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The Henrico School Board will meet on June 6 for a 2:30 p.m. work session and 6:30 p.m. monthly meeting to vote on changes to sexual harassment and discrimination policies, as well as revisions to technology use policies.
The changes would put Henrico Schools in line with new updates to federal Title IX policies released in April, which expand the definitions of sexual harassment and discrimination and provide more protections for LGBTQ+ and pregnant women.
Updates to HCPS policies expand the definition of sexual harassment to include “quid pro quo harassment,” when an HCPS employee offers aid or benefits in exchange for an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct, and “hostile environment harassment,” when unwelcome sex-based conduct that is “subjectively or objectively offensive” effectively denies a person’s ability to participate in an HCPS program or activity.
Revisions also further outline how HCPS will conduct Title IX investigations regarding sexual harassment or sex-based discrimination complaint. New changes get rid of the distinction between formal and informal complaints and allow school principals to conduct investigations as an alternative to the district’s Title IX coordinator. The revisions also allow investigators to be the final decision makers in Title IX investigations.
Individuals would also have three “working days” rather than five “school days” to appeal the outcome of an investigation.
The school board also is scheduled to vote on changes to technology policies. Updates to regulations on staff use of technology would ban HCPS employees from downloading TikTok or other applications owned by the same company on HCPS-issued devices, which aligns with state policy.
Changes to the HCPS Code of Student Conduct also expand the “Student Acceptable Use of Technology” and “Integrity/Honesty” sections to provide guidance on when using artificial intelligence is permitted. At the June 6 meeting, the school board also will vote on other changes to the code, including updates that remove some clothing restrictions from the dress code and lessen penalties for violating the Student Activities Contract.
In addition, the board is likely to vote on changes to fee and tuition schedules, which would reinstate Summer Academy tuition costs that previously were waived due to COVID-19 and eliminate HCPS-issued parking violation fees.
Members of the public will have the opportunity to comment online or in-person at the school board’s public forum.
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Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s Report for America Corps member and education reporter. Her position is dependent upon reader support; make a tax-deductible contribution to the Citizen through RFA here.
