School District 191 Policy Committee - Aug. 18, 2026
Policy 402 Disability Non-Discrimination Policy Revisions
Policy 423 Employee-Student Relationships Revisions
Policy 521 Student Disability Non-Discrimination Revisions
Policy 709 Student Transportation Safety Policy Revisions
Policy 722 Public Data Requests Revisions
Policy 634 Internet and Technology Acceptable Use Policy Revisions
Policy 507.5 School Resource Officers Policy Revisions
Policy 613 Graduation Requirements Revisions
Policy 621 Literacy and the Read Act Revisions
Regulation 206R Listening Session Guidelines Revisions
Consent Agenda for Policies with No Changes
Full Document Analysis
Votes (10)
Policy 402 Disability Non-Discrimination Policy
MSBA recommended changes for an interactive process for reasonable ADA accommodations and to identify Ariel Olson as the HR Assistant Director. A grammatical error regarding the title was noted and corrected by the committee. The policy was deemed straightforward for approval.
Policy 423 Employee-Student Relationships
MSBA recommended adding language around grooming, which was recently passed at the state level. Minnesota Statute 609.352 is awaiting an update, so specific language is not yet available. The committee also questioned the removal of a specific policy number in reporting references, with the presenter explaining it's an MSBA suggestion for consistency across districts. Due to pending statute details, the policy was moved to first read.
Policy 521 Student Disability Non-Discrimination
MSBA recommended additional language regarding the failure to engage in a process to determine reasonable accommodation for students with disabilities, aligning with Minnesota Statute 363A.03 subdivision 12 and the Minnesota Human Rights Act. The 504 coordinator was updated to Dr. Brandon Low. A committee member questioned the requirement to name specific staff in the policy, confirmed as an MSBA mandate.
Policy 709 Student Transportation Safety Policy
MSBA recommended adding clarification for the definition of a 'bus' in the context of cell phone use and new language regarding first aid kits. This includes specific vehicle types, implementation dates (e.g., model year 2027 and newer, and all Type 3 vehicles by January 1, 2030), and kit requirements. A grammatical correction was made to 'containers' on page 12.
Policy 722 Public Data Requests
MSBA recommended adding language concerning 'Safe at Home' program participants and their data privacy. The presenter noted unfamiliarity with the specifics of this program but committed to seeking legal counsel if relevant data requests were received. Given the public-facing nature of data requests, a first read was recommended.
Policy 634 Internet and Technology Acceptable Use Policy
Revisions to this policy, frequently updated due to the evolving nature of technology, respond to recent Minnesota statute changes, particularly regarding the notification of minors and other relevant laws from the last legislative session. Legal references were also added. The committee agreed on the policy's importance and recommended a first read.
Policy 507.5 School Resource Officers
The policy revisions were prompted by Minnesota state legislature changes, especially following 'Operation Metro Surge,' requiring officer identification standards and community notification if chemical irritants or diversionary devices are used. Administration confirmed that these changes do not alter current practices and no such devices have been used in schools in the last 25 years. A minor formatting fix was noted.
Policy 613 Graduation Requirements
MSBA recommendations included state statute changes concerning English language learners and high school diploma access for veterans, specifically those from the Korean conflict and Vietnam War. Nomenclature updates were made (e.g., 'directors of elementary and secondary education'). An updated legal reference for ethnic studies requirements was also added. The committee raised a question about the limited scope of veteran recognition but determined it aligns with statute.
Policy 621 Literacy and the Read Act
MSBA updates to this policy responded to changes in the 'Read Act,' including clarifications and new terminology. Specific language was added regarding 'cap d read basics' for dyslexia screening and the inclusion of sign language in oral language definitions. A notable future change is that teachers joining college after June 2026 will have Read Act requirements integrated into their curriculum. The policy was recommended for a first read.
Regulation 206R Listening Session Guidelines
Superintendent Dr. Daniel presented a clarification to the listening session guidelines, requiring speakers to arrive by 5:40 and check-in by 5:55 to avoid forfeiting their opportunity to speak. This change aims to improve the efficiency of board listening sessions. The committee viewed it as a reasonable adjustment, recommending a first read.
Notable Quotes (21)
MSBA is recommending changes that would include language to assure that we are entering into an interactive process when determining reasonable accommodations for ADA. And and we are making the change also to identify the person which to work with as Ariel Olson as the assistant director of human resources.
Yeah, assistant director of human resources would actually be the better way of framing that.
Again, MSBA is adding or making a recommendation that we would add language around grooming, which was just recently passed in the last session from the state.
I was curious, I just found it interesting that we're removing the policy number. I was just, you know, in in the reporting and investigation, just that it's, uh, in accordance with the, uh, Burnsville Eagan Savage School District's complaint students such and such policy versus actually naming the policy number.
I don't think MSBA is going to, uh, add language to it because it'll be identified in statute. But if you had follow-up questions on what that looks like, that's where I start bogging down cuz I don't have the specific language of statute yet in front of us.
If you turn to item E, there's additional language, failure to engage in process to determine if a reasonable accommodation exists that would allow people with disabilities, as defined in Minnesota statute section 363A.03, subdivision 12, to participate fully in education may be an unfair discriminatory practice under the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
I'm just thinking about like future proofing. You know, we don't want any of these people to leave anytime soon, obviously, but if they do, we'd have to go back and revise the policy only to just to change a name.
MSBA is making the recommendation to add clarification on the language defining a bus for the purpose of cell phone use. That's really what it kind of comes down to at the end of the day. Also, adding language around first aid kit and what vehicles are required to have it, what date and which they have to be implemented, and the type of kit that would need to be implemented.
On the first aid kits the new policy says blah blah blah. First aid kit must be provided in vehicles model year 2027 and newer, and then later on in the same paragraph it says after January 1st, 2030, all type three vehicles must be equipped with a first aid kit meeting the requirements. So, we'll be updating this policy again in a year or two for '28 and '29 model year cars?
the only thing I have is also a formatting kind of thing in addition to up What's got Director Hume was talking about page 12 uh where it says kit must be contained in a container. It currently says in a containers. Just we'd want to strike the S after the container.
MSP is uh making a recommendation to add language around the safe at home participant participants in data privacy and what that entails or looks like. Um I'm not familiar with this program, but if we did it get a data request that were pertain to this, I would probably be seeking our legal counsel on what that means to go through because this is not a common request.
Most recently uh the most recent Minnesota statute changes have to do with notification of of minors, and um and some law changes that happened at the last legislative session. So, this is a response from the school lens to add to the policy.
These suggested revisions to our school resource officer policy, which has been coming up at recent legislative sessions as well, is in response to, I believe, some of the lot changes at the Minnesota state legislature around um especially in the aftermath of Operation Metro Surge um requirements to identify our for officers to have identification um standards as well as um for the school district to notify the community if there's any use of chemical irritants, smoke screen, or diversionary devices deployed within a building.
I did check with um both school administration and Burnsville police and um none of the recommended changes shift or require us to change past practices. Um also, I couldn't find any evidence in the last quarter century of chemical irritants being used by law enforcement our schools.
Changes included MSBA recommendations that are also responding to state statute involving our English language learners and some terminology there. Also, some of our high school diploma access for veterans and what veteran what some military agencies can access in the aftermath for those students who graduate and are military personnel or considering that.
Under the definitions in section three, so for striking out that second paragraph. In letter B? Right. So, letter B is completely out. Does all the letters need to move down?
You may not be able to answer this, but for the diplomas for veterans, I noticed it only calls out veterans who served during the Korean conflict and the Vietnam War. The youngest of whom would probably be around 70 at this time. Is that the statute? It does They've never done anything to go back and add I don't Gulf War veterans or Afghanistan War veterans or surprised.
We looked at Minnesota School Board Association updates um the Read Act. There were some changes to terminology and um it it it did come up at the last legislative session. Um clarifications and updates um I think the board might be we're aware that we've added the cap d read basics over the last 2 years to help screen for dyslexia. So there's added language there um into the statute into the policy language um adding that sign language is included in oral language.
The other addition to that's kind of interesting is that they um for um teachers that um join a um a college after 20 June 2026, they will not be required because it will be part of their their curriculum their degree.
It's just further clarification around what we need from speakers. If speakers are speaking at the listening session, we would like them to arrive at 5:40 and that truly they forfeit their opportunity to speak if they are not checked in by 5:55. So, just clarifying that to again tighten up our efficiency as a as a board during listening sessions.
I think it reflects what we talked about at the work session and it's a reasonable, you know, if you get stuck in traffic, you've still got a little bit of a cushion to get there and still be able to speak, but not going to hold you. We're not going to wait there indefinitely. So, I like it.
Ordinances & Resolutions (23)
Disability Non-Discrimination Policy
Americans with Disabilities Act
Employee-Student Relationships Policy
Relates to grooming language in employee-student relationships
Student Disability Non-Discrimination Policy
Definition of disabilities relevant to reasonable accommodation
Legal reference for unfair discriminatory practice
Refers to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, concerning disability rights
Student Transportation Safety Policy
Public Data Requests Policy
Data privacy program for participants
Internet and Technology Acceptable Use Policy
School Resource Officers Policy
Graduation Requirements Policy
Mentioned in relation to veteran diplomas
Literacy and the Read Act Policy
Legislative act concerning literacy education and training
Listening Session Guidelines Regulation
Expense Reimbursement for Travel Policy
Expense Reimbursement for Travel Regulation
Harassment and Violence Policy
Staff Recognition Policy
Public Participation in School Board Meetings, Complaints about Persons at School Board Meetings, and Data Privacy Considerations Policy