Leon County School Board to Hold 18 Public Hearings on Various Policy Changes During Tuesday Meeting

Provided below are the agenda items and item summary for 18 public hearings scheduled for the Tuesday night – February 28 – Leon County School Board meeting.

The policy changes have been addressed during previous meetings and are set to be adopted after the hearing. The 18 items relate to policies addressing reading lists, student discipline, parental rights and the process for contesting instructional material.

LCS Public Hearing Items

19.01 Public Hearing for the 2022 – 2023 ELA Adoption. There is No VOTE REQUIRED for this item.

ITEM SUMMARY: There is no vote required for this item. This is a scheduled Public Hearing on the ELA Adoption. This is an opportunity for the public to provide comments to the Board for Adoption of ELA textbooks for 23/24 school year.  School Board members have the opportunity to make inquiries regarding individual publishers. 

19.02 The Superintendent recommends, following a public hearing, approval of amendments to Policy 5630.01 – Seclusion and Restraint of Students with Disabilities, effective March 1, 2023.

ITEM SUMMARY: The proposed revisions define physical and mechanical restraints. The policy revisions will outline the prohibition of school personnel from using mechanical restraint, and the authority of trained school personnel to use physical restraint only when all positive behavior interventions and supports are exhausted and where there is imminent risk of serious injury.  The training requirement for school personnel is included in the policy revisions.

19.03 The Superintendent recommends, following a public hearing, approval of New Policy 2522 – Challenges to Adoption or Use of Instructional, Library, of Reading List Materials, effective March 1, 2023.

ITEM SUMMARY:  The School Board recognizes the importance of establishing a policy to address the challenges to adoption or use of instructional, library, or reading list materials. The policy outlines the process of contesting the adoption of a specific instructional material, or object to the use of specific material used in a classroom, made available in a school library, or included on a reading list.  

19.04 The Superintendent recommends, following a public hearing, approval of amendments to Policy 5330 – Use of Medications, effective March 1, 2023.

ITEM SUMMARY: The proposed revisions to this policy clearly outline each area of content addressing the administration of medication.  Revisions also reference the School District policy for the administration of medical marijuana/low THC cannabis/cannabinoid products.     

19.05 The Superintendent recommends, following a public hearing, approval of amendments to Policy 5350 – Student Suicide Prevention, Awareness, and Screening, effective March 1, 2023.

ITEM SUMMARY: The proposed revisions to this policy address Suicide Risk Assessments and defines school-based mental health services providers as certified staff and their role in assessing the risk of students expressing suicidal ideation or intent.  Revisions also outline District training requirements.

19.06 The Superintendent recommends, following a public hearing, approval of amendments to Policy 2520 – Selection of and Adoption of Instructional Materials, effective March 1, 2023.

ITEM SUMMARY:  The policy revisions outline the District’s requirement to publish on its website, in a searchable format, a list of all instructional materials, including those used to provide instruction required by s. 1003.42, F.S. Furthermore, the policy describes the function of the media specialist in reviewing and selecting material that will be included in a school’s media center. The revisions also include guidelines for accepting free school-related instructional materials and the New Worlds Reading Initiative created by the Florida Department of Education.   

19.07 The Superintendent recommends, following a public hearing, approval of amendments to Policy 5320 – Immunization and Policy 5325 – School Entry Health Examination, effective March 1, 2023.

ITEM SUMMARY: The proposed revisions would repeal Policy 5325 – School Entry Health Examination, and Policy 5320 will be renamed Immunization and Health Examination.  Additional revisions to Policy 5320 include details regarding immunization guidelines and follow up procedures to ensure proper student documentation.  Revisions also address parental exemptions.   

19.08 The Superintendent recommends, following a public hearing, approval of amendments to Policy 5330.03 – Use of Medical Marijuana/Low THC Cannabis by Qualified Students, effective March 1, 2023.

ITEM SUMMARY: The proposed revisions to this policy define “Qualified Physician” and “Permissible form of medical marijuana/low THC/cannabinoid products”. In addition to the proposed revisions in this policy, Policy 5330.03 – Use of Medical Marijuana/Low THC Cannabis by Qualified Students, will be renumbered to 5330.04.   

19.09 The Superintendent recommends, following a public hearing, approval of amendments to Policy 8405 – School Safety and Security, effective March 1, 2023.

ITEM SUMMARY: The proposed revisions include detailed roles and responsibilities of the School Safety Specialist regarding trainings, reporting, and implementation of the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool. Additional revisions include a section on Mental Health Services including the Mental Health Coordinator’s role in conjunction with the Office of Safe Schools.  Additionally, other revisions outline Threat Assessment Records, Promotion of School Safety Awareness, and Records Related to Compliance with F.A.C. 6A-1.0018.    

19.10 The Superintendent recommends, following a public hearing, approval of amendments to Policy 5330.01 – Self-Administered Medication, effective March 1, 2023.

ITEM SUMMARY: The proposed revisions to this policy establish procedures for Epinephrine use and supply, specifies indemnification by the parent or guardian of the District when administering medications, and outlines Emergency Allergy Treatment Education Training Programs. The policy will be renamed Self-Administered Medication and Epinephrine Use.

19.11 The Superintendent recommends, following a public hearing, approval of amendments to Policy 2111 – Parent and Family Involvement in the School Program, effective March 1, 2023.

ITEM SUMMARY: The proposed revisions to this policy outline procedures for parents as it relates to their student’s educational materials and procedure for parents to learn about parental rights and responsibilities under general law.    

19.12 The Superintendent recommends, following a public hearing, approval of amendments to Policy 1122 – Nondiscrimination and Equal Employment Opportunity, effective March 1, 2023.

ITEM SUMMARY: The proposed revisions to this policy address prohibited discrimination under F.S.760.10 and F.S. 1005.05. Revisions also include qualifying definitions and add District Compliance Officer(s).  Additionally, guidelines relating to complaint procedures, filing a complaint, retaliation, training, notice, and retention of investigatory records and materials are outlined in detail.

19.13 The Superintendent recommends, following a public hearing, approval of amendments to Policy 3122 – Nondiscrimination and Equal Employment Opportunity, effective March 1, 2023.

ITEM SUMMARY: The proposed revisions to this policy address prohibited discrimination under F.S.760.10 and F.S. 1005.05. Revisions also include qualifying definitions and add District Compliance Officer(s).  Additionally, guidelines relating to complaint procedures, filing a complaint, retaliation, training, notice, and retention of investigatory records and materials are outlined in detail.

19.14 The Superintendent recommends, following a public hearing, approval of amendments to Policy 4122 – Nondiscrimination and Equal Employment Opportunity, effective March 1, 2023.

ITEM SUMMARY: The proposed revisions to this policy address prohibited discrimination under F.S.760.10 and F.S. 1005.05. Revisions also include qualifying definitions and add District Compliance Officer(s).  Additionally, guidelines relating to complaint procedures, filing a complaint, retaliation, training, notice, and retention of investigatory records and materials are outlined in detail.

19.15 The Superintendent recommends, following a public hearing, approval of amendments to Policy 2431.05 – Athletic Injuries Prevention and Treatment Program, effective March 1, 2023.

ITEM SUMMARY: The proposed revision to this policy address the role of an athletic trainer as provided in F.S. 468.705.

19.16 The Superintendent recommends, following a public hearing, approval of amendments to Policy 2450 – Adult and Community Education, effective March 1, 2023.

ITEM SUMMARY: The proposed revisions to this policy separate the General Educational Development (GED) program and the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program content into two sections.  It also adds the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act.

19.17 The Superintendent recommends, following a public hearing, approval of amendments to Policy 5520 – Disruptions of Schools and School-Sponsored Activities, effective March 1, 2023.

ITEM SUMMARY: The proposed revisions to this policy change the title of the policy from Disorder and Demonstration to Disruptions of Schools and School-Sponsored Activities.  Revisions also outline the School Board’s responsibility of preserving order for the proper function of its programs without substantial disruption as outlined in the LCS Student Code of Conduct Book. 

19.18 The Superintendent recommends, following a public hearing, approval of amendments to Policy 8800 – Religious/Patriotic Ceremonies and Observances, effective March 1, 2023.

ITEM SUMMARY: The proposed revisions to this policy add sections detailing procedures for Veterans Day and Celebrate Freedom Week.  Revisions also provide for a moment of silence daily without interference and exemptions from the Pledge of Allegiance.