Board members on July 14 discussed recent School Resource Officer (SRO) training and began preliminary conversation about a possible clear‑backpack student policy, while staff said a one‑time $2,000 teacher bonus in the Education Freedom Act awaits state guidance.
Board Member Nathan Billingsley told the board he attended training with "the SROs" and Mr. Moby Henderson on the district’s new backpack rifles and commended their dedication and service to the Marion County School System. The remarks were part of the meeting’s general discussion; there was no formal action.
Billingsley also expressed concern about adding a school policy requiring clear backpacks for students for safety reasons. Board Secretary Mark A. Griffith said the board should start conversations now because school is about to begin and added he believes the item "would be part of legislation in the near future." The board did not adopt any new policy at the July meeting; members agreed to begin conversations.
Dr. Griffith said the district is waiting for guidance from the state on the one‑time $2,000 bonus for teachers that is included in the Education Freedom Act and that the district hopes to distribute guidance and complete implementation between now and Aug. 15, 2025. The board did not make a distribution decision at the meeting; staff cited the state as the next authority to provide direction.
No public comment on these items was recorded during the agenda period, and the board did not vote on any safety policy or bonus distribution at the July 14 meeting.