Germantown board adopts 12 policy changes reflecting new state laws, including internet, nondiscrimination and device rules

The Germantown Municipal School District Board approved revisions to 12 district policies on June 17 to reflect changes in state law. Administrators presented the updates during the work session and the board voted to adopt the policy package as an action item.

Major changes described by district staff include: - Meetings: Policy 1.402 now requires 48 hours’ notice for board meetings and explicit posting on the district website. - Charter schools: Policy 1.704 incorporates the role of the new public charter school commission and outlines approval and renewal procedures (the district currently has no charter schools). - School calendar and remote instruction: Revised language allows up to five consecutive days of virtual instruction and up to four days of hybrid instruction for closures tied to dangerous weather or localized illness outbreaks without seeking special approval from the commissioner. - Nondiscrimination: Policy 1.809 now includes newly required language addressing antisemitism; administrators said the statute clarified statutory language already covered under discrimination and harassment rules. - Emergency drills and planning: Policy 3.202 imposes limits on full evacuation fire drills—generally no more than one full evacuation drill every 30 days, with no more than two full evacuation drills during the first 30 days of school—and includes a detailed list of required drills. - Student internet use: Policy 4.406 prohibits students from accessing social media platforms, message boards and instant messaging services using district-provided internet except when expressly authorized by a teacher for educational purposes; district IT staff reviewed the policy and will administer filtering on the district network. - Grading/reporting: The policy changes replace the label "report cards" with "progress reports" and require that results of universal screeners or dyslexia screeners be provided to parents "on or with" progress reports; district staff said they interpreted the statute to allow providing results with the report rather than embedding them directly on the report card. - Leave after birth/adoption: Policy 5.303 clarifies eligibility for paid leave after birth, stillbirth or adoption; the leave must be taken consecutively and the policy extends coverage to individuals holding emergency credentials. - Attendance/release time: Policy 6.2 clarifies documentation for release-time religious instruction and notes districts may require a meeting if a student misses more than 20 days for religious instruction. - Searches and seizures: Policy 6.303 requires administrators to provide notice within a reasonable time for searches of students under 18 and directs staff to complete state-provided training on legal search procedures; it also allows school security officers (distinct from SROs) to perform searches under district policy. - Wireless devices: Policy 6.312 limits student use of wireless communication devices during instructional time and directs schools to finalize procedures on enforcement and exceptions (for example, special instructional uses or medical reasons). The board discussed smartwatches and off-network usage; staff said the policy applies to district network access and instructional time. - Seizure management: Policy 6.423 requires at least one full-time employee or volunteer at each school to receive annual seizure first-aid training.

Board action: The motion to approve the 12 policy changes was made by Board Member Ellis and seconded by Board Member Curry. The roll-call vote was unanimous.

Context and implementation: Administrators emphasized many changes are required by state law and that some items (for example, the progress-report placement of screening results) may be revisited if the State Board issues a clarifying rule. IT and school health staff said they had reviewed the sections relevant to filtering and seizure training.

Ending: Board members urged clear communication with families on device rules and other changes and asked administration to provide updates if state board rules alter interpretations of statutes.