The Pine Bush School Board would like to invite two foreign exchange students to the district in 2024.

At its January 10 meeting, the board presented the first reading of a proposed change to its policy on Non-Students (Policy #7132).
Board president Gretchen Meier is excited about the possibility of allowing foreign exchange students to attend Pine Bush.

“If the board adopts this change of policy, it would provide an amazing opportunity for our students and the foreign exchange students to share their cultures,” Meier said.

The policy change would allow foreign students participating in a recognized Student Exchange Program on a J-1 visa to attend the Pine Bush High School free of tuition, with free transportation from the student’s residence within the Pine Bush Central School District. The school board has the sole discretion to grant such admission.

Foreign exchange students would be admitted to the high school for a maximum of one-academic year. The school district would accept only two foreign exchange students annually.

The district would only accept foreign exchange students who demonstrate compliance with all New York State immunization requirements. Potential students must submit their academic transcript, medical history and disciplinary records.

The district would recognize only those organizations designated as “Exchange-Visitor Programs” by the United States Department of State, pursuant to federal regulations, as sponsoring organizations for the exchange of students.

The district would consider the student’s sponsor to act as the person in parental relations for purposes of communication regarding the student.

Foreign exchange students would be subject to the District’s Code of Conduct and all applicable district policies and regulations. According to the proposed policy change, the board may terminate the foreign exchange program and terminate the approval of a foreign exchange student when it is deemed to be in the best interests of the district.

The board may continue to consider this policy change at its next meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 24, at the Circleville Middle School.