The Carson City School Board will meet Tuesday to hear and discuss policy changes to PE exemptions, teacher and staff ID badges, law enforcement cases involving students and proposed amendments to the Carson City Schools Foundation.
The August 12 meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Robert Crowell Board Room, inside the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William Street.
On the agenda:
— A discussion and update on the Carson City Schools Foundation and possible action to approve proposed amendments to the bylaws of the foundation.
Jon Hager, president of foundation will provide an update that includes mini-grants, department and school wide grants and student aide and scholarships.
— A discussion with possible action to approve proposed changes to district policy regarding identification badges. District Risk Manager Ann Cyr will present a first reading of Policy 817 that requires school district to issue ID badges to all full-time and part-time employees. The ID serves the dual role of allowing access to secured areas as well as readily identifying employees and other authorized personnel. In addition the IDs provide measured protection against unauthorized personnel and intruders from entering district buildings.
— Discussion and possible action to approve proposed changes to Carson City School District Policy 539, regarding independent study in physical education. This will be a second reading for possible action.
The policy is to establish conditions under which a student may be exempt from physical education graduate requirement per Nevada Administrative Code, while ensuring all students meet the total number of credits required for high school graduation.
Conditions for Exemption
All students may be exempted from the physical education graduation requirement under the following conditions:
Medical: the student has a physical or mental conditions that prevents participation in physical education and the exception requires is supported by a written statement from a licensed physician.
Religious Belief: The student holds a sincere region’s belief that precludes participation in physical education and the expiation request is supported by a written statement from the student’s parents or guardian.
Military Science or ROTC: The student is enrolled in and successful completed the Reserve Officer Trains Corps (ROTC) or a course of study in military science. One PE credit exemption per one year of successful completion.
Marching Band: The student is enrolled in and successfully completes the marching band course. One PE credit exemption per one year of successful completion.
Athletics, Dance or Cheer: The student participates in interscholastic athletics, is a member of a drill team, participates in a dance group or is on a cheerleading squad and finishes the season in good standing. One PE credit exemption per one year of successful competition.
Competitive Club Activity or Sport: The student must participate in the approved activity for a minimum of 120 hours per exempted credit. The activity must occur outside the regularly scheduled school day and participation must be verified by the school principal or designee.
The exemption from physical education does not reduce the total number of credits required for graduation. Students must complete the required number of overall credits through other coursework.
— Discussion on proposed changes to CCSD policy and regulation 528, student cases involving law enforcement and public agencies. This is a first reading for discussion only.
The draft reads as follows with changes:
Carson City School District officials are obliged to work closely with law enforcement and public officials in the control and care of student health, welfare and behavior. School officials shall release the student on demand to either law enforcement or an agent from the Department of Child and Family Services provided the officer or agent shows proper identification and signs an approved release of student form.
Public officials that have authority to take students into custody are: 1) law enforcement officers 2)an officer or the local juvenile probation department or the local department of juvenile services 3) agents from DCFS.
In general, law enforcement agencies should be called to assist in handling instances of theft, physical danger and/or situations requiring involuntary searching of students. When emergency conditions require action before the arrival of an officer, only reasonable force may be used to protect the safety of students and staff when force or threats of force are used against them.
Conversely, agents from DCFS may investigation a report of child abuse or neglect with or without a call from the school. If the agent deems appropriate, an agent may, without the consent of and outside the presence of any person responsible for the child’s welfare, interview a child or any sibling of the child.
In all action involving coordination with public officials, District officials shall endeavor to protect the rights of the students and parents when investigation, interview, protective custody and/or arrest take place during school hours. Further, a reasonable effort shall be made to notify the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) after the student has been released from school and into the custody of such officials.
Additional changes include the following:
The Carson City school District will cooperate with law enforcement agencies and the Department of Child and Family Services within the parameters of the law in regard to cases of suspected juvenile criminal actitity or suspected child abuse or neglect.
Students Interviewed by DCFS Agents
The district shall permit agents from DCFS to enter school grounds and contact students as authorized by Chapter 432B of the Nevada Revised Statutes for the purpose of interviewing students or their siblings during the investigation of a report of abuse or neglect.
The District shall allow DCFS agents to interview the student outside the presence of any person responsible for the child’s welfare, including parents, legal guardians or District officials.
Immediately after the concluding one an interview, if reasonably possible, the District may notify the person responsible for the child’s welfare that the child or sibling was interviewed, unless the agent determines that such notification would endanger the child or sibling.
In other matters:
The district will hear information items on changes to nursing staff, budget transfers, upcoming professional learning for staff, information on the first day of school, August 18, for students in grades 1-12 and August 20, first day of school for pre-K and kindergarten students. See the agenda in the PDF below.
Public comment, where to watch
The meeting can be accessed at the website here and YouTube here.
Comments will be accepted in person, or through virtual participation via email; publiccomment@carson.k12.nv.us no later than 12:30 p.m. the day of the meeting.
Email for public comment must include the submitting party’s full name. Email for public comment will be posted as a supplemental document and copies will be provided to the board members.
