Cherokee Public Schools board approves updated facility‑use policy allowing limited unsupervised high‑school gym access
Summary
The Cherokee Public Schools board approved revisions to its facility‑use policy that let high‑school students use a family key card without a parent on site while maintaining parent‑supervision requirements for younger students and new enforcement measures for rule violations.
The Cherokee Public Schools board on an approved motion updated its facility‑use policy to allow high‑school students limited unsupervised access to the gym using a family key card, while keeping a requirement that fifth through eighth graders be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Board members said the changes formalize long‑standing practices and add clarity about who may use school facilities and how access will be monitored. “I’d like to give our high school students a little bit more leeway to make some responsible good decisions,” said Unidentified Speaker 2, describing the proposal to let older students use the gym without their parent or guardian present provided the family has a key card and the proper facility‑use form is on file.
The policy revisions require families to apply for and sign for a key card; the district will not check out cards directly to individual students. Board members debated enforcement and penalties; Unidentified Speaker 4 proposed a three‑strike system as one enforcement model, saying, “3 strikes is first strike, you’re 30 days without [the] card; second strike, 60 days; third strike is 90 days.”
Under the approved language, fifth‑through‑eighth‑grade athletes must be supervised by a parent or guardian when using the gym, while high‑school students may use the family card without adult supervision. The board also emphasized that access can be revoked if rules are violated and that the district’s key‑card system records who accessed the gym and when.
The motion to adopt the policy with the clarified ‘‘family card’’ language passed in a recorded vote of 4‑yes, 1‑no. The board did not change the district’s practice of limiting facility access to students and groups affiliated with Cherokee Public Schools and told staff to publish the clarified rules and hours on the district website.
The policy change takes effect immediately for scheduling and card applications; any appeals or specific cases will be handled by district administration.
