Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Policy Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bastrop ISD weighs communication-device rules, dental services MOU and library advisory committee
Summary
Board members reviewed a proposed policy restricting student use of communication devices, asked for clarifications about a dental-services MOU with St. David's Foundation, and heard plans to form a school library advisory committee that will include parent appointees.
District staff briefed trustees on several informational items: revisions to the student communication-device policy, an MOU with St. David's Foundation for school-based dental services, and plans to establish a school library advisory council.
On communication devices, Dr. Christy Lee told the board the draft policy initially would have restricted elementary students from possessing communication devices during the instructional day and required secondary students to keep devices stored in backpacks. After feedback from campus administrators, staff proposed allowing elementary students to possess devices but store them in backpacks or other supervised storage and to provide additional clarity about whether passing periods and lunch are considered part of the instructional day.
Board members raised questions about how the policy would be communicated to families and students; Dr. Lee said it would be handled "very carefully" and "thoroughly" and that any board members with suggestions should contact her before the August meeting.
On student dental services, district staff explained an MOU with St. David's Foundation will concentrate services at Bluebonnet Elementary next year. Staff said St. David's will keep counts and limited contact information needed for parental permission at that campus under a data-sharing agreement, that providers are background-checked, that they will not receive building keys or district badges, and that staff will buzz them in and provide identifying badges while on campus.
Finally, Dr. Lee described a recommendation to form a school library advisory committee under policy EFB Local. The board will each be asked to appoint at least one parent of a currently enrolled student to a committee of at least seven members; the committee will advise the district's director of digital learning and library services on collection development and meet multiple times per year.
What comes next: Staff said the revised device policy and related clarifications could return to the board in August; the MOU process and library advisory committee development will proceed with staff follow-up and required approvals.
