Board amends policy manual to reflect new state laws and clarify executive‑session and health procedures

The Tea Area School District 41-5 Board of Education approved a package of policy amendments at its August meeting to align district rules with state law that took effect July 1.

Superintendent presented revisions across several policy codes. Key changes included renaming IGBI (virtual/online courses) to "alternative educational options" and adding explicit authority to assign students to alternative settings when a student displays aggressive or violent behavior. The board also voted to confirm that the superintendent remains the board’s designee to make such assignments under SDCL 13-28-19.3.

Other statutory-driven changes the board approved include: removing staff names from Policy AE (wellness) for long-term clarity; updating Policy EFB to zero out charges for families qualifying for reduced meals (with state reimbursement); expanding the list of permissible reasons to convene an executive session (Policy BDC) to include eligibility to participate in interscholastic activities and security-sensitive information such as guard schedules, lock combinations and building blueprints; and adding diabetes self‑management and nasal‑spray epinephrine to student health policies so practice and policy align with current procedures.

The superintendent emphasized the changes were prompted by state legislation and by input from district nurses and staff: "This was a direct result of new legislation," he said while describing IGBI adjustments and health-policy updates. The board approved IGBI as a standalone motion and then approved the remaining policy amendments as a package.