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Board ratifies two district expenditures, approves staffing and adopts phone-policy motion
Summary
At its regular meeting, the Crook County SD board ratified a $155,000 Chromebook purchase, approved funding to cover 1.5 speech-language pathologist positions, and adopted a student cell-phone policy resolution after debate and a trustee recusal; staff will continue drafting the phone policy with the policy committee.
The Crook County SD board ratified two procurement and staffing items Wednesday and adopted a board policy on student cell-phone use after discussion and a recusal.
In a retroactive action, the board approved a $155,000 purchase of student Chromebooks that had been processed through the district purchase-order system while the superintendent was on vacation. District staff said the purchase was within budget and that they have implemented two new controls to reduce recurrence. "It was something that was within budget," a staff presenter said; the board voted to ratify the purchase.
Separately, the board approved funding for 1.5 speech-language pathologist (SLP) positions after the district said it was unable to fill an SLP vacancy and had contracted through agencies. The motion to approve the expenditure for 1.5 SLPs in excess of $150,000 was moved, seconded and passed in roll-call votes.
The board also debated an OSBA-model student cell-phone policy tied to a governor's executive order. Board members expressed divergent views on how prescriptive the district policy should be. One trustee urged the board to draft a policy that is “absolutely minimally compliant” with state requirements, while others emphasized safety and classroom focus. Trustee Kelsey recused herself from discussion and the vote; remaining trustees voted to adopt the policy and directed staff and the board’s policy committee to redraft language for board review by October.
Votes at a glance - Motion to adopt meeting agenda: passed (unanimous). - Consent agenda: passed (unanimous). - Retroactive approval of student Chromebook purchase, $155,000: passed (unanimous). - Approval of expenditure for 1.5 SLPs (> $150,000): passed (unanimous). - Adoption of phone policy (DJ/OSBA framework) with trustee recusal: passed (recusal recorded for Kelsey).
The board did not receive public comments during the meeting and identified several follow-up items for staff, including policy committee work and an October review of enrollment projections.
