During its May 13 regular meeting, the Archuleta School District (ASD) Board of Education (BOE) approved the first reading of multiple policies.
Human Resource Director and liaison to the BOE Heather Schultz explained that changes being presented included formatting revisions, recommended changes from the Colorado Association of School Board (CASB) and a new policy also recommended by CASB for adoption.
The BOE approved the first reading of the policies with three separate motions: one approving the formatting changes, one approving revisions to existing policies and one approving a newly added policy.
“The first is just for formatting,” Schultz said before presenting the policies undergoing formatting changes.
Those policies include:
• KDB-R: Public’s right to know/freedom of information regulation.
• KDBA: Parent notification of employee criminal charges.
• KDDA-R: Press releases, conferences and interviews.
• KEC-E: Public concerns/complaints about instructional resources.
• KEF: Public concerns/complaints about teaching methods, activities or presentations.
• KHA/KHB: Public solicitations/advertising in schools.
The formatting changes were unanimously approved by the BOE.
Schultz then explained the policies with recommended changes “contain updates made over the years through CASB’s policy parameter and special policy updates that the district has not implemented.”
The meeting’s agenda also states, “The CASB recommended changes to help ensure the District complies with State and Federal laws.”
The revisions on existing polices were unanimously approved by the BOE. Those policies include:
• KB: Parent and family engagement.
• KBA: District Title I parent and family engagement.
• KBBA: Custodial and noncustodial parent rights and responsibilities.
• KBBA-R: Custodial and noncustodial parent rights and responsibilities, regulation.
• KCB: Public’s right to know/freedom of information,
• KDDA: Press releases, conferences and interviews.
• KDE: Crisis management.
• KE: Public concerns and complaints.
• KFA: Public conduct on district property.
• KLMA: Relations with military recruiters, postsecondary institutions and prospective employers.
Prior to voting on the matter, BOE president Bob Lynch asked if the board would be approving those revisions “strictly based on CASB’s suggestion,” noting the wording changes would bring the district’s policies up to date.
BOE member Amanda Schick also asked if all of the included language in the policy revisions was coming directly from CASB.
Schultz indicated that all of the revisions and language included came directly from CASB.
Schick also asked ASD Superintendent Rick Holt if there was anything specific the board should look at, noting the proposed revisions seemed “straight forward,” being about inclusivity.
“Nothing stood out as more than just minor revisions,” Holt said, adding, “Nothing stood out that we want to draw the board’s attention to.”
The BOE then considered the adoption of a new district policy, KE-R — Public concerns and complaints, regulation — which was approved with Schick abstaining.
Schultz noted the new policy is also being recommended for adoption by CASB and is legally required for the district to have.
“In accordance with this regulation’s accompanying policy, this regulation contains the procedures to follow when a member of the public files a formal complaint against the district,” the meeting agenda states.
Lynch asked if the district did not have this policy before.
Holt explained that the district had a circumstance last year in which a family brought a concern to the BOE and that the board followed the state’s procedure.
He went on to explain that there is a policy from CASB that does the same thing.
“We need something that’s appropriate for families,” he added.
BOE member Butch Mackey commented that, according to the proposed policy, it allows a “long time” before a final decision is made.
Holt explained that concerns and complaints will follow the “chain of command,” starting with the person closest to the incident and using all steps to resolve the issue.
Schick also commented on the amount of time the policy would allow before a final decision is made on a concern or complaint, noting it could be up to 40 or 50 days.
Schick praised Holt’s efforts historically in responding to complaints and concerns, saying, “you have had a really great culture of response,” while also commenting that the timeline included in the policy does seem “incredibly long.”
Holt explained that the timeline is meant to be a limit, meaning that is the longest amount of time it could go before a final decision is made.
“There are times when things are hectic and busy and overwhelming, so having some cushion in how fast that response is,” Holt said.
He explained that with things that are life-threatening or socially or emotionally damaging, “we turn ‘on’ a dime and address it as fast as humanly possible.”
Holt also mentioned that the numbers could be adjusted by the board before approving the policy.
The meeting’s agenda notes that the policies will return to board in June for a second reading and adoption. The BOE’s next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on June 10 in the Pagosa Springs Middle School library.
The policies and revisions can be viewed in their entirety on the district’s website at https://go.boarddocs.com/co/asdco/Board.nsf/Public, under the May 13 meeting agenda.
clayton@pagosasun.com
