MSAD 51 board approves equity plan and clears two policies; equity audit to seek grant funding

At the March 4 meeting the MSAD 51 board approved the district’s equity plan and advanced policy housekeeping items.

Board member Kim moved to approve the equity plan as presented on Feb. 5 with minor typographical edits and clarification that the equity audit would be pursued outside the FY25 budget (for example via grants). Anne seconded the motion; the chair called the vote and the plan was approved unanimously.

The equity plan will keep an equity audit as a prioritized item, the board said, but the audit’s funding will be pursued from external grants to avoid placing a new recurring cost in FY25. The plan also renames references to the "portrait of a graduate" to the district‑preferred "profile of a learner" for consistency.

Separately, the board approved policy BE (board meetings) and policy BDE (board standing committees) as presented on second read. The motion to approve policy BE was moved and seconded and carried; policy BDE likewise passed on motion and second.

The board handled a number of routine governance items at the meeting, including motions to approve minutes (Feb. 5 and Feb. 12). The Feb. 12 minutes recorded one abstention from a board member who said she had not attended that meeting.

Provenance: Topic introduced SEG 4000; vote recorded SEG 4153.