personnel action, the board accepted the resignation of board member Barb Skaden and expressed thanks for her years of service. The motion to accept the resignation was moved by Amie Kopcho, seconded by Alison North and approved by roll call.

Administrators reported on the district budget and summer projects; the transcript records those agenda items but does not include numeric budget figures or additional implementation details in the recorded segments. The meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of June 10, 2024 minutes: motion by Amie Kopcho; seconded by Alison North; result — approved by roll call. - Approval of bills (except Kopcho Sanitation): motion by Alison North; result — approved by roll call. - Approval of Kopcho Sanitation invoice: motion by Alison North; result — approved; Amie Kopcho abstained due to a family connection. - Policy omnibus (multiple policy numbers listed): motion by Pepper Papineau; seconded by Barb Skaden; result — approved by roll call. - Student handbooks 2024–25: motion by Amie Kopcho; seconded by Alison North; result — approved by roll call. - Interlocal agreement — shared Spanish teacher with Cross County Community Schools: motion by Brien Alley; seconded by Barb Skaden; result — approved by roll call. - Acceptance of resignation — Board Member Barb Skaden: motion by Amie Kopcho; seconded by Alison North; result — approved by roll call.

The transcript records motions, seconders and roll-call outcomes for each action above; where the transcript records an abstention (the Kopcho Sanitation vote) that abstention is noted here. The minutes show Gayla K Knight as the meeting secretary.