COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The first reading of a revised policy which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex including sexual orientation or gender identity in the Branch Intermediate School District was made during a special meeting of the Branch I.S.D. Board of Education on Wednesday.
Business Manager Diane Shiery said the 22-page policy is the result of new regulations that have been issued by the U.S. Department of Education which go into effect on Friday.
She says some of the changes include a new definition of sexual harrassment. All employees are required to be trained and report allegations of sexual harassment as part of the new procedures.
The second reading and formal adoption of the policy will take place at the next board meeting.
In other business, the board approved a number of virtual courses for the Career and Technical Education Department as well as for the Special Education Department.
They also approved the district’s Back to School Preparedness Plan. It covers all of the B.I.S.D. Service Areas plans to re-open depending on which phase Branch County is under as part of the MI Safe Start Plan. Details are available at www.branch-isd.org.
A revised common calendar was also approved since classes in Coldwater, Quincy, Bronson, the Branch I.S.D. and Pansophia Academy will start on September 8. Five previously scheduled professional development days will be held before the start of classes. The last student day has been changed from June 4 to June 15, 2021.
