Kendall County Times

Oswego Community Unit School District 308 Policy Development Advisory Committee met November 20. 

Here is the minutes as provided by the committee:

I. Roll Call

    Meeting called to order at 5:35 p.m. by Board of Education Member and

    Committee Co-Chair Matt Bauman.

    The sign in sheet was used for attendance purposes.

    Members in Attendance:

    Damaris Abella, Seeta Bala (arrived after meeting started), Kirsten Coulman,

    Margaret Darnell, Anne Elwood, Jamie Max, Dawn Saldano, Roxana Sanders

     Dr. Lisa L. Smith, Associate Superintendent for Educational Services

    Board Member and Co-Chairs Matt Bauman and Toni Morgan

    Others in Attendance: Val Patterson, Executive Director of Student Services

    Members Absent: Cyndy Conlee, Etiennette Harris, Amanda Olson

    Recording Secretary: Cindi Krachtus

II. Motion was made by Matt Bauman to approve the meeting minutes from September

    18, 2017; seconded by Toni Morgan; all were in favor.

III. Section 1:10 School District Legal Status

      Added “Oswego Community Unit School District” to the policy as this is the

         official name of the district

          Incorporation documents from the 1960s were used as reference

          Accept changes as indicated

IV. Section 2 (School Board)

      2:260 Uniform Grievance Procedure (Language; Legal References)

          Addition of Item No. 8 with regard to breastfeeding accomodations for

             students

          Accept changes as indicated

V. Section 4 (Operational Services)

     4:110 Transportation (Language; Legal References)

         Clarification of language only

          Accept changes as indicated

     4:150 Facility Management and Expansion Program (Legal Reference)

          Accept changes as indicated

VI. Section 5 (General Personnel)

     5:10 Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Recruitment (Legal Reference)

          Accept changes as indicated

     5:20 Workplace Harassment (Language; Legal Reference)

           Recognizing harassment as a form of discrimination

           Accept changes as indicated

     5:100 Staff Development Program (Legal Reference)

           Accept changes as indicated

     5:200 Terms and Conditions of Employment and Dismissal (Language; Legal

       Reference)

          Redlined is pertaining to the social work piece and not allowing for charging or

             providing services to students outside of district employment. This is an

             optional item to be included into the policy and only suggested by PRESS.

                 Hold and research why specific to social workers and not all

                    employees

          Holidays are stricken because we are not paid for holidays

     5:220 Substitute Teachers (Language; Legal Reference)

          State language changed to 90 days for one substitute teacher with a substitute

            certificate to sub

           Accept changes as indicated

      5:250 Leaves of Absence (Legal Reference)

           Changing capitalization/ spelling out numbers

           Accept changes as indicated

     5:330 Sick Days, Vacation, Holidays and Leaves (Legal Reference)

           Accept changes as indicated

VII. Section 6 (Instruction)

      6:150 Home and Hospital Instruction (Language; Legal Reference)

           Expands who can give a letter of absenteeism

           Accept changes as indicated

      6:300 Graduation Requirements (Legal References)

           Spelling out numbers

           Accept changes as indicated

      6:340 Student Testing and Assessment Program (Language; Legal Reference)

           Title change to Associate Superintendent for Educational Services

           Accept changes as indicated

VIII. Section 7 (Students)

      7:10 Equal Educational Opportunities (Legal Reference)

           Accept changes as indicated

      7:15 Student and Family Privacy Rights (Language)

           Removing the word “ward” where it appears in the policy

           Accept changes as indicated

      7:190 Prohibited Student Conduct (Legal Reference)

           Accept changes as indicated

       7:192 Preventing Bullying, Intimidation and Harassment (Language)

           Question was raised regarding profanity language at the junior high level and if

              it pertains to this policy

                     Val Patterson, Executive Director of Student Services, will discuss

                         this concern outside of the meeting

           Capitalize the “b” in “building Principal” on page 2 of 5

            Accept changes as indicated

      7:250 Student Support Services (Language)

            Different regulations for school social workers versus clinical social workers

               and making it clear that district will use a school’s social worker and not an

              outside source

            Accept changes as indicated

      7:275 Orders to Forgo Life-Sustaining Treatment (Language; Legal Reference)

            Accept changes as indicated

      7:340 Student Records (Cross Reference; Legal Reference)

            Accept Changes as indicated

 Question was raised by Mr. Bauman with regard to whether there was a need for

    another member on this committee at this time due to attendance issues or for any

    other reason.

 The committee felt that there was no need at this time for any new members

 Anne Elwood indicated Val Patterson had requested her to read up on gender neutral

    dressing, which she did.

 Anne Elwood also brought up for discussion cellphones and the fact that they are

    becoming an educational distraction/interference to the point of harassing. Concern is

    more focused on outside of the classroom than inside the classroom.

 She referenced Policy 5:156 Cellular Telephones, which is the policy related to

    employee use of cellphones. She referenced out of the policy that it indicates that

    “…cellular transmissions are not secure, and employees should use discretion in

     relaying confidential information….and phones should not be loaned to others.”Anne

     indicated that the students also need this information as they are loaning their phones

     to each other, sharing photos, videos, etc.

          It was indicated that Policy 7:190, Item 5 under Prohibited Student Conduct

               does pertain to the use of cellular devices as well as Section 8 of the Rights and

              Responsibilities Handbook

 Further discussion was had regarding consistency pertaining to enforcement of policy

    across the district and perhaps that consistent rules need to be in place at the two (2)

    high schools and different rules in place at the five (5) junior high schools

 Question was raised whether the policy is clearly communicated to the students and

     that the policy is out there?

          The determination was that the adults understand that the policy is there but

             that the students don’t

                     This subject matter will be discussed during an upcoming secondary

                        principals meeting after which it can be reviewed with the technology

                         policies

IX. Public Comment (2 minutes each)

      There was no public comment

X. Adjourn

    A motion was made to adjourn the meeting by Matt Bauman at 6:37 pm and

     seconded by Toni Morgan; all were in favor.

Next Meeting Dates:

      Monday, January 22, 2018 (Parent-Teacher Advisory Committee Meeting)

      Monday, March 12, 2018

      Monday, May 7, 2018

https://www.sd308.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=9953&dataid=45526&FileName=Policy%20Minutes.11.20.17.FINAL.pdf