Castleford board packet includes model policies on open enrollment, pronouns and a draft firearms response‑team; trustees to review

Trustees reviewed a packet of model policy materials at their Sept. 18 meeting that included an ISBA Open Enrollment policy and procedure, a draft policy responding to House Bill 538 on compulsory gender language (policy 3297), a Family Medical Leave (FMLA) policy template and a draft district firearms response‑team policy (9450) with an associated application form.

The Open Enrollment materials (Policy 3010 and Procedure 3010P) lay out application deadlines (Feb. 1 for the following school year), capacity limits, grounds for denial or revocation and a requirement that parents provide transportation unless bus space is available. The ISBA template in the packet also describes the district process for prioritizing applications when capacity is limited and the appeal path to the board.

The packet included a model policy (3297) tied to 2024's HB 538. The draft clarifies that staff are not required to use pronouns or titles that are not traditionally associated with an individual's sex as indicated on a birth certificate and that school employees must obtain written parental permission before using a student name or pronouns that do not match the student's legal name or birth‑assigned sex. The text references legal requirements and includes cross references to district harassment and Title IX policies.

Separately, the packet contains a draft 9450 policy and form describing a board‑authorized voluntary response team of employees who, if approved, would be permitted to carry an approved firearm on school property under strict conditions: a current enhanced concealed weapon license, a multi‑hour Board‑approved training curriculum with ongoing annual recertification, psychological and physical evaluations, and confidentiality protections for identified staff. The draft states the procedure is part of the district safety plan and emphasizes that participation is voluntary and revocable by the board.

Material in the packet also flagged Policy 5410 (Family Medical Leave) for review to confirm local choices (for example, whether the district uses a July–June 12‑month window) and noted several administrative details the board may want to adopt. The packet included ISBA commentary and suggested edits; staff asked trustees to decide whether to adopt the model language as written or to request ISBA/legal counsel edits. Because some of the model language references HB 538 and other statutes, board members were advised to treat the packet as the start of a policy discussion rather than final action. The board did not record final votes on these model policies at the Sept. 18 meeting; the materials remain under consideration and will return for later board action.