The St. Vrain Valley School District has updated three policies to reflect state law changes concerning executive sessions, the definition of a public health emergency and disclosing educators’ absences.
The school board unanimously approved these updates at Wednesday’s meeting.
In regards to executive sessions, a ninth circumstance was added that would permit the school board to meet privately. This new exception relates to negotiations concerning the terms of an employment contract with one or more superintendent finalists.
In addition to interviewing finalists in a public forum, this new policy permits the board to interview the finalists in executive session as well. The board can now instruct staff to begin contract negotiations in an executive session, which the policy says does not count as a formal action or adoption by the board, as that will still have to take place in a public session.
The definition of a public health emergency was removed from the policy regarding workplace health and safety related to whistleblower actions. This broadens what constitutes a concern related to a workplace threat to health or safety should such a situation arise.
The final change relates to personnel records and files, specifying that the specific date of an educator’s absence from work is considered a personnel record and therefore not subject to public disclosure in an open records request.
The board had no questions or comments on the changes. The updates align with state law and go into effect immediately.
