Mr. Johnson explained that this would allow the superintendent of schools the option to speak to a fire or emergency chief or line officer if there was validation of a bomb threat and provide the fire or emergency official the option of placing a crew on “stand-by” status.
Mr. Johnson offered a MOTION to re-consider first reading, postponed at the prior meeting, and approve second reading of Policy 8220 as presented.
Mr. Triou asked for clarification on the procedure used by the 911-Center to notify fire or emergency personnel and the discretion available to them. Mr. Johnson provided details.
Mr. Griswold asked why the notification to the 911-Center and fire and emergency personnel was included as an option in the proposed policy.
Mr. Johnson noted the concern raised by Mr. Wyse at a prior meeting on the amount of time necessary to assemble a crew for fire or emergency purposes if a stand-by order was not issued.
Mr. Griswold asked if the optional language is required in the policy. Mr. Johnson stated that it provides discretion for the superintendent of schools to deal with credible threats.
Mr. Griswold asked if the option is needed in the policy if there are specific procedures in place for bomb threats. He asked how the superintendent of schools determines that an incident includes a credible threat; Mr. Havens reviewed the process used.
Mr. Griswold asked how the provision for optional notification of the 911-Center would change the procedure already used by the superintendent of schools and how the procedure would change if the provision was not included, Mr. Havens stated that he would feel compelled to notify the 911-Center if the policy were adopted as proposed.
Mr. Triou noted that policy statements should relate only to the big picture.
Mr. Havens commented that the original draft of this policy included notification of the 911-Center as a required step. The proposal presented this evening leaves this notification to the discretion of the superintendent of schools and provides the option to alert local fire and emergency personnel and allow them to consider alerting a stand-by crew.
Mr. Schultz noted that if the “optional” provision is not included in the policy, there is no possibility of “second guessing” the manner in which a bomb threat is handled.
Mr. Havens stated that he would follow the policy as finally adopted by the Board of Education.
Mr. Triou suggested that specific steps for handling a credible bomb threat could occur in a policy regulation to accompany this proposed policy and suggested addition of standard policy handbook wording for development of regulations to implement a policy.
Mrs. Lyke concurred with Mr. Triou’s idea for creation of a regulation to include specific steps.
On the question, the MOTION to re-consider first reading, postponed at the prior meeting, and approve second reading of Policy 8220 was approved for first reading only with the revision to remove the provision for “optional” notification of the 911-Center from the policy and inclusion of wording to provide for creation of regulations to include steps for notification of fire and emergency personnel. 8 Ayes, 0 Nays, 1 Absent (Mr. Wyse), Carried.
Mr. Triou stated he was pleased that the policy committee had interfaced with volunteer fire officials in the development of this policy.
Mrs. Lyke noted that the provision for personal identification of a person wearing an identification badge in proposed Policy 7500 originated from a question raised by a student at a prior meeting.
Mr. Griswold stated that the student raised an excellent issue. Mr. Johnson noted that he was pleased that the student took personal responsibility to raise an issue for consideration.
Mr. Johnson clarified that the concern was for identification of persons who wore a non-photo badge such as a substitute teacher or staff member.
Regarding the “use of electronic devices” provision of proposed Policy Regulation 7501, Mr. Schultz asked if the intent is to limit use of electronic devices or to limit producing photo images from electronic devices as opposed to production of photo images by a roll-film camera. He noted that the transfer of images to the Internet or other media is possible from both electronic photo images and roll-film prints.
Mr. Johnson stated that the intent is to address instances where inappropriate photo images were produced by staff or students.
| Mr. Schultz noted that the school district also offers courses in photography, computers and uses of the Internet which include use of photo images. | |
| Mr. Spring noted that consent for use of photo images of students is covered by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). | |
| Mr. Johnson stated that the provisions in this proposed policy illustrate to students and others that the school district will prosecute them if inappropriate photos are taken. | |
| Mr. Havens noted that the proposed policy may have need for some additional considerations, as noted, but it does insure that persons have no right to produce inappropriate photos by electronic means. | |
| Mrs. Lyke asked if the use of photos for promotional purposes could continue. Mr. Johnson noted that the proposed policy deals with inappropriate photos and issues. | |
| Mrs. Brunner stated that she is pleased with the intent of the proposed policy and suggested that the policy committee handle word-smithing, as needed. She feels the proposed policy is very appropriate in light of accepted practice in government, medicine and other venues that “if it is not in writing, it does not exist.” | |
| Mrs. Lyke offered a MOTION to approve first reading, with revisions as noted, of Policy 7500. 8 Ayes, 0 Nays, 1 Absent (Mr. Wyse), Carried. | |
| Mr. Johnson noted that proposed Policy Regulation 7501 is provided for information and review by trustees. The policy committee will review topics raised this evening and include them, as needed, for submission for approval at the next business meeting. | |
| Mr. Johnson noted that the policy committee has begun work on new policy wording for wrongful conduct and regulations for internal financial controls and has circulated a draft for review by trustees. The proposals follow sample wording providing by the NYS Comptroller’s Office. In addition, the policy committee is working on amendment of existing regulations for extra-classroom activity funds to incorporate the new concepts on wrongful conduct and internal fiscal controls. | |
| XV. | ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT - None |
| XVI. ADDITIONAL BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS | |
| A. | Mrs. Brunner extended condolences to the family of Trustee Mark and Linda Wyse on the death of her father, Robert Crane. She invited trustees to make a donation to the Ontario Food Pantry in his name in tribute to the work on that charity by Mr. and Mrs. Wyse. | |
| B. | Mr. Johnson extended thanks to Mr. Blankenberg and the athletes for their presence and presentation this evening, including the autographed team photos. He noted that the achievement by these students is further verification of the many achievements and accomplishments of our students and our school district. | |
| C. | Mrs. Lyke extended compliments to the students who achieved scholar-athlete team status based on a grade point average of 90% or more. | |
| XVII. | ADJOURNMENT | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mrs. Brunner offered a MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 9:19 p.m. 8 Ayes, 0 Nays, 1 Absent (Mr. Wyse), Carried. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Respectfully submitted, | |||||||||||||||||||
| JAMES E. SWITZER | |||||||||||||||||||
| School District Clerk | |||||||||||||||||||
| APPROVAL OF MINUTES | |||||||||||||||||||
| The foregoing minutes of the Board of | |||||||||||||||||||
| Education were submitted for review | |||||||||||||||||||
| & (approved as presented)(corrected | |||||||||||||||||||
| as noted) at the meeting of | |||||||||||||||||||
| January 27, 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||
| --------------------------- | |||||||||||||||||||
| School District Clerk | |||||||||||||||||||
| JES/jes:wp | |||||||||||||||||||
