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School director: major capital projects underway, safety upgrades in place; director warns against political materials in schools
Summary
Director of Schools Beard updated commissioners on several capital projects totaling roughly $23 million in reported project costs, safety improvements including SROs and an emergency alert app, and cited board policy 1.806 prohibiting political literature in schools; she said she issued guidance after noticing signage that could violate the policy and referenced a state representative by name.
Director of Schools Beard briefed commissioners on capital projects, funding sources, safety measures and distribution rules for political materials in schools.
Beard listed three major construction projects she said the district is completing or nearing completion: Johnson County High (identified as a $12,000,000 project), Bridgeport (about $8,700,000) and Alaska Elementary (about $3,200,000), which she summarized as approximately $23,000,000 in work under way. She credited ESSER funding and a $3,250,000 Innovative Schools grant among sources that contributed to the district's capacity to undertake projects.
Beard said the district is investing in safety: security film on windows and doors, a school resource officer supported by sheriff's department and a state grant, systemwide training with county and emergency partners, an audio-enhancement alert system tied to teacher lanyards and a mobile app that can simultaneously notify law enforcement and 911 in an emergency. She also noted the district has a nurse in every building and provides RTI coordinators in each school.
On political-materials policy, Beard read from Board Policy 1.806 and warned that political literature and campaign signs are not permitted on school property except in narrowly defined election-day circumstances. She said she had issued instructions to principals to curtail signage and distribution after noticing materials she believed could put the district at risk of violating federal restrictions. "Political literature shall not be distributed to school students, nor sent home to parents, nor placed in teachers' mailboxes and lounges or on school premises," Beard said, reading the policy aloud. She specifically referenced signage bearing the name of "Mister Doggett, state representative" as an example she has asked staff to address.
Why it matters: The capital projects and safety investments affect facilities and student services across the district. The director's enforcement of Policy 1.806 signals administrative limits on political activity in schools and underscores the district's intent to avoid violations of federal rules that constrain political activity by certain public employees.
Commissioners asked about upcoming priorities; Beard said renovations and property upgrades will continue to be the board's primary focus and that additional data on academic performance and other metrics will be shared as state releases allow.
