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Beatrice Public Schools board reviews consolidated PK–12 handbooks, shifts lice policy, aligns conduct codes
Summary
The Beatrice Public Schools Board reviewed a consolidated PK–12 student handbook and related staff handbooks that standardize conduct codes, move to a live-lice policy, clarify electronic-device procedures, and align discipline reporting with state systems; handbooks will return for approval in July.
The Beatrice Public Schools Board of Education reviewed a newly consolidated PK–12 student handbook designed to align district practices and the strategic plan and to add school-level addenda for preschool, elementary, middle and high schools. Speaker 4 told the board, “You have, the handbooks in front of you. They are printed,” and described the handbook as a foundational system intended to make discipline and reporting consistent across the district.
District presenters said the handbook replaces an older “no nits” practice with a live-lice policy: parents will be asked to treat children’s hair and bring them back for rechecks; the district will re-evaluate children within three to five days to confirm lice are gone. Speaker 4 argued the prior “no nits” rule kept students out of school and removed instructional time.
Other substantive student provisions include a unified code of conduct (added to preschool and elementary handbooks at page 48) organized by levels of response (classroom-managed Level 1 through higher-level interventions) and updated bullying/harassment definitions to capture targeting by protected traits. Presenters said the language was chosen to align the district’s Infinite Campus codes with state Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) categories to improve state reporting.
School-level tweaks were highlighted: the middle-school device rule was adjusted to reflect the 2024–25 bell schedule (phones off/locked 7:45–3:45 and removed in gym areas), supervision start times moved to 8:05 a.m., and the high-school handbook tightened tardy consequences while reserving senior-painted parking spots. Speaker 3 described elementary instructional expectations, noting a goal of “60 minutes of core literacy instruction” at grade level, with intervention scheduled at other times.
Presenters also described staff-handbook revisions: classified employees scheduled fewer than 12 months will receive 16 hours of noncumulative paid time off per year; classified employees who do not earn sick leave will be paid for up to two full-day school cancellations per year; and small word‑smithing changes were made for break and lunch language. The board was told substitute incentives (a $100 payment for substitute teachers and $50 for substitute paras who meet attendance thresholds) will be revisited along with substitute pay at the July meeting.
The superintendent’s office said the PK–12 handbook and its associated staff handbooks will appear on the July agenda for formal board action. Until then, staff will collect feedback, correct formatting errors and post digital copies for parent access.
