Board approves several policies on second reading and advances multiple first readings

The board approved multiple policies on second reading by unanimous vote, including student discrimination and harassment complaint procedures and employee harassment policies. Following that action, the board considered a group of first-reading policies addressing pest management, student immunization requirements, weapons/violence (adding nicotine), dropout prevention and transportation/driver testing procedures.

In explaining changes to the immunization policy, the superintendent summarized a statutory change and said, "You can no longer claim a religious or philosophical exemption, other than those with an IEP who have been grandfathered." The weapons-and-violence policy was amended to add nicotine to prohibited items. The transportation policy revisions expand coverage to van drivers, and the board moved all the listed policies forward on first reading.