FOLLOW UP TO DISTRICT POLICY CHANGES – BOE MEETING 09/22/2022 

-Shauna Williams

Now that the dust has kinda sorta settled from the last BOE meeting let’s take a look at one of the specific issues that arose. Dr. Varley said that the policy changes are required by the state (or another outside agency?) and that they haven’t been updated in a decade or more. That leaves me with the following questions I would like to see answers to. Since BHCW has a slightly better record of getting answers from the district than I, I would like to see what kind of information they can get 

1. Does the state dictate how many of the policies must be changed? Is it all of them? Is it a percentage? Or is it specific policies? Do the policies actually need to be changed just for the sake of change, or do they merely need to be reviewed to see if changes are needed? 

2. Does the state dictate which wording must be changed? For example many of the changes I’ve noticed lately are replacing the words should, shall, must, and may.  

3. Is there a hard deadline for making the changes? If so, is an extension available if the district is showing good faith and trying to update the policies? 

4. What are the penalties for noncompliance or failing to meet any deadline? 

5. How can we trust that the updates being made are necessary? For example the Facilities Use change. Despite the claims of the board Thursday night, I have confirmed with two separate lawyers that the existing policy did not prohibit the League of Women Voters from hosting a debate. In other words, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.  

This is a biggie… 

6. In this administration please provide documentation supporting their answers? Not for nothin’, they have not earned any level of trust that what they say is valid and accurate.  

As to question number one, if the policies only need to be reviewed for change, then perhaps each board member could be assigned a handful for a read-through, rather than send every policy through a legal review. (I am assuming that either Julie Kot or the attorneys are doing the actual updating to ensure compliance.) Mr. Hyman states board members are already familiar with all of the policies, and that it does not take much time to go over them. Maybe this is already being done? 

As to question number two, if the state has dictated the word change – shall to may for example – and if doing this is taking up Ms. Kot’s or the attorneys time, maybe someone else can be appointed to read through and make those changes. There are probably even parents who would volunteer to go through and do that.  

Should BHCW agree to ask and get answers, it would be great to see them posted here. Thanks!