Board pauses field-trip policy, seeks PII protections for electronic resources and narrows leave-sharing scope

During its May 27 meeting the Granite Falls School Board debated three policy items that affect student safety, privacy and human-resources practice.

Field trips: Board members asked that policy 2320 (field trip excursions and outdoor education) explicitly require parent/guardian permission when private vehicles are used and that any private drivers be identified and cleared (background checks and driving abstracts). After discussion the board voted to remove the item from today’s agenda so staff can revise the draft language.

Electronic resources and student privacy: The board reviewed policy 2022, a WASA template on electronic resources. Directors requested adding a short provision addressing personally identifying information (PII) and clarifying AI-related language. One director said the privacy protections should be in policy rather than procedure so the protections remain formal and durable.

Leave-sharing scope and budgeting concerns: On policy 5406 (leave sharing), staff described a potential budgetary hardship if leave donations were broadly applied across different pay scales and employee groups. The board supported limiting leave sharing to members of the same bargaining unit, noting that unrestricted donations could create unfunded workload or payout obligations. As finance and HR staff explained, some statutory requirements determine eligibility for leave sharing and the board asked staff to draft clear procedures for administering donations.

What’s next: Staff will revise policy 2320 to add parent-permission and driver-verification language and return it to the board; policy 2022 will be returned for a second reading with added PII language; HR will draft procedures for leave sharing that comply with statute and address budgeting concerns.