During the January meeting the Hamblen County Board of Education took up a first reading of multiple policy updates: 1.407 (school district records), 3.202 (emergency preparedness plan), 3.204 (threat assessment team), 4.1 (instructional goals), 4.205 (enrollment in advanced courses), 4.301 (interscholastic athletics), 4.406 (use of the Internet), 5.305 (family and medical leave), 5.701 (substitute teachers), 6.4081 (safe relocation of students), and 6.6 (student records).

Board members noted that most of the proposed changes were recommendations from the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA). A board member clarified that the enrollment-in-advanced-courses update deals with how the district handles dual enrollment and expressed support for that section. The item was presented as a first reading; the board approved taking the policies forward at first reading without substantive debate and by voice vote.

Next steps: The policies will remain at first reading and come back to the board for subsequent action according to the board’s policy-adoption process.