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Board updates cell‑phone policy, waives second reading on multiple policies ahead of school year
Summary
The board approved a revised, grade‑specific wireless device policy that bars use during instructional time and permits confiscation until the end of the school day for unauthorized use; the board also waived second readings and advanced a package of policy updates required by recent state law changes.
The Hickman County Board of Education approved a revised, grade‑specific wireless communications policy on July 7 and waived the second reading on a suite of policy updates the state required.
Under the adopted language (based on TSBA model policy and edited by the board), students may not have wireless devices in use during instructional time. For kindergarten through grade 5 the policy requires devices to remain powered off and in backpacks during the school day. For grades 6–12 principals may establish appropriate times for authorized use during non‑instructional periods. The board added language that unauthorized use or improper storage "may" result in confiscation until the end of the school day and removed a provision that would have required release only to a parent or guardian.
Board members emphasized the need for consistency across schools and asked principals to coordinate consistent application of the policy so students are treated similarly at each campus. The board also discussed reasonable exceptions for emergency communications and recommended that confiscated devices be held only through the school day and returned to students at dismissal unless exigent circumstances exist.
In addition to the cell‑phone policy, the board waived second readings and advanced multiple policy updates recommended by TSBA to align district rules with new state statutes. The package included updates on virtual education attendance, threat assessment reporting, internet use (restricting unfettered access to social media on district networks), student records transfer timelines, employee leave and retiree employment provisions. One policy about compensating a teacher's estate for unused leave (5.11O) was held for further clarification and will return for board consideration.
The revised wireless device policy and the other reviewed policy changes will appear in student and staff handbooks and be communicated to families ahead of the new school year.
