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Board adopts ASBA model policy updates and wide-ranging student handbook revisions
Summary
Trustees approved six ASBA model-policy updates and comprehensive student handbook changes across primary, elementary, junior-high and high-school levels, covering attendance, discipline, dress code, exemptions, homeschool participation and career/CTE pathways. Votes were unanimous, 3-0.
The Nashville School District board approved multiple policy and student-handbook revisions at its June meeting that will take effect for the 2024–25 school year.
Personnel-policy committee chair Mr. Gordon and district staff reviewed six ASBA (Arkansas School Board Association) model policies covering student equal-education language (4.11), noncustodial-parent contact (4.155), medication administration (4.35), student religious expression (4.63/5.1 consolidation), classified technology use (8.22) and a new classified policy (8.48) on maintaining licensure. Mr. Graham said some changes were minor wording updates while others added training requirements or clarified duties; the board approved the presented PPC model policies 3-0 and scheduled review of additional ASBA updates in July.
Separately, principals presented handbook updates for primary, elementary, junior high and high school. Highlights include clarified consequence tiers tied to specific behaviors; attendance escalation (conference at day 2, parent contact at day 4, referral at day 9); a change in high-school final-exemption rules (exemptions limited to three absences, with school trips excluded); a removal of demerits in the elementary handbook; prohibiting metal-style water bottles in one primary building; updates to honor-roll and merit lists; adjustments to semester-exam weighting at the junior-high level; and revisions to extracurricular participation for homeschool students consistent with state homeschool law (graduation eligibility requires nine months full enrollment under state law). The board moved and approved the handbook changes for 2024–25 on a 3-0 vote.
District staff said the updates were intended to align language across buildings, make consequences more consistent and incorporate state requirements and the National Honor Society/bylaw standards where appropriate.
Next steps include posting the updated handbooks and bringing a subsequent package of ASBA policy changes to the July meeting.
