The superintendent told the school board that a suite of measures recently signed into law as part of House Bill 2 will require the district to review policies and procedures and could disrupt programs that target specific student groups.

The superintendent said HB 2 includes a last‑minute provision aimed at banning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work in public schools and related contracts. “If a district is found knowingly or unknowingly to have violated the statute, … the Department of Ed has the right to immediately halt all taxpayer funding to the schools that failed to comply,” the superintendent said, adding that the provision does not create a third‑party review or appeal process.

Board members asked how the provision would affect programs that focus on specific groups, such as MTSS or Title I interventions. The superintendent replied that Title I and other programs that organize services for identified demographic groups appear vulnerable under the new language and that the law’s vagueness increases the risk that districts might inadvertently be declared noncompliant.

The superintendent also described a new statewide ban on most student use of cell phones and electronic devices during the school day, with narrow exceptions for students with medical needs or those whose individualized education plans require device access. “This bill eliminates any use,” the superintendent said of the stricter version attached to HB 2, and said district officials will draft implementing regulations and communicate with families about how parents can contact students during the school day.

When asked whether district‑issued laptops are affected, the superintendent said, “Laptops are fine … district‑issued devices are exempt from my understanding of it.”

The superintendent summarized additional measures the district must implement: a parental‑rights law that requires districts to define terms such as “parent” and “minor child,” and to include new procedures allowing parents to object to instructional materials on moral or religious grounds; an expansion of inter‑district responsibilities for investigating bullying and cyberbullying that crosses district lines; and several changes tied to special education process and reporting.

Board members and administrators said they plan to: review current policies for compliance, develop regulations for device enforcement, notify families, and track clarifications on how the state will apply new enforcement powers. The superintendent emphasized the district is concerned about the combination of vague language and potentially severe funding consequences.

No formal vote was taken; the discussion was informational and included multiple board questions and requests for staff to return with recommended policy language and family communications.