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Board advances multiple policy updates including DPI reading-model policy and class‑size guidance
Summary
The board approved several policy updates: parliamentary authority language, revisions to wellness and nondiscrimination policy text, introduced a class‑size policy as guidance, and performed a first reading of the state-mandated reading policy (Policy 3 45.6) from DPI required by Act 20.
At its regular meeting the Pecatonica Area School District board approved updates to governance and operational policies and advanced a state-model reading policy required by Act 20.
On second reading the board approved Policy 181 (parliamentary authority) after the policy committee consulted the district attorney and recommended keeping the current language. Director (S1) said the committee and attorney felt the existing process is working and the attorney recommended leaving the language as-is.
The board also approved edits that separate wellness, food-service and free/reduced meal policies, including added language about school environment, nutrition education, and physical-activity guidelines (elementary students to receive at least 60 minutes of PE per week, middle school at least 100 minutes; high school credit requirements noted). The director said procedural items such as water-bottle guidance were moved from policy to procedure.
Policy 760 was updated to strengthen the district's nondiscrimination clause with model language adapted from NEOLA. The board introduced a new class-size policy to codify guideline ranges (optimum and maximum AGR/non‑AGR numbers); the director stressed the policy provides guidance and is not a hard cap.
Finally, the board moved forward the first reading of Policy 3 45.6, the DPI model policy implementing aspects of Act 20 related to reading proficiency and promotion decisions. The director noted the policy must be adopted by July 1 even though it does not take effect until Sept. 1, 2027; board members asked for clearer, more readable language over time as districts live with the model policy.
