Board accepts Merwin Fund grants, adopts policies and appoints community volunteers to committees

The board accepted two Merwin Fund grants and approved multiple governance items during the Nov. 12 meeting.

The board voted to accept a $2,000 Merwin Fund grant proposed to pay a PR expert and a faculty adviser to help a student social‑media club develop a district social‑media plan, and a $2,500 grant to build a “library of things” for student projects. Motions to accept the grants were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

On policy, the board conducted first readings on several proposed policies (including curriculum development, revised graduation requirements aligning with the state’s move from 26 to 25 credits, orientation requirements for incoming board members, and volunteer/background‑check procedures) and completed second reads on a set of six policies, adopting them by voice vote. Discussion noted that volunteers who will be unsupervised with students must undergo background checks and that visitor procedures are being tightened for school security.

The board also approved multiple committee appointments: Phil Dwire for the building committee; Charlie Dallas as a non‑voting student advisor to the building committee; Kristen Allen and Moren Hamilton for the student achievement committee; and candidates for the district school‑climate committee. Board members expressed concern that social‑media targeting had made some support‑staff volunteers hesitant to join committees and said they would continue outreach to bring those voices in.

What this means: grants will be processed for the projects described, newly adopted policies will be implemented per the board’s schedule, and community volunteers will begin participating in committee work under the district’s committee procedures.