Triad School District updates student, parent handbooks for 2026-2027

By Charles Bolinger
Editor • At the Triad School District board meeting on June 22, the board approved updates to the student-parent handbooks for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year, which included several key updates.   

These changes, which range from safety protocols to academic adjustments, were developed to align with Triad policy, Illinois law and Illinois Principals Association models. This information will be shared with parents and students at the beginning of the school year. 

At the district level, parents may request to review and inspect curriculum and instructional materials. However, if they object to a certain portion of the curriculum, parents may now use a “curriculum objection form” to request exemptions from specific content. Additionally, the district has introduced support services for students who are victims of domestic or sexual violence (grades K-12), students who are parents or expectant parents (grades 6-12), ensuring they have access to trained mental health specialists and can make up missed work.

Elementary handbooks now explicitly group “intimidation and harassment” with bullying to ensure a broader protective scope for students.

For classroom celebrations, the “store-bought only” treat rule remains but parents are now required to check with teachers regarding students’ dietary restrictions and food allergies before bringing items to school.

Triad Middle School (TMS) will implement several logistical shifts:

• Academic habits: the homework “grace period” prior to parent open house has been reduced from four weeks to two weeks. Following the parent open house, the regular make-up work policy will be followed to encourage timely feedback and stronger study habits
• Dress code updates: the use of compression or spandex-style shorts as standalone outerwear is now prohibited in both physical education and general classes; these garments must be worn under appropriate athletic shorts
• Tardies: the tardy consequence schedule has been simplified to follow a clear pattern of four
• Food deliveries banned: to ensure building security and reduce staff burden, third-party food deliveries (such as DoorDash or UberEats) will no longer be accepted during or after school hours

Triad High School (THS) is prioritizing safety with the introduction of metal detection systems (walk-through detectors and/or handheld wands). These may be used for high-traffic events, like athletic contests after school and or during the regular school day upon entry or on a random basis. Other notable THS updates include:

• Caffeine packets ban: pure caffeine in tablet, powder or packet form is now classified as a prohibited substance to be used on school grounds because it looks like nicotine packets
• Career and college prep: attendance policies now recognize “Career Development Experiences,” such as 4-H events, as excused. Furthermore, a “One Click College Admit” program, allows high school seniors to gain automatic, stress-free admission to participating state universities and community colleges based solely on their GPA through the Illinois Student Assistance Commission
• Locker room safety: glass containers are strictly prohibited in all locker rooms to prevent injury

The next Triad Board Meeting is July 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the district’s administration building, 203 E. Throp St. in Troy. Triad School District’s first day of classes for the 2026-2027 school year is Aug. 13.