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Board adopts student handbook revisions; new personal electronic device rules mirror state law
Summary
The board unanimously adopted student handbook revisions that tighten rules on personal electronic devices to mirror recent state legislation; the policy includes exceptions for IEP/504 and concurrent‑credit two‑factor authentication. Board members also asked administrators to revisit graduation dress‑code language after parent concern.
The Jacksonville North Pulaski School District board voted unanimously to adopt student handbook revisions that tighten the district's rules on personal electronic devices and add other updates.
Mr. Smith, presenting the policy revisions during the second reading, told the board the new language mirrors the recent state legislative changes (referred to in the meeting as "Act 122"). "The law says that you have to regulate the possession and prohibit the use during the school day," he said, and described the proposed handbook language: a personal electronic device is acceptable if it is put away, turned off and out of sight; taking it out during the school day becomes a violation.
Smith and board members clarified exceptions in the proposed policy that mirror the statute: students with individualized education programs (IEPs), documented health plans (for example, continuous glucose monitoring), or a documented need tied to concurrent‑credit courses (where a college requires two‑factor authentication) would be exempted from the prohibition. "All of those in the proposed policy mirror what's in the statute," Smith said.
Board members also raised a separate concern about graduation dress code language in the student handbook. One board member questioned a provision that specified acceptable attire for female graduates; administrators said they had received similar calls and would revisit the language and return with suggested revisions.
The motion to adopt the student handbook as presented passed unanimously.
Why it matters: the change implements recent state legal requirements on possession and use of personal electronic devices during the school day and clarifies how the district will apply exceptions for students with documented education or health needs.
What to watch next: administrators indicated they will reexamine graduation dress‑code language following parent feedback and will continue outreach on how the new device policy will be implemented at schools.
