Obion County Board adopts wide-ranging policy changes to comply with new state laws

Obion County Board of Education members voted June 30, 2025, to approve a suite of policy amendments District Director Tim Watkins said were required to align district rules with recent state laws and TSBA model language. The board unanimously carried motions to update policies on threat assessment, nondiscrimination, student searches, use of wireless devices, employee leave and other matters.

The changes implement several new statutory requirements, including a 48‑hour parent/guardian notification following district reporting of threats to law enforcement and a quarterly incident report to the board for threat assessments; the inclusion of the State’s definition of antisemitism in nondiscrimination policies; and updated rules on searches, internet use and student wellness, Director Tim Watkins told the board.

The board approved amendments to policies 3.204 (Threat Assessment), 4.100 (Instructional Program), 4.406 (Use of the Internet), 5.119 (Employment of Retirees), 5.305 (Family and Medical Leave Act), 5.701 (Substitute Teachers), 6.303 (Questioning Students and Searches), 6.312 (Use of Wireless Communication Devices), 6.411 (Student Wellness), 6.600 (Student Records), 5.500 and 6.304 (Discrimination/Harassment policies), 1.1021 (Student Board Member), 6.713 (Election of Middle School Cheerleaders) and 4.605 (Graduation Requirements). On Director Watkins’ recommendation, each motion was made by a board member and seconded by another member; the minutes record “MOTION CARRIED” for each item.

Key specifics recorded by the director and reflected in the approved language include: notification to parents/guardians within 48 hours after the district reports threats to law enforcement and quarterly incident reporting to the board under threat‑assessment policy; a new statutory requirement that reemployed retirees observe a bona fide separation of service of 60 days with no prior agreement to return to work; changes to paid parental leave eligibility tied to holding required licenses or emergency credentials and being in a full‑time position for at least 12 consecutive months; and an increase in the maximum number of days a substitute may teach without a license from 20 days to 30 days.

Other statutory-driven changes adopted include a requirement that student searches be performed only by a school resource officer, school security officer, or an administrator who has completed state-required training developed by the Department of Education; a Teen Social Media Act limitation preventing district internet access to social media platforms except when a teacher expressly authorizes such access for educational purposes; and an increase in required elementary physical activity from 130 minutes per week to 40 minutes per full school day, while middle and high school remain at 90 minutes per full school week separate from physical education classes.

Board Chairman Fritz Fussell presided; the district minutes record that the policy changes reflect TSBA model language where applicable and are intended to bring district policies into compliance with cited Public Chapters and state rules.

The board approved on a first and final reading the new policy 5.119 governing employment of retirees to conform to Public Chapter 159; minutes note other policy edits reflect Public Chapters 103, 156, 235, 244, 359 and related state actions. Director Watkins told the board TSBA had reworked model policies to match the statutory changes.

The policy package returns the district’s policy manual to compliance with state law; the board made no further instruction beyond adopting the amended policies at the June 30 meeting.