Jefferson County School Board adopts multiple policy updates; approves budget amendments and surplus resolutions

The Jefferson County School Board on its business agenda approved a series of policy revisions on first and second readings, accepted two budget amendments, and passed multiple surplus resolutions and a slate of certified-tenure recommendations.

The policy committee presented several items on first reading and recommended a list of policy revisions for adoption on second reading. “The policy committee recommends the following policy revisions for acceptance on first reading,” the committee chair said, adding that in many cases the committee was moving enforcement language from handbooks into policy so the rules are standardized. “We’re really not changing anything. We’re just adding that to the policy,” the chair said while summarizing changes to Policy 6.312 on personal communication devices.

The board also approved two budget amendments recognizing and appropriating funds in the general purpose fund and federal purpose fund. The director confirmed the amendment includes money to recognize a new allocation for science instructional materials: “Yes. That is money that we are recognizing. So the money’s there,” a staff speaker said when asked whether the line funded the science-book adoption.

Why it matters: The policy changes update district rules on student devices, clubs, special education procedures and other personnel and student policies; moving enforcement language into formal policy can change where sanctions and procedures are recorded. The budget amendments recognized funds and moved appropriation lines for curriculum purchases that the district said will standardize instructional materials across schools.

Votes at a glance - Policy 6.312 (Use of personal communication devices and electronic devices) — accepted on first reading; adopted by voice/hand vote as recorded in the session (vote recorded as 7 for, 0 against in the minutes). - Policy 6.702 (Student clubs and organizations) — accepted on first reading (vote recorded as 7 for, 0 against). - Policy 1.404 (Appeals/appearance before the board) — adopted on second reading (vote recorded as 7 for, 0 against). - Policy 1.405 (Order of business; adds pledge and moment of silence at work sessions; moves budget amendment placement) — adopted on second reading (record shows a recorded minority vote in discussion; final vote recorded as 6 for, 1 against as announced at the meeting). - Policy 4.202 (Special education parental input/exit interviews) — adopted on second reading (vote recorded as 7 for, 0 against). Implementation timing discussed: staff requested at least 30 days for roll-out so that teachers and principals can be trained to include a parental input form with IEP notices. - Policies 4.603 (Promotion and retention), 5.118 (Background investigations), 5.302 (Sick leave for bus drivers), 5.303 (Bereavement leave expansions), 6.319 (Alternative education), 6.4001 (Student surveys), 6.4031 (Updated treatment standards) — adopted on second reading (each recorded in the meeting as passed by hand/voice vote; the minutes announce these as approved by the board during the business session). - Budget amendment — General Purpose Fund (141) number 12, items 1–11 (recognized expenditures for science textbooks/adoption) — approved (vote recorded as 7 for, 0 against). - Budget amendment — Federal Purpose Fund (142) number 7, items 1–4 — approved (vote recorded as 7 for, 0 against). - Resolution 2025-1362 (property surplus/other surplus listed in packet) — approved (vote recorded as unanimous in the minutes). - Resolution 2025-137 (transportation surplus) — approved (vote recorded as unanimous in the minutes). The board noted one vehicle is being transferred to the county highway department for parts/repair there. - Resolution 2025-138 (technology surplus/e-cycling) — approved; staff described an e-cycle vendor that collects old devices and provides certificates of proper disposal. - Certified employees recommended for tenure (list in packet) — approved by the board.

What board members and staff said - Policy committee chair (policy summary): “The policy committee recommends the following policy revisions for acceptance on first reading.” - On device policy: “We’re really not changing anything. We’re just adding that to the policy.” - On science textbooks and budget recognition: “That is money that we are recognizing. So the money’s there.” - On e-cycling of laptops and devices: the technology staff described a Knoxville-based recycling vendor that collects surplus devices and provides certificates documenting hard-drive disposal.

Context and next steps Most items were presented by board committee chairs and by staff and were routine committee-to-board items. Several policy changes were simple codifications of existing handbook procedures (moving enforcement language into policy) rather than substantive changes to discipline standards. The board discussed timing for implementing a new parental input/exit form for IEP meetings (staff asked for at least 30 days to train principals and teachers before rollout). The board also signaled that further agenda details and supporting motions (for larger capital decisions) will be posted in advance of future meetings to allow for public input.