Huntley 158 trustees review broad handbook revisions covering attendance, discipline, electronics and AI guidelines

Huntley Community School District 158 administrators presented a package of proposed student handbook revisions at the June 12 board meeting that would clarify attendance and makeup-work rules, expand the discipline response matrix, add rules for smartwatches and e-bikes, and introduce district guidance on artificial intelligence use in middle and high schools.

District staff said the changes come from committee work by parents, building administrators and the AI committee and are meant to bring consistency across grade levels. “Some clarification there that, the students and the teachers will collaborate together, to take necessary steps to determine when and how that would be made up,” the presenter said while describing proposed attendance changes.

Key proposed changes presented to the board included: - Attendance and makeup-work: Clarify when makeup work or remediation is required, require collaboration between student and teacher on make-up plans, and specify that extended-absence forms do not automatically excuse the absence. The draft also spells out graduated responses at the high-school level for tardies and unexcused absences, including lunch detention and Saturday detention tiers. - Academic misconduct and technology: The district would define unauthorized assistance (including unauthorized use of technology) as academic misconduct unless a teacher permits it and create 'red/yellow/green' class-level guidance on when tools are permitted. - Electronics: Add smartwatches to the electronics policy (treated like a phone if misused); remove obsolete devices (MP3 players); add laser pointers and pepper spray to prohibited items. - Behavior matrix and restorative options: Update a district behavior-response matrix, add “no contact contracts” (individual agreements to limit contact and movement where needed), and clarify responses to drug offenses and off-campus privileges. - Safety and transportation: Add language clarifying kindergarten/ECC bus release rules (require an adult at stop or return to school) and language about village ordinances affecting e-bikes and motorized scooters when students walk or ride to school. - Athletics and eligibility: Clarify middle- and high-school eligibility processes and athletic-code offenses, include an expungement policy (one-time expungement possible) and clarify cumulative consequences. - AI policy and implementation: Present new guiding principles and a “red/yellow/green” framework for appropriate AI uses in coursework. Administrators said professional learning for staff is planned and that the AI language will not be added to elementary materials at this time.

Administrators said they will return a refined handbook package for board action in July; the revisions will also be summarized for families so returning parents can see what changed. Board members asked for an explicit reference to student voice and how students will be notified and engaged in the changes; the administration agreed to add a statement highlighting student advisory channels.

Why it matters: The package touches daily operations for families and teachers — from how unexcused absences are handled to what wearable technology students may use in class. The AI guidance is new territory intended to balance classroom integrity with preparing students for a workforce where AI is common.

Board reaction and further steps: Board members praised the AI committee’s work and asked for clearer student-facing summaries and periodic handbook refreshes beyond the start of the year. Administrators said they will include a plain-language cover sheet and add language about student voice before the July approval vote.

Ending: The board struck several agenda items earlier in the meeting, reviewed the handbook revisions and advanced the package for continued discussion; the administration said the final vote and adoption are scheduled for a July meeting, after the committee and communications work is complete.