During their Sept. 13 meeting, the El Dorado Springs R-II Board updated 19 policies as required to be in compliance with state law.

Policy and Regulation updates:

Policy 1445 – Organ Transplant Information – new-Mandatory Adoption

This is a new policy which allows state or nationally recognized organizations to make a Board presentation on organ transplants. The Board will make the decision about whether the information will be presented to parents and/or students and in the manner presented. No students will be required to be present for any such presentation.

Policy 2745 – Electronic Data Breach – new-Mandatory Adoption

This is a new policy requiring parents/guardians, DESE, the auditor and law enforcement to be notified if and when personal student information is compromised.

Policy and regulation 2765 – Transfer of Care and Custody – new-Mandatory Adoption

This is a new policy that permits parents/guardians to transfer care and custody to a third-party by means of a very specific Power of Attorney. The required language of the Power of Attorney is set out in the regulation. This statute does not change the residency requirement.

Policy 2810 – Guidance and Counseling Services-Mandatory Adoption

This is an addition to existing Policy 2810. The addition simply requires districts to disseminate workforce information provided by the State Board of Education.

Policy 2825 – ACT Administration – new-Mandatory Adoption

This new policy allows students the option of taking the ACT Work Keys Assessment in lieu of the regular ACT test in certain situations.

Regulation 2850 – Inoculation of Students-Mandatory Adoption

This is an addition to existing regulation 2850 requiring districts to include information about influenza and influenza vaccinations when disseminating information about other vaccinations.

Policy 3470 – Average Daily Attendance – Early Childhood program-Mandatory Adoption

This modification of existing Policy 3470 simply allows substitutions of students for the purpose of attendance counting for reimbursement in the District’s Early Childhood program when a previously eligible child leaves the system for whatever reason.

Policy 4130 – Certificated Staff Contracts-Mandatory Adoption

This addition to existing policy allows districts to hire non-certificated teachers with a DESE issued “Visiting Scholar Certificate” under very limited circumstances which are outlined in the policy.

Policy 4411 – Professional Development program-Mandatory Adoption

This addition gives districts the authority to transfer limited sums (up to 1%) from professional development to student transportation when transportation appropriation is less than 25% of allowable costs.

Regulation 4411 – Professional Development program-Mandatory Adoption

This addition to existing policy simply allows business externship hours to qualify for professional development credit.

Policy 4560 – Teacher Post-Retirement Option – new-Mandatory Adoption

This is a new policy that allows retired teachers to work in a noncertified position. Under the statute, salaries may not exceed $15,000, but no contribution to PEER’s is required.

Policy and Regulation 4831 – Collective Bargaining – new-Mandatory Adoption

This policy replaces our existing P4831 and is designed to regulate union activities in public school district. This policy has been widely misrepresented following the passage of the statue. Some have taken the position that the statute limits MSTA in collecting dues. In reality, the statute simply requires annual written authorization by employees for dues deductions.

Policy and Form 4865 – Whistleblower Protection-Mandatory Adoption

This is a new policy which broadly expands protection for speech well beyond existing First Amendment protection. The statute also extends protection to volunteers and temporary employees.

Policy 5610 – School Bus Drivers-Mandatory Adoption

This addition to existing policy allows medical exams to cover a two year period. It also requires drivers 70 years of age and over to annually pass the operators exam.

Policy 6116 – State mandated Curriculum: Human Sexuality-Mandatory Adoption

This addition to existing policy requires instruction about sexual harassment, sexual violence, sexual predators, internet safety and sexual consent.

Policy 6135 – Driver’s Training program – new

This is a new policy that requires expanded content for Driver’s Education classes. This intent of the policy is to avoid negative confrontation with law enforcement officials at traffic stops. Adoption is mandatory for those schools with a driver training program.

Policy 6140 – Services for Students with Disabilities-Mandatory Adoption

This addition requires Braille instruction where deemed appropriate by the IEP team. This statute is consistent with existing federal and state law.

Policy 6160 – Gifted Education program-Mandatory Adoption

This addition to existing policy provides an allowance for gifted students to accelerate grade levels or content areas and outlines the procedural process to allow that to occur.

Policy and Regulation 6190 – Virtual Education – new-Mandatory Adoption

This policy replaces our existing Policy 6190. The policy provides for selection of; credit for; and payment for virtual courses developed by a variety of providers.

Policy 7230 – Prevailing Wage – new-Mandatory Adoption

This is a new policy that incorporates changes in our existing Prevailing Wage law. The change exempts school districts form paying prevailing wage on projects of $75,000 or less.