By Sarah Nigbor

RIVER FALLS – At the July 20 meeting, the River Falls School Board approved a first reading of the district’s revised dress code policy, which addresses the dress code’s purpose, how it will be enforced and face coverings.

“The EID (Equity, Inclusivity & Diversi- ty) Committee had been working on this is sue for a while and many of their concerns are reflected, especially in the part about monitoring and compliance, and so we see the recommendations from them reflected in this new policy,” Board President Stacy Johnson Meyers said.

The dress code’s purpose is to “seek to prepare students for the expectations in the world of academics and work beyond high school while fostering a welcoming school climate that leads to student engagement in a healthy, safe, supportive and positive educational environment,” the policy states. According to the policy, parents/guardians hold the primary responsibility in determining their child’s personal attire, while schools are responsible for ensuring that a student’s personal attire does not interfere with the health and safety of any student and doesn’t contribute to any disruption to the school environment.

The policy pledges that school administration will “enforce the dress code consistently and in a manner that allows students to observe religious customs or beliefs.” The code will also be enforced in a way that won’t “reinforce or increase marginalization or oppression of any individual or group on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, immigration status, cultural or religious identity, household income, body size/type, or body maturity, or any other basis that adversely auects the student, or is prohibited by law." The policy promises that students won’t be “shamed” or required to display their body in front of others. Shaming, in the policy, is defined as asking students to account for their attire in the classroom or in hallways in front of others; or calling out students in spaces, in hallways, or in classrooms about perceived dress code violations in front of others.

Students refusing to change or cover inappropriate dress may face disciplinary consequences. If a student violates the policy, parents will be notified and students will be given three options: To put on their own alternative clothing, if available at school.

They can be provided with temporary school clothing.

Parents may be called to bring alternative clothing for the student to wear for the remainder of the day.

Additional considerations will be made for special occasions (Homecoming week, etc.), extracurricular activities, time and place, and exceptions (to accommodate medical or health needs, field trips, and/or special school activities as approved by the principal).

Lastly, face covering/mask requirements will be decided by the superintendent in consultation with the school board. If deemed necessary for the health and safety of stu- dents, stau, and visitors, people may be re quired to wear masks. The school board and superintendent may rely on guidelines and expectations from the Center of Disease Con- trol (CDC), the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), and Pierce County Public Health in reaching an independent district face covering decision, the policy concludes.

“Style and preferences and parental attitudes and community attitudes are kind of an evolving thing over time, so all of the input and feedback and conversation here I think was really helpful to try and make this timely,” said board member Alan Tuchtenhagen.

Locker room privacy

The board also approved the first reading of the district’s locker room privacy policy.

“We just want to make it really clear that primarily the conversation was focused on cell phones, cameras, video, not allowed in locker rooms under any circumstance,” Superintendent Jamie Benson said.

The policy addresses locker rooms and bathrooms where students should have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Basically, the policy was shored up to provide more “crystal-clear” guidance on the topic. For example, one student athlete cannot give another permission to video them in the locker room.

Conversations sprung up about privacy on a bus, in a classroom or on an overnight field trip in a hotel. A complementary policy addresses this oushoot of the privacy issue, Benson said, but that one is not up for board review at this time.

Board member Cindy Holbrook likes the fact the policy doesn’t leave room for interpretation, considering the number of students carrying cell phones, especially as the ages seem to get younger.

Under no circumstances can anyone be recorded in locker rooms whether clothed, in uniform, partially clothes or unclothed. No student has authority to give anyone permission to record them. Any violations will be reported to law enforcement.

Laude system

The school district will no longer designate valedictorians and salutatorians, according to the revised policy approved on graduation exercises. The district is moving to the laude system, which will recognize students with summa, magna and cum laude designations.

Personnel changes

The board approved the following district personnel changes: Increased employment for Speech/Language Pathologist Kate Dulaney, from 0.6 FTE to 0.7 FTE euective Aug. 25. Transfer of Rainbow Barry from Children’s House teacher to Upper Elementary teacher at River Falls Public Montessori El- ementary School (replaces Katie Purington). Hiring of Jaimi Hoernke as 1.0 FTE cross categorical special education teacher at Mey- er Middle School, euective Aug. 16 (replaces Dawn Hauschild). Hoernke earned her Bach elor’s degree from UW-La Crosse and has nine years of experience at New Richmond, Amery, St. Paul and Osceola.

Hiring Billie Jo Johnson as 1.0 FTE sev- enth grade literacy teacher at MMS euec – tive Aug. 16 (replaces Sarah Sabelko). She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UW-River Falls and has 10 years of experience at Ellsworth and St. Bridget’s.

Hiring Scott Pape at 1.0 FTE eighth grade social studies teacher at MMS euective Aug. 16 (replaces Kurt Lietz). Pape earned a Bach elor’s degree from Iowa State and has four years of experience (Woodbury and RF). Hiring Stephanie Thompson as 0.5 FTE Children's House teacher at RFPME euec – tive Aug. 16 (replaces Ruth Jilk). Thompson earned a Bachelor’s degree from UWRF and has three years of experience (NR, Hudson, Hammond). Hiring Beth Dodge as 1.0 FTE school psy- chologist at RFHS euective Aug. 16 (replaces Tyler Anderson). She earned her Bachelor's degree from University of Minnesota and her Master’s from UW-Stout. She has 18 years of experience (Red Wing, Hudson, Stillwater, North St. Paul and Prescott). Hiring Natalie Wayne as 1.0 FTE fifth grade teacher at Rocky Branch euective Aug. 16 (replaces Mary Swanson). Wayne earned her bachelor’s and her master’s degrees from the University of Washington. She has 10 years of experience (Graham, Wash.) Resignation of Sara Butcher as FTE first grade teacher at Rocky Branch euective at the end of the 2021-22 school year.

Resignation of Sarah Sabelko as FTE sev- enth grade literacy teacher at MMS euective at the end of the 2021-22 school year.

Resignation of Nikki Feldmeier as RFHS science teacher euective at the end of the 2021-22 school year.

Other business

Johnson Meyers welcomed the new director of student services, Mark Inouye. He was previously employed with Prescott School District.

Look for formal district strategic plan updates from Benson roughly three times a school year in November, February and May.