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Wahpeton school board rescinds older policies, adopts updated policies and 2025–26 student handbooks
Summary
On July 9 the Wahpeton School Board rescinded a set of older policies and approved a set of updated policies on first reading, waived a second reading per board policy BDA, and approved the 2025–26 student handbooks. All motions carried unanimously, 9-0.
The Wahpeton School Board moved on July 9 to rescind several longstanding policies and adopt updated replacements, and it approved the district’s 2025–26 student handbooks.
On a committee recommendation, the board voted unanimously to rescind the listed prior policies governing student personal technology, unpaid leave, teacher evaluation and related administrative topics and to adopt replacement or revised policies on first reading. The board also waived a second reading under board policy BDA to expedite adoption; the motion passed 9-0.
Board member Kathy Dimmer presented the Curriculum/Personnel/Activities Committee’s recommendation to rescind policies including FFI (Student Use of Personal Technology), DDC (Unpaid Leave), DFAA (Teacher Evaluation), DGGA (Professional Development Plan), FGDB (Student Handbooks), HDB (Revenues from School-Owned Properties), ICCB (Disposal of School Equipment and Supplies), KACA (Patron Complaints), KACB (Complaints About Personnel), and KADA (Weapons Prohibition on School Property-Public). The board then approved updated policies including a policy prohibiting personal electronic communication devices during instructional time, an unpaid leave policy, a teacher evaluation policy and a professional development plan. Dimmer moved the committee recommendation and Michelle Nelson seconded; the combined action to rescind the old policies and approve the new ones on first reading carried 9-0.
The board reviewed and made substantive edits to the personnel complaint exhibit (KACB-E1) to prompt more detailed responses, and it reviewed the teacher evaluation administrative regulation (DFAA-AR) for updates ahead of implementation.
Also on the committee’s recommendation, the board approved the 2025–26 Student Handbooks as presented; that motion carried unanimously.
Why it matters: the policy changes and handbook approval establish expectations for staff and students for the upcoming school year, including the district’s approach to personal electronic devices during instructional time, teacher evaluation procedures, and complaint processes. Members indicated the expedited schedule—waiving a second reading—was intended to have the new rules in place before the school year begins.
Next steps: the board adopted the new policies on first reading and administrative staff will implement the updated exhibits and procedures and bring materials to the board as appropriate for further review.
