Been busy with the District Wide Heating projects, TB Stair Renovation, Wood Boiler repairs, beginning of school support and much more.

I believe the best progress we have had this month is the strength of our Maintenance Team. This has really shone through, as we all are contributing our strength to the District Support.

I know this is vague, but I am in the middle of many large projects that are consuming my time for computer work. Should have a more detailed report next month.

Kind regards,
Scott and Maint Crew.
 

PERTINENT FACTS
The updates to this policy include changes proposed by AASB and additional changes that clarify expectations and prohibited conduct.

The first reading of this policy was in May 2024.
 

Pertinent Facts
The costs listed in the original agreement that was approved on August 21, 2024, were calculated using an incorrect time projection for required services.  The addendum corrects and updates the cost based on corrected time projections.
 

From AASB

As a subscribing member to AASB’s Policy Online Service, you are able to access and explore the model policy updates. 

Some policies have been updated due to statutory or regulatory changes, and thus require district adoption to make sure you are in compliance with state and federal laws and regulations. 

Other updates are optional for adoption, but are recommended. Sometimes these deal with specific issues and other times they may be policies that we identify or others have forwarded to us that are not compatible with today’s best practices. 

All of our policy updates have been legally vetted so that you can be assured they are in compliance with state and federal laws and regulations. In addition, all updates contain cross-references to current board policies as well as laws and regulations.

Information from AASB
This update modifies BP 1250 to clarify that background checks should be completed for all volunteers, regardless of the number of hours worked. It also clarifies that school visitors do not need to obtain a background check 

Information from AASB:

This policy update reflects AASB’s determination that automatically assigning failing grades to students for truancy is not in best practice. This is because: 

• If a student has earned a grade by demonstrating mastery of the content, they should be able to keep the grade they have earned. 
• Some districts maintain policies where multiple tardies result in unexcused absences and the result of this could mean that multiple tardies result in a failing grade. 
• The final paragraph of the policy, which has not been removed, provides accountability for student learning and grades. 

The model policy has been updated to remove this option. However, individual districts may revise this policy as they best see fit. 

Information from AASB
This update revises the policy to reflect the student retention procedures required by the Alaska Reads Act. 

 

  

Information from AASB:

**Remove Board Policy** 

As with BP 5121, AASB believes this policy, which permits the withholding of grades, transcripts, and diplomas if a student is indebted to a district for lost or damaged items, does not reflect best practice. AASB recommends removing and archiving this policy in its entirety for the following reasons: 

• Withholding grades, diplomas, or transcripts can have significant long-term consequences for students and their post-secondary employment or education opportunities, and in turn on their families and communities. 
• Students earn their grades and diplomas by demonstrating mastery of the content. If a student has earned their grades or diploma, they should not be withheld as a punishment or deterrence. 
• School districts have other means to seek reparations or recover losses from equipment or property damages, rather than withholding grades, diplomas, or transcripts. 
• The language suggesting that students who are unable to pay for assessed damages should provide voluntary work instead is inequitable. Voluntary work and community service can be an appropriate assignment for all students. Those students whose parents can afford to pay for damages should not be exempt from community service if the district deems this an appropriate response to property or equipment damage. 

The model policy has been updated to remove this policy in its entirety. However, individual districts may revise this policy as they best see fit.

Information from AASB
This minor update revises the language of the policy to clarify expectations of students riding the bus or bus boat.
 

Information from AASB
This policy has been updated to reflect the removal of BP 5125.3, above. If an individual district does not remove BP 5125.3, this policy should not be updated.
 

Information from AASB
This revision updates BP 5131.6 to be in compliance with House Bill 202, which passed the legislature and became law this summer. The bill will become effective in December 2024, but this policy revision may be made now. The bill and policy update require that districts have opioid overdose drugs available at each main school building and at school-sponsored events. It also requires that a district have at least one person trained to administer the drugs at each main school site.
 

Information from AASB
This minor update revises language regarding health examinations for students, and clarifies that districts may require health examinations for student participation in extracurricular activities.
 

Information from AASB
This update clarifies that under state law, personal or philosophical opposition to vaccinations is not sufficient to receive an exemption from the state’s mandatory vaccination requirements for students. The only exemptions permitted are for medical or religious reasons. The update also provides that students who are considered homeless under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act may be provisionally admitted to school even without a vaccination record.
 

Information from AASB
This minor update updates the model policy on At-Risk Youths to utilize best practice language and clarify districts should be an active participant in identifying students in need of aid.
 

The edits to this policy incorporate previous AASB updates and align with the current AASB model policy.

Information from AASB
This update adds language to address damaged or lost equipment along with damaged or lost instructional materials. It has also been updated to reflect the removal of BP 5125.3, above. If an individual district does not remove BP 5125.3, the edit removing reference to BP 5125.3 should not be accepted.
 

Information from AASB
This update includes additional language to clarify that poll voting by a school board is not permitted and all official board action must be taken in an open meeting.
 

Information from AASB
This update clarifies that a board president and superintendent may reject community requests to place an item on the board agenda.
 

Pertinent Facts
Following the direction of BP 0500, Review and Evaluation, the School Board reviews policies throughout the year.  The most recent policy review ended with Board Policy 0420, so this month, Board Policies 0500, 0510, 0520, and 0530 are scheduled for 1st reading.

No changes are proposed for this policy.
 

The edits to this policy incorporate previous AASB updates and align with the current AASB model policy.  

The edits to this policy incorporate previous AASB updates and align with the current AASB model policy.
 

The edits to this policy incorporate previous AASB updates and align with the current AASB model policy.

Information from AASB
Formal adoption not required.

This update modifies AR 0510 to simplify the regulation and bring it into compliance with provisions necessary for a District Report Card under AS 14.03.120 and 4 AAC 06.895. The specific requirements of the report card have been removed from the regulation so as to not require updates based on regulatory changes. The requirements of AS 14.03.120 and 4 AAC 06.895 remain and are cited in the regulation.
 

Information from AASB
Formal adoption not required.

**Remove Administrative Regulation** 

This administrative regulation implemented the old star rating system for school accountability, which has been revised and replaced in state law and regulation. The current school accountability regulations, 4 AAC 06.800 - .899, are reflected in model Board Policy 0520, which was updated in 2021 to reflect the changes.

Information from AASB
Formal adoption not required.

**New Administrative Regulation** 

This is new AR addressees the expectations, roles and responsibilities principals, the district, and volunteers have when utilizing volunteer assistance. This regulation is not exhaustive, and all the parties may have more or fewer roles.

 

Information from AASB
Formal adoption not required.

This policy incorporates House Bill 230, which passed the legislature and became law this summer. It specifies that a retired long-term substitute may teach for up to, but not more than, 165 days in one school year.
 

Information from AASB
Formal adoption not required.

This update is a formatting revision to delete a repeated word.

Information from AASB
Formal adoption not required.

**Remove Exhibit** 

This exhibit was a notice to parents created as part of the transition from the No Child Left Behind Act to the Every Student Succeeds Act in 2016. It is no longer applicable and may be removed.

The Division of Elections lists October 24 as the target date to certify the election on their Election Calendar.  We would need to have the meeting after the election is certified for the new board member to participate.