In its last meeting prior to the start of the 2012-2013 school year, the South-Western City Schools Board of Education approved several new and revised district policies.

On Monday, Aug. 13, the board held second and final readings on a number of new policies pertaining to suspension of administrative contracts, diploma deferral, personal information systems, head lice and anti-fraud practices as well as revisions to its policies on the evaluation of administrators, vendor relations, staff use of board-owned cellphones, student records, environmental health and safety issues, student abuses and neglect and home education.

The board also held a first reading of a revision to its policy on harassment, intimidation and bullying. The new language up for consideration now includes electronic acts of bullying and defines an electronic act as an "act committed through the use of a cellular telephone, computer, pager, personal communication device or other electronic communication device."

Other proposed additions to the policy include procedure for anonymous reporting of bullying, defining the filing of a complaint as a protected activity and listing of suspension and/or expulsion as potential consequences for students determined to be responsible for bullying or harassment.

In other news Aug. 13, the board passed a resolution of acceptance into the Ohio School Facilities Commission's Classroom Facilities Assistance Program.

In July, the OSFC voted in favor of proceeding with the district's Facilities Master Plan and the state's controlling board approved the commission's determination.

The board's acceptance of these rulings was the next step of the process that will see a nearly 50-50 split between the district and the state for the cost of the district's plans to replace 13 elementary school buildings, combine Finland and East Franklin Elementary Schools into one larger building, replace Franklin Heights High School and make minor renovations to Buckeye Woods and Darby Woods Elementary Schools.

The board also approved a resolution with the Metropolitan Educational Council to participate in a bus purchasing cooperative. According to the resolution, the educational council will advertise and receive bids on behalf of the district for the purchase of one or more 54-passenger wheelchair-accommodation buses and one or more 77-passenger conventional buses.

While the district will be obligated to pay an equal share of advertising, it will not be obligated to purchase the buses after bids are received.