Coconino News

The Flagstaff Unified School District Governing Board voted to approve more than a dozen first readings of various policy changes, including the student code of conduct, immunization records, and sex education, during the board's meeting on May 23.

In all, the district approved 13 policies on a first reading. The policies are reviewed by their committees before being sent to the board for approval after being on the agenda for at least two meetings. Those passed during the May meeting will likely appear in the consent agenda portion of the board’s June 13 meeting for a second approval. The policy changes that are then passed will go into effect on July 1. The board has been reviewing policies for several weeks.

"Again, the Policy Committee is doing a great job overall on these," Board Member Erik Slather said.

The 13 new policies centered on such items as family and sex education, student freedom of expression, student code of conduct, police interview notification, department of child safety interview and custody, immunization and communicable diseases, administration of medication, drug and alcohol prevention instruction, restraint and seclusion, hazing prevention, prohibition on harassment, intimidation, and bullying, interscholastic athletes, and school-based referrals for behavioral health services, the report stated.

The board reviewed and made changes to each item as needed. Board President Dorothy Denetsosie Gishie asked the board when the district had last reviewed its sex education materials, nothing that the district should make sure its policies are up to date and meet all state standards, as well as providing transparency for parents.

A clarification was made to the district's policy regarding students’ freedom of speech was to make clear that the board had some level of authority in student speech, at least when that speech is perceived to be an endorsement of the district. 

Few other policies were discussed, and the district immunization policy had no changes from the previous year’s version. The district's anti-bullying policy was changed, as definitions for bullying, harassment and cyber bullying, were added to better incorporate social media usage.