[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6174057,"mediaKeyId","5376152-4f2e3aa3612386173329de14dc87fd23","parentId",5376152,"title","Board reviews TSBA-recommended policy updates including new cellphone and recess rules, virtual education days","audioSeconds",538,"startMs",2631000,"endMs",3169000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5376152-4f2e3aa3612386173329de14dc87fd23&start=2631&end=3169","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5376152-4f2e3aa3612386173329de14dc87fd23/thumbnail_2631000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6174057/Tennessee/Board-reviews-TSBA-recommended-policy-updates-including-new-cellphone-and-recess-rules-virtual-education-days","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174057-c20c6e6eef122871f3a5ec03be14df3c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770805699&Signature=dzL4QQqDlJhBKOdpAZeKMB6wJZpR~8fBuvvFTV0m1PMqEZY~QqlBp1ud9ery2NdMmbgRVaGLHk1eGSbevJE4jbiXXg6CvCarGyl3ty056FY4GiWt6glInyHqMNV3~9-zziDkGdPqR1CrVdDYEfkcHjvSZt~Rv0FRA~ZltHqDWawPVgTGCoQAE1yrGlLvvb4xnlomql8zNN3AeSe7YW4eN8UimmdxpP1A~7d2ZhqN6KusCWsnL-jupK-lBb5-mSLX7kk0T~zFdrPgp4m8CFtOIVyEeBoxJvSMN4HulxonxlFLOfJOn59ApnKhG1mDqmb2PcpRqu~Q1DK5vyACwDqGfw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","White County Schools","date","2025-07-11T11:34:23Z","article","White County — The White County Board of Education reviewed and prepared second readings for several policies July 10 that reflect new state law and Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) recommendations, including rules on wireless devices during instruction, required elementary recess time, virtual education days and changes to student progress reporting.
Board members and staff said the updates are largely intended to bring local policy into compliance with recent state legislation and to provide required procedural language.
Key changes and concerns
- Wireless devices: The updated policy follows state law requiring that wireless communication devices be turned off and stored during instructional time unless authorized by an instructor. A staff member explained school-level plans will be included in student handbooks and principals will set classroom-level protocols. \"This is a state law. This is not just a strong suggestion from White County Schools,\" the staff member said.
- Elementary recess: The board discussed a legislative requirement for a minimum of 40 minutes per school day of physical activity for elementary students. Several board members and staff expressed concern about where to find instructional time to accommodate the new recess minutes. One board member said, \"There is no more time in the day. The legislature has given us way more stuff than we can do in that time.\" Staff described reworking schedules and combining or condensing transitions as part of the response.
- Virtual education days: The board considered a new policy that allows the district and individual schools to plan for occasional virtual instruction days, for example during inclement weather. District staff said they will work with principals and technology staff to define what a virtual day looks like for K–7 students who may not have district-issued devices.
- Reporting student progress: The policy change aligns progress reporting with recent legislation by requiring at least one progress report per quarter (previously a 4.5-week standard). The updated language requires including the most recent universal screener and, if applicable, dyslexia screening information at least once per quarter.
- Other updates: The board reviewed updates on searches by principals/designees, threat-assessment reporting, internet safety and social-media use by staff, charter school monitoring and surplus property rules tied to federally purchased equipment.
Board process and next steps
Board members indicated they will take many of the updated policies to a second reading at the regular meeting; several of the reviewed items were included in the consent agenda for adoption. Staff said they will include school-level implementation plans (for example, cellphone protocols and virtual-day procedures) in school handbooks and communicate changes to families.
Operational notes and enforcement
District staff said principal discretion and designated designees will handle searches and threat-assessment procedures and that social-media use by employees may be reported and addressed under policy. The district will implement per-diem travel reimbursements beginning July 1 to simplify certain staff reimbursements.
What was not resolved
Board members repeatedly noted that the recess mandate and other legislative requirements compress instructional time. They asked for continued work on schedules and communications to families but did not adopt any local changes that would relieve the district of the new statutory requirements.
The board planned to finalize second readings and adopt several updates as part of its consent agenda at the subsequent regular meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","White County School Board Meeting 7/10/25","oneSentenceSummary","The White County Board of Education on July 10 reviewed multiple policy updates recommended by the Tennessee School Boards Association to bring district rules into compliance with recent state law, including new restrictions on wireless devices during instruction and a 40-minute elementary recess requirement.","taxTitle","White County, School Districts, Tennessee","taxId",56339,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6174061,"County budget delay means White County teachers, staff may not see raises or bonuses immediately",161,3479000,3640000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5376152-4f2e3aa3612386173329de14dc87fd23&start=3479&end=3640","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5376152-4f2e3aa3612386173329de14dc87fd23/thumbnail_3479000.jpg","/articles/6174061/Tennessee/County-budget-delay-means-White-County-teachers-staff-may-not-see-raises-or-bonuses-immediately","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174061-4b8d878083b6600130d54201040d0511/orig.mp4?Expires=1770805699&Signature=OWWPLZvfDRCs~1xHrTse5hlhl0wFM57uCyXc2LXrpI7~Gcl8OGO8eGsniKGOXkBmw3JNc~i9TfC2Vc5W07PmCDICFJBp9n~p7h6pJUWCyu7WAy0TbJgxeWowcy6Bxpw7cCYAsKIsb5sTqBc5y1~zUU4P1s42xGee3uqpT0eQOiwS3BqOBm8qTMdZ4yMA~uCD8f1gFcz32CwF66QpDJvh9-AYaYmSCPGVraZLqntQgR6iQT~Ow~W0PF1EXi0AT1SVkaVfo~h21wqWnFpP4iRR8aoRJY0hEXOatLr34EZawM3-Ed2vMSmhYen0LC8wHyxNvvuPcI7FfW4xqCfkefSJpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","White County — White County school leaders told employees and board members at the July 10 board meeting that the county has not yet adopted a fiscal-year 2026 budget, and the district must operate on last year’s numbers until the county approves new funding.
The director of schools said the district cannot implement pay raises or one-time bonus payments until the county’s budget is finalized. “Because we are operating on the previous numbers, we can't institute any of the new raises or any of the bonuses,” a board member said during the meeting; the board plans to send a notice to staff to set expectations.
Why it matters: the district's ability to pay raises, bonuses or other changes that require county funding depends on the county commission’s action. District officials said any approved increases would be applied retroactively to affected payroll periods if the county passes a budget after the start of the fiscal year.
What officials said: during the work session, a board member said he and fellow board member Markham had discussed drafting a communication for employees. The board member said, “we have to operate on the previous numbers… if whatever point that gets approved, we can go back and pay those raises or pay those bonuses at that point.”
Chad, a district staff member involved in finance, said there was no statutory deadline in the related legislation requiring payment by a specific date, and that retroactive payment would be possible if the county acts soon. “There wasn't anything in the legislation that required it by a certain time period,” Chad said.
Operational detail: officials said the only immediate payroll impact would be on the mid-month payroll (July 15) if the county had not acted; any approved increases would be paid retroactively when funds become available. The board advised staff not to expect changes on their July paychecks until the county budget is adopted.
Board context: the board emphasized transparency and said it will send staff a formal notice explaining that implementation of pay or bonus changes depends on county approval. Director of schools Mister Stromberger and board leadership expressed confidence the county will resolve the budget soon but said they must plan for operating under last year’s appropriations until it happens.
What’s next: board members said the county commission may act at its next full meeting; if the commissioners approve the county budget, the district will proceed with payroll adjustments and retroactive payments as allowed by statute and comptroller guidance.","Board of Education leaders told staff July 10 that the county has not finalized a FY2026 budget, so any newly approved raises or bonuses cannot be paid until the county’s budget is adopted; payroll adjustments would be retroactive if the county approves funds later.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6174053,"Board accepts two Perkins grants totaling $136,852 for CTE programs",225,922000,1147000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5376152-4f2e3aa3612386173329de14dc87fd23&start=922&end=1147","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5376152-4f2e3aa3612386173329de14dc87fd23/thumbnail_922000.jpg","/articles/6174053/Tennessee/Board-accepts-two-Perkins-grants-totaling-136852-for-CTE-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174053-c7b72f9e9b1343d7d9510892ba80f13a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770805699&Signature=PuobHo8r-74ZnJ-CeYD2dDwBY0B54UNd3CGVDFwdFwyZxmkNdz0vHzkJjEax9o6iETpFDP5-NVty6Titsm4ZvghmLbm5qFmCBtvTFfj3LXCP10r3nVXDdtNMpRUwfR-UDyhcyEKj77eqMG~gNSH0X~qFZ-CHNNGRpdTJ-6S9qiMaYatQkf7usVYT55Fw1p0DtpuOZE~~ymWjjr0Y2jcfb0t0xcQLfh5d6u-69lWI17sT5IHNGNryqYv-Ibhkco~0tYaaeDpREMkLOMs04KrbOu-3-h5wnIrKKEpay97osFmc3DaxQaRDD1VIyvVla70TLzya~fqmNMnZaQDuWYRAgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","White County — The district will add two federal CTE (Career and Technical Education) grant awards to its FY2026 budget after staff told the board July 10 that the district had received an $86,852 Perkins Basic Grant and an additional roughly $50,000 Perkins Reserve award.
A central-office staff member updated the board in the work session: “One is CTE Perkins, Basic Grant, in the amount of $86,852. And then there is the Perkins Reserve grant… another $50,000 of income for our CTE programs,\" the staff member said.
Why it matters: both grants are new revenue that was not included in the budget adopted last month. Staff said the funds will supplement expenditures such as salaries, substitutes and software and will ease pressure on the approved budget.
Staff cautioned that the Perkins Reserve is applied for annually and is not guaranteed every year, though the district has received it in past years. Staff indicated the Basic Grant is expected again but not certain.
Board action: the budget amendments to add both grants were part of the consent agenda and moved forward for adoption in the regular meeting. District staff said the additional revenue will allow targeted spending in CTE programs for the coming year.
Implementation: central office staff said the grants will be remitted to the district and used for allowable CTE expenditures, including personnel and instructional resources; specific allocations will be managed through the district's finance processes and reflected in amended budget documents.","White County Schools reported two incoming Perkins grants — $86,852 for the CTE Perkins Basic Grant and an approximately $50,000 Perkins Reserve grant — that will be added to the district budget as approved budget amendments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board reviews TSBA-recommended policy updates including new cellphone and recess rules, virtual education days

County budget delay means White County teachers, staff may not see raises or bonuses immediately

Board accepts two Perkins grants totaling $136,852 for CTE programs