Highland board adds heat policy, discusses open-enrollment waivers

Posted 8/31/21

In a less-than-10-minute meeting on Monday, Aug. 30, the Highland School Board added a heat policy to their coaches handbook, OKed the purchase of a new school van and discussed waiving the 90-day …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Highland board adds heat policy, discusses open-enrollment waivers

Posted

In a less-than-10-minute meeting on Monday, Aug. 30, the Highland School Board added a heat policy to their coaches handbook, OKed the purchase of a new school van and discussed waiving the 90-day athletics rule that prevents new open enrolled students from immediately playing a sport.

The heat policy, which is modeled after a policy set by the Iowa High School Athletic Association, issues guidance for coaches during high-heat practices and games, including mandatory water breaks and other precautions. Superintendent Ken Crawford said including it in the coaches handbook is a “good, solid decision.”

The board also approved the purchase of a new MV-1 van for the district, after Crawford said the current van has had multiple maintenance issues such as the air conditioning and rear brake lights being faulty. The new van was going to be delivered on Tuesday, Aug. 31 and, providing that it appears to be in good condition, the district planned to purchase it.

The board then discussed a new rule regarding open enrolled students where if both the student’s previous school board and the student’s new school board agree, the 90-day waiting period before the student can participate in varsity athletics can be waived. Crawford said he believes these requests should be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. The board approved to waive the fee for two students at the Aug. 30 meeting.

Following the regular meeting, the board entered a work session with Lou Ann Gvist and Tammi Drawbaugh of the Iowa Association of School Boards. Gvist and Drawbaugh attended the work session to help the Highland board begin to revise and update the district’s mission statement and board goals.

“I am certain that there’s not more important work for your students and students all across the state of Iowa,” said Drawbaugh.