Orono Public School District — The Orono Public School District Board on Dec. 8 approved two policies and reviewed additional changes to the student-focused 500-series that respond to recent statutory updates.

The board approved policy 509 (enrollment of nonresident students) and policy 510 (school activities) without further amendments after the policy committee reported no recommended changes. The approvals were moved, seconded and approved during the old-business portion of the meeting.

Dr. Ruhland, presenting the 500-series review, said the committee aligned the recommended language with recent statutory shifts and the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) model policy. "This policy provides guidance in balancing First Amendment rights for student journalists with the district's role in educating, supervising, and setting expectations for those same journalists," Ruhland said when introducing policy 5-12 (school-sponsored student publications and activities). He noted the policy committee consulted district attorney Trevor Helmer on statutory adjustments.

On bullying and privacy, Ruhland summarized two statutory-driven changes: MSBA model updates include language requiring school boards to prohibit malicious and sadistic conduct in bullying policy; and changes to directory-information rules now bar directory listings that include parent or student contact information, which previously could be shared with PTOs and community partners. Ruhland said the recommended changes embed those statutory requirements into policy 5-14 and that policy 5-15 will reflect FERPA and Minnesota Government Data Practices Act guidance on directory information.

The board treated the 5-12/5-14/5-15 items as reviews at this meeting; the policy committee recommended adoption language and the board will take formal action in a future meeting after review.