The Alcoa City Schools Board of Education on Aug. 19 approved second readings of more than 20 district policy updates and accepted first readings of three additional policy updates.
Director of Schools Jake Jones presented the policies and recommended approval; the board voted unanimously to adopt the second-reading changes.
The package approved on second reading included a new Student Board Member policy (1.1021) and updates to public records (1.407 and 1.407.1), district goals (1.700), surplus property sales (2.403), bids and quotations (2.806), emergency preparedness (3.202), threat assessment team (3.204), multiple instruction- and curriculum-related policies (4.100, 4.212, 4.301, 4.403, 4.406, 4.601), personnel goals and related employee policies (5.100, 5.305, 5.500, 5.701), and several student-focused policies covering attendance, discrimination/harassment, wellness and student records (6.200, 6.303, 6.304, 6.411, 6.600).
Board Member Brandy Bledsoe moved to approve the second-reading items; Board Member Steve Marsh seconded the motion. The motion "passed by unanimous vote." The board recorded no amendments at the meeting.
At the same meeting the board accepted first readings of updates to policy 5.119 (Employment of Retirees), 6.303 (Questioning Students and Searches) and 6.309 (Zero Tolerance Offenses); those items will return for future action after the first-reading process.
Why it matters: The adopted policy updates touch core operations — public-records procedures, emergency preparedness and student conduct — and will guide administrative practice and school-level procedures in the coming school year. The board did not discuss changes to specific disciplinary cases or individual personnel actions during the vote.
The board scheduled its next work session for Sept. 22 and the next regular meeting for Sept. 23.