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Votes at a glance: Coventry School Committee approves calendar, student-transportation resolution, handbook and technology policies (7-0 votes)
Summary
The Coventry School Committee recorded unanimous votes on the 2025–26 school calendar, a student transportation resolution, student handbook revisions (Title IX language), and three technology policies on April 3. The committee also approved minutes and scheduled the next meeting.
At its meeting the Coventry School Committee recorded a series of unanimous votes on routine and policy items. The committee approved the 2025–26 school calendar, adopted a student-transportation resolution seeking state legislative changes, revised student handbooks to update Title IX language, and approved three digital/technology policies. The committee also approved minutes, sealed certain executive-session records and scheduled the next meeting for April 10, 2025 at the Coventry Schools Administration Office.
Votes and outcomes (all recorded as 7–0 unless noted):
- 2025–26 school calendar: Motion to approve the 2025–26 school calendar for first reading; motion carried 7 to 0. The calendar includes a staggered opening using a transitional first day for sixth- and ninth-graders and starts the December vacation on Monday, December 22 (district explanation focused on collective bargaining and alignment with neighboring districts).
- Student transportation resolution: Motion to approve the student transportation resolution supporting proposed state legislation (House Bill 5420 and Senate Bill 636 to increase allowable pupil passenger limit to 10; Senate Bill 397 to reduce bus driver certification training for CDL holders and allow temporary licenses for out-of-state drivers). Motion carried 7 to 0. The resolution asks the Rhode Island General Assembly to enact the bills to increase the allowable passenger limit to 10 and address training and licensing to ease driver shortages.
- Student handbook revisions (Title IX): Motion to revert Title IX handbook language from the 2024 regulation text back to the 2020 version in the elementary, middle and high school handbooks; motion carried 7 to 0. District staff said preschool and athletics handbooks already used prior language and that the change aligns handbook text with current federal regulatory guidance.
- Technology policies (second readings; each passed 7 to 0): Digital Technology Acceptable Use and Internet Safety (policy GBEE), Artificial Intelligence policy (JICJA), and Cybersecurity policy (EHAC). Committee members discussed AI briefly in the context of student work and confirmed the student site presented earlier is hosted on district Google accounts and subject to district network protections.
Other procedural votes recorded at the meeting:
- Motion to approve the minutes of March 13, 2025 as presented; carried 7 to 0.
- Motion to seal executive session records (pursuant to cited statutory sections); motion made and seconded; committee approved (recorded as carried).
- Motion to schedule the next meeting for April 10, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the Coventry Schools Administration Office; carried 7 to 0.
- Motion to adjourn at 7:44 p.m.; carried.
