Board adopts Focus Act model language, updates internet and wireless policies

The Madison County Board of Education on July 17 approved updated Internet-safety and wireless-communication policies that incorporate the Focus Act model language intended to restrict classroom cellphone use. The board approved replacing the district's wireless-communication policy with the state model and folding the Focus Act requirements into the district's existing Internet and technology policy. Board approval matters because the Focus Act (described at the meeting as "Alabama's Freeing Our Classrooms of Unnecessary Screens for Safety Act") imposes new requirements for how districts regulate student wireless devices. Board members and staff said associations representing support staff and teachers reviewed the drafts during policy review and that local association leaders were supportive. At the meeting a staff presenter said, "Miss Thompson sent you guys some information on that already" and noted that Miss Neely, identified as a support association representative, and Miss Cardona, identified as president of the MCEA Association, provided feedback during review. The presenter said concerns raised by association leaders about bus use were addressed: "there was a concern about whether or not students are gonna be able to use their cell phones on the bus, and I assured her that that was not part of our with we were gonna allow them to use the bus." District staff told board members the recommendation was to replace the district's wireless-communication policy with the model policy and to incorporate the Focus Act language into the existing Internet-safety/technology policy rather than keep separate documents. A staff speaker summarized the local policy references as policy 4.09 (Internet and safety use of technology) and policy 6.08 (wireless communication). The staff speaker added that policy review participants urged administrators to follow the law and that the Focus Act requires an end-of-year teacher survey to check compliance. Board members moved and seconded the motion to approve the updated policies and approved them by voice vote. The transcript records the motion, a second and the board responding "Aye." The board did not record individual roll-call votes in the transcript. No additional formal directions beyond approval were recorded; staff indicated the policies would be implemented and discussed at the School Leadership Academy for principals. The board's action updates local policy language to align with the new state law and directs staff to proceed with implementation and communication to school principals and administrators.