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Student survey policy being studied by RC school boardBy MaryHelen Swanson The Rush City school board is reviewing an amended policy that includes some changes in the way surveys are administered. If Rush City adopts the new student survey policy created by the Minnesota School Board Association, Rush City schools would need parental notification for surveys that contain questions pertaining to a studentís (or parentís or guardianís) personal beliefs or practices in sex, family life, morality and religion. Besides notifying the parents, the school would need written permission from the parent for the student to participate in such a survey. Additionally, the new policy would allow parents to inspect, upon request, a survey, including an evaluation of the survey, before the survey is As with the current policy on surveys, students are not required to submit to a survey that reveals information concerning political affiliations, sex behavior, illegal, antisocial, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior, critical appraisals of other individuals with whom students have close family relationships, or income. The new student survey policy also includes religious practices, affiliations or beliefs of the student or the studentís parent in the above list. At that time it will act to adopt the new policy. Both the current and new policy requires that the school district give parents and students notice of their rights under this section. In an update on the elementary building project last week, Superintendent Tim Eklund noted that the gymnasium is now being used and that work in the round building continues. The contracts with school principals Vernon Koepp and Mark Saari were approved by the board for renewal with Eklund noting that the two received a 3 percent annual salary adjustment plus insurance benefit adjustments. The board also hired Barbara Galvez as a paraprofessional, and approved a temporary leave of absence for Christina Inman. The board also approved seeking bids for a bus. Eklund said the district was waiting for a gasoline bus to become available, but none has. The district will accept a diesel bus, cost to be about $50,000. Eklund noted there are seven buses in the fleet with over 100,000 miles and the district needs to get back to a regular replacement schedule. ©ECM Post Review |