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Westlake board reviews calendar options, first reading of updated policies including phone rules
Summary
At the Jan. 27 board meeting, Westlake administrators described the calendar development process and presented policy updates in a first reading that included discussion of personal device definitions and communication expectations for families.
At the Jan. 27, 2025, Westlake City Schools Board of Education meeting, district leaders outlined the calendar development process and provided a first reading of a large bundle of policy updates that include consolidated meeting definitions and revised language on personal communication devices.
Superintendent Dr. Goggin said the district uses a superintendent advisory committee to narrow calendar options, then lets staff vote on the final calendar; the administration typically follows the staff majority. The board discussed parent concerns about starting the school year later in August and ending in June, noting that other nearby districts begin earlier and that some high school activities such as band and sports return in early August. Board members and Dr. Goggin said the district aims to balance competing preferences and pointed to tradeoffs such as summer travel and state assessment schedules.
Dr. Goggin noted the district now releases two years of calendars in advance to aid family planning. Board members asked about the timing of spring break in 2025: speakers confirmed Easter falls early that year, so the scheduled break includes March 28 and a teacher in‑service day on April 5 following the quarter close.
The board also took a first reading of many policy revisions. Dr. Goggin said several policies were consolidated (for example, various meeting‑type definitions) and that language was updated where state law or cross‑references required changes. He described the special‑education model policies and procedures (a resolution on that item was included in the superintendent's package and will come before the board for action).
Policy discussion included the district's approach to student personal communication devices. Dr. Goggin relayed the message he said came from the lieutenant governor's office: “We're not going to tell you what to do. What we're saying is you need to have a policy and you need to communicate that with your families.” Board members and administrators discussed pouches that some schools use to collect phones and noted potential workarounds, such as students tethering Chromebooks to phones or using wearable devices that receive messages. Several board members said enforcement and teacher support are central to any policy change.
No policy changes were adopted on Jan. 27; board members were given time to review the revisions and bring questions for subsequent readings.
