During a recent meeting of the Concord School Board's communication and policy committee, members convened to discuss significant updates to policies regarding Title IX, particularly focusing on policy 415, which addresses sexual harassment reporting and grievance processes. Chair Karen Meeker led the meeting, joined by committee members Liz Boucher and Jim Richards, along with Superintendent Kathleen Murphy and Karen Fisher Anderson from the district.

The committee's primary agenda centered on adapting to recent federal changes to Title IX, which are set to take effect on August 1, 2024. These changes include new definitions and procedures for reporting discrimination, necessitating a thorough review to ensure compliance with federal guidelines. Meeker emphasized the importance of accurately implementing these updates to align with the new federal standards.

The committee reviewed resource materials provided by the federal government and the New Hampshire School Board Association, which outlined the necessary adjustments to current policies. While there was initial discussion about potentially adopting a repeal and replace strategy for the policy updates, the committee ultimately decided to proceed with a line-by-line review of the existing policy, marking necessary changes.

As the meeting progressed, the committee aimed to ensure that the revised policies would effectively address the complexities of sexual harassment reporting and grievance processes in accordance with the upcoming federal mandates.