Lake Wales board adopts package of 2025 legislative‑mandated school policies

Lake Wales Charter Schools’ governing board on Aug. 12 adopted a set of policies the district’s legal counsel said were required or clarified by the 2025 Florida legislative session.

The policies were presented by Sean Arnold, the system’s general counsel, who told trustees, “So we have before you 4 policies that were set up by the legislature this year, that were mandated to be enacted.”

Why it matters: The package aligns Lake Wales Charter Schools with recent state law changes that affect classroom routine, employee conduct and internal governance. The board approved the suite of policies by voice votes during the regular meeting that followed the work session.

What the policy package covers: Arnold summarized the main elements for trustees. The cell phone policy restricts use for K–8 students and permits limited, teacher‑directed use in high school; it also includes narrow exceptions for medical needs and Individualized Education Program (IEP) accommodations. He said, “There are exceptions…students who need it for a health, safety, and welfare reasons…There may be a reason for it to be included in an IEP.”

On teacher arrests, Arnold…