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Board discusses student rights: pledge participation, recordings, work permits and permission forms
Summary
During a policy review, administrators and board members clarified that students must be offered the opportunity to recite the Pledge but cannot be forced, that student recordings are restricted under the proposed policy, and that work permits and permission-form practices are retained and clarified.
The board asked several targeted questions about student-facing rules in the proposed 5000-series policies, and administration provided clarifications on the pledge, recordings, work permits and permission forms.
On the Pledge of Allegiance, Dr. DiPonio said the district must "give kids the opportunity to say the pledge of allegiance" but cannot force participation. He told the board the policy language reflects that legal requirement. On student recordings, Dr. DiPonio said the proposed 5805 aligns with a cell-phone band and prohibits student recordings consistent with that restriction. The policy text retains a requirement that students seeking employment must have appropriate work permits (5804), and administrators indicated the permission form (5506) will be used at the beginning of the year to set expectations; Amy Thomas-August asked whether a district-wide, beginning-of-year field-trip permission form will state that signing is not a guarantee of participation, and Dr. DiPonio said the district will push to ensure parents are alerted to field trips before they happen and that a blanket form will be available.
These clarifications do not constitute policy adoption; the board scheduled final action on most policies for July 27, 2026, and a separate public hearing on the bullying policy for Aug. 3.
