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Belgrade trustees appoint vice chair and adopt electronic‑communications and surveillance policies
Summary
The Belgrade School District Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Joanna Nordhagen as vice chair and approved multiple policy revisions—including an electronic‑resources policy and updated video‑surveillance rules—aimed at clarifying staff communication practices and protecting the district from liability.
The Belgrade School District Board of Trustees on an evening meeting appointed Joanna Nordhagen as vice chair and approved a series of policy revisions that tighten rules on staff electronic communications and clarify when video may be recorded at school events.
Board Chair (S2) moved and trustees voted to approve the vice‑chair appointment; the motion carried unanimously and was recorded as "6 to nothing." The board also approved the consent agenda earlier in the meeting.
Trustees adopted Policy 54‑60, "Electronic Resources and Social Networking," after staff said the policy steers staff toward district‑approved messaging platforms (notably ParentSquare) and creates an auditable record of staff‑family communications. Brenda True (S3), the district communications specialist, said the policy "absolutely helps protect the district" by creating records where previously staff used untracked apps or direct texts.
The board also approved revisions to Policy 32‑35 on video use. Staff explained that a recent change in state law allows the district to record public performances and athletic events without individual parent permission; surveillance/security video remains separate and posted so the public is aware it is used for security. Trustees voted to adopt the surveillance policy revisions with no recorded dissent.
Trustees approved Policy 32‑10 on equal educational opportunity, updating nondiscrimination language and addressing eligibility for extracurricular activities in light of recent issues along the northern border. The motion carried unanimously.
No new fiscal appropriations were recorded in the motions. The board recorded each vote as part of the public minutes; where the transcript shows minor inconsistencies in spelling of the vice‑chair's first name (both "Joanna" and "Joanne" appear), the board listed the new vice chair as Nordhagen in the motion.
