Board makes policy changes

RANDOLPH — Randolph school board members updated policies Nov. 9, due largely to Legislative policy changes.

Four main policy concerns were brought to the board's attention from legislative action.

LB 1080 requires school districts have a professional boundaries policy with several required elements.

One aspect of LB 1080 is that staff may not have a relationship with a student within one year of the student graduating or otherwise leaving the district.

Board members have a policy directed toward this and made the following additions:

Listed as a violation of boundaries that employees are expected to maintain would be:

• giving gifts of a personal nature to a specific student;

• discussing alcohol, tobacco or illicit drugs in a noninstructional setting, such as describing a party the employee attended;

• discussing a student's or employee's personal matters when it is not appropriate.

• grooming, which includes building trust with a student and individuals close to the student in an effort to gain access to and time alone with the student, with the ultimate goal of engaging in sexual contact or sexual penetration with the student, regardless of when in the student’s life the sexual contact or sexual penetration would take place.

Appropriate exceptions are permitted to the foregoing for legitimate health or educational purposes and for reasons of family relationships between employees and their children who are students in the District.

A staff member seeking an exception must receive advance approval from his or her administrator. If a staff member is unable to communicate with an administrator in advance such as in the event of an emergency, the staff member must notify the administrator as soon as possible, but not later than 24 hours immediately following the event.

Any person who suspects a District employee of engaging in any prohibited conduct under this policy, including grooming, should contact the Superintendent Jeff Hoesing as soon as practical.

An employee who violates this policy may face discipline, up to and including termination of employment, and may be referred to the appropriate certification or credentialing agencies for further discipline.

A violation of this policy will result in referral to the Department of Health and Human Services, law enforcement or both.

LB 1186 provides for up to seven days of paid injury leave for an employee who is intentionally, knowingly or recklessly injured while at work.

A new policy for Randolph is the injury leave policy. A District employee who believes they have been physically injured within the employee’s scope of employment by another individual who intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to such employee must report such injury to the employee’s administrator as soon as practical.

An administrator will then investigate the circumstances to determine if the employee qualifies for paid injury leave. The employee may be required to provide confirmation from a physician regarding the causation and the period of time for which an employee is unable to work. If the administrator determines that the employee qualifies for paid injury leave, then the employee will receive up to seven calendar days of paid injury leave to cover the amount of time that the employee was otherwise scheduled to work. Paid injury leave will not count against the employee’s other available leave.

If the administrator determines the employee does not qualify for paid injury leave, then the employee may be required to use other available leave. There is no appeal process for an employee who has been denied a request for paid injury leave.

LB 751 modified student attendance law to provide that mental health may be a basis for student absences.

LB 148 changes the method by which notice must be given for board meetings. Effective Nov. 13, all notices must be published in a newspaper. The notice may also be published on the paper’s website. Before a special or regular meeting, there needs to be a notice printed in a newspaper.

A new policy gives the administration the option to pay staff during a closure, but does not require payments. A new policy for the school is: In the event of inclement weather, a pandemic or other unexpected or extraordinary circumstances, the board of education or superintendent may close school or a particular school building in order to protect staff and students from harm, and will establish a reopen date when it is safe to return. If such a closure extends for a long period of time as determined by the superintendent, then procedures, agreements or other requirements to compensate staff during a closure may be made to ensure staff return to employment after the closure. The District may consistently pay staff according to District policies and procedures already established by salaries or wages.

Also Monday, Board members were told due to new state restrictions because of the spread of coronavirus, Randolph will host a virtual Veteran’s Day program instead of the traditional program this is usually held at the school.

Board members were also informed Red Ribbon Week was held this year at the elementary the week of Oct. 26 - Oct. 30.

Plans for the Christmas Holiday concert are still being made. the event is set for Dec. 8 at 6:30 p.m.

The Board also learned the elementary completed monthly fire drills and the first lock down drill.

The Board also got a Covid update. Statistics show: Quarantine 47, Testing Positive 13, School Investigations 7, School Quarantine 30.

Two students were Honored in Conference Honor Choir. Randolph students were named Conference Quiz Bowl Champions.

The Nov. 23 Winter Sports Pep Rally will not be open to the public due to virus concerns.

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