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Decatur board approves three policies for first reading covering student devices, facilities planning and long-range needs
Summary
The board approved three policies for first read: JCDAS (use of electronic devices for students in K–8 to comply with House Bill 340), FD (facilities long-range planning) and FDB (long-range needs determination). Each policy was approved to proceed to public comment and formal adoption later in the policy process.
City Schools of Decatur’s Board of Education on Oct. 14 approved three policies for first reading that will be posted for public comment: a student electronic-device policy required under House Bill 340, a Facilities Long-Range Planning policy and a Long-Range Needs Determination policy.
Policy JCDAS (use of electronic devices by students) establishes local rules consistent with the state’s Distraction-Free Education Act (House Bill 340) by prohibiting bell-to-bell access to personal electronic devices for students in grades K–8. Board members and staff noted the district already has classroom practices for students in grades 9–12 and that draft policy language drew from the Georgia School Boards Association sample policy. Board member Johnson Davis moved the motion; Board member Uts seconded. The motion to accept JCDAS for first read carried unanimously.
Policy FD codifies the district’s commitment to maintain a local comprehensive facilities plan (per Georgia Department of Education rules), require facility-condition assessments to inform long-range planning and to provide an annual capital update to the board. The draft was approved for first read after board discussion confirming the state already requires a five‑year facilities plan.
Policy FDB (Long-Range Needs Determination) formalizes the board’s approach to projecting facility needs, including the use of external data and consultants, and explicitly references statutory requirements that trigger public hearings for potential school closures and consolidations (citing OCGA 22‑2‑60). The policy also clarifies emergency temporary closings as an exception. It was approved for first read and will be posted for public comment through the district’s policy platform.
The approvals were routine first‑read actions; the policies will be available for public comment on the district’s policy portal and returned at a later board meeting for possible final adoption.
