At the March meeting the Duluth Public Schools policy committee reviewed multiple policy updates — including school resource officers (507.5), student promotion (513), interviews by outside agencies (519), curriculum goals (601), accountability (616), Read Act alignment (611) and transportation safety (709) — and noted resource or language updates; no final adoptions were recorded.
The Duluth Public Schools policy committee continued a second reading of Policy 542 (intra‑district transfers), adding a transfer appeal board pathway and specifying that documented attendance evidence be emailed to the assistant superintendent; the committee also confirmed communication plans for families.
HR reported about 80 Minnesota paid‑leave applications (35 approved, 25 in review), enrollment is down slightly month‑to‑month but remains above budgeted projections, and safety updates included naloxone placement and a plan to add Narcan kits; auditors will submit the district audit book to the state by March 31.
Technology staff outlined three open E‑Rate bids to support Wi‑Fi and building connectivity (including the First Street building) while transportation announced a trial of AI-powered dash cameras to speed video retrieval; board members requested more details on eligibility and data handling.
District facilities staff told the HR Business Services committee that the First Street school build-out is in finishing stages, with second-floor carpet set for March 23 and owner occupancy targeted for mid-August; presenters said the project remains within the approved budget.
The committee conducted a second reading of Policy 6.22 on parental involvement for Title I programs, asked staff to confirm a cited U.S. Department of Education January 2025 resource remains online, and heard no substantive objections to the draft.
The Duluth Public School District committee advanced a first reading of renumbered Policy 5.42 to align transfer processes with current practice, proposing Enrollment Center routing, earlier deadlines, a 90% attendance benchmark at boundary schools, a 15-day decision window, and clarified appeal procedures.
The Duluth Public School District policy committee gave a first reading to Policy 612.1, a new Title I parent-involvement policy that aligns with MSBA guidance and cites the U.S. Department of Education’s January 2025 parent and family engagement guidance; one local naming change was requested.
Staff recommended and the committee agreed to delete multiple antiquated 8,000- and 9,000-series policies—finding many covered by current 200-series policies or statutorily repealed—and asked staff to bring the 6000 series next month.
On second reading of Policy 709, the committee reviewed updates to student transportation safety rules and pressed staff for details on where bus-safety training attendance is recorded and whether protocols allow police or authorized adults to board buses in response to incidents.
