LOUDONVILLE — The Loudonville-Perrysville School Board of Education approved 22 revised, rescinded and new policies, including implementing a Parents’ Bill of Rights and restroom policy.
The board approved those policies in response to state legislature changes.
According to the district’s new Parents Bill of Rights, any sexuality content taught at Loudonville-Perrysville schools is age appropriate. The Board banned instruction that includes sexual content for students in kindergarten through third grade.
Prior to the school administering any content involving sexual topics, parents will have the opportunity to review the instructional material.
If parents do not want their child to participate in the instruction, the teacher will create an alternative assignment.
The policy also allows parents to inspect any instructional materials used as part of the educational curriculum for their student, excluding academic assessments.
Sexual content does not include sexually transmitted infections education.
In addition, if an educator notices an emotional, physical or mental change in a student, they are required to inform the parent. That includes if any student requests to identify as a gender that does not align with their biological sex, according to House Bill 8.
The policy implements changes specified in House Bill 8, which was signed into law on Jan. 8 by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.
The board also approved a new policy regarding restrooms, locker rooms, shower rooms and changing rooms.
The policy states there will be no multi-user restrooms that are open to all genders, meaning designated male and female restrooms only.
Any student, employee or other visitor who enters a multi-occupancy restroom of the opposite sex, and refuses to leave the facility when asked by school personnel will be subject to appropriate discipline.
For employees this could mean termination of employment. Other visitors could be removed from the premises and face future restrictions.
The policy responds to the Protect All Students Act, also known as the ‘bathroom bill,’, which DeWine signed into law Nov. 27, 2024
The law restricts transgender students access to certain school facilities.
In other news
The board updated graduation requirements for students in the graduating class of 2028. Those students must now earn a minimum of 21 credits in grades 9 through 12.
Students in the graduating class of 2026 and beyond will be required to earn a half credit in finance.
Starting in the class of 2028, students will be required to earn 4.5 elective credits, an increase from the 3.5 credits required for students in the classes of 2026-27.
Tina Ludwig, northeast regional liaison for the Ohio Auditor of State, awarded treasurer Christine Angerer the auditor of state award.
This is the 13th year in a row Loudonville-Perrysville Schools have won this award, which recognizes clean audit report qualifications.
“We’d like to thank the board, administration, and finance department that have done an outstanding job watching over every dollar,” Ludwig said.
Only 10 percent of clients qualify for the award. The northeast office conducts 4,200 audits a year, Ludwig said.
Board President David Hunter noted the majority of renovations to the Ashland County West Holmes Career Center will be completed by Christmas break.
Then the 542 enrolled students will be moved into the main building. But Hunter said it will be about a year until the project is fully completed.
