The Pleasanton school board is set to receive an update on the district's new sexual harassment procedures and implementation during its regular meeting on Thursday.

The update will reflect the progress district staff have made after the board approved a new board policy on sexual harassment in June.

In the presentation, which will be led by Ed Diolazo, deputy superintendent of student support services and Leslie Heller, director of student services, some of these key points will be increasing communication and changing the culture of accountability.

The reason for the new policies on sexual harassment stemmed from students at Foothill High School advocating for better ways on reporting and handling these types of cases.

In January, NOTA, otherwise known as None of the Above, published a special issue on Foothill's treatment of sexual harassment, mental health and the socioeconomic privilege of Pleasanton in general.

According to the staff's presentation, all sexual harassment documents and processes have been updated and feedback students and administrators was incorporated into the new policy.

"Administrative trainings were held on Aug. 23, 2022 and Aug. 29, 2022," the report reads. "Administrators facilitated in person classroom presentations on sexual harassment for grades 6-12. 4th and 5th grade presentations are being completed in person by counselors and administrators."

The report also states that in regards to the culture of accountability, the processes and procedures for filing complaints have been updated and communicated with district staff.

The message to students will be that it will not be tolerated on campus and to convey that, the district will be requiring schools to post updated notifications in the restrooms and locker rooms on what is considered harassment and how to get help if you are a victim.

The school board's open-session meeting is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 22). Read the full agenda here.

In other business

* The board is poised to approve a memorandum of understanding for the approval to add and implement two new job positions for the Kids Club program at the Horizon Early Education Center and STEAM Preschool.

The district and the California School Employees' Association, Chapter 155 have agreed on the memorandum for the implementation of an Expanded Learning Lead and Early Learning Expanded Care Analyst.

Both these positions are a result of a new Expanded Learning Opportunity Program, which according to the district's website, provides funding from the California Department of Education for after school and summer school enrichment programs for transitional kindergarten through sixth grade.

Kids Club is the expanded learning program in PUSD.

"The new job descriptions ensure that all of the job duties are captured for the needs of the Expanded Learning Opportunity Program," the district staff report reads. "All of the duties that are essential functions are reflected in the new job descriptions. These new job descriptions reflect the responsibilities, functions and qualifications necessary to provide the services to support the ELO program."

* District staff will also be updating the board on the 2022 summer programs and will highlight data on how high school, middle school and elementary school students benefited from the extra help and opportunities.

According to the district report, all three levels of education served a disproportionately high level of traditionally marginalized students in 2022. In all, 433 elementary, 177 middle and 558 high school students benefited from this year's summer classes.

The update will also include information on the Extended School Year Programs and the K-12 Enrichment Program.

According to the reports, the purpose of the Extended School Year Program is to "reinforce the progress made on goals in the regular school year."

The enrichment program, on the other hand, offers students ways to gain extra credits. One aspect of the enrichment program is original credit classes, which are free classes offered for high school students who did not fail a class and were trying to earn first time credit.

Another part of the enrichment program is the Summer Mariachi Program, which 45 students participated in this summer. The mariachi program offers returning students a chance to learn music theory and to practice their skills in their respective instruments.