Board Considers New Policies at Meeting Tonight

Members of the Board of Education for the Rapid City Area Schools will consider changes to District policies on attendance, nondiscrimination, dual enrollment and emergency evacuation plans for handicapped students tonight. The board switched is regular board meeting from Thursday to Tuesday this week to allow board members to attend the annual Associated School Boards of South Dakota convention in Sioux Falls.

The policy changes on attendance reflect the new state law that requires students to remain in school until they are 18 or graduate. The policy outlines the responsibilities of parents and school officials when it comes to enforcing the state’s mandatory attendance law.  New language also highlight’s the District’s ability to initiate truancy proceedings if students and parents fail to comply with the law.

Changes to the policy on nondiscrimination make it clear that students cannot be discriminated against because they are pregnant or married. Meanwhile, a new policy on emergency evacuation of handicapped students calls on the school officials to prepare an emergency evacuation plan at the beginning of each school year for handicapped students.

In addition to policy changes, the Administration will also present the schedule for the development of next year’s budget. Business manager Dave Janak has prepared budget assumptions for the board that call for a 12 percent fund balance. The plan also assumes that if any further budget cuts are needed they wil come first from support functions, rather than instruction. Within instruction, priority is given to programs that 1) support core graduation requirements; 2) provide the greatest impact on student achievement, and 3) align with the district’s mission and philosophy. The Administration also suggests that capital spending will revolve around the Master Facilities Plan developed last year by a nationally recognized consulting team.

The board meeting starts at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 4 in the Council Chambers in the City/School Administration Building at 300 Sixth Street. A copy of the agenda is available here: Board agenda 8409