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Brookings board signs off on handbook changes, highlights phone‑management pilot and new rules on manipulated images
Summary
Board approved high‑school handbook changes tightening attendance (10 absences = excessive), aligning the grading scale with larger districts, and adding language banning manipulated images; the superintendent praised the high‑school 'yonder pouch' phone‑management pilot as showing early success.
The Brookings School District board approved revisions to the high school student handbook that include a firmer attendance contract (10 absences considered excessive), updated language around electronic devices tied to the school's new phone‑management system, and a new policy addressing manipulated images in student materials.
Superintendent Schultz told the board the high school implemented 'yonder pouches' this fall, which keep students' phones secured during class and are unlocked only at lunch or dismissal. Schultz said the district expected a difficult first year but reported strong student cooperation and early positive results. "Our students... have just done an amazing job," Schultz said, describing reduced device use in classrooms and improved adherence to teacher directives.
Board discussion included an explanation that some districts adopting similar phone‑management policies saw decreases in bullying and modest attendance improvements within two years. Schultz also explained a small change to the grading/GPA mapping to better align Brookings students with peers from larger districts for college admissions; the change affects how letter‑grade percentages map to GPA at the high end of the scale.
The handbook now also includes explicit language reflecting state law that prohibits manipulating images (commonly discussed as 'deepfakes') to embarrass or harass others; Schultz said the policy aims to make students aware that creating or sharing manipulated images can be illegal. The board approved the handbook revisions after clarifying who made and seconded the motion (recorded in the meeting as Kelly and Terry). No further action was required at the meeting; the handbook is available on the district website for review.
