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Clover board reviews state-driven policy updates on retention, reading, cell phones, safety and parent‑organization finance
Summary
District staff reviewed multiple policy changes required by state guidance — including third-grade retention rules tied to Read to Succeed, a science‑of‑reading requirement, expanded summer reading camp, a cell‑phone prohibition, weapons and facilities language, and a clause preventing staff from managing booster-club funds. The items were discussed and will return for first reading.
At a work session the Clover School Board received a bundled presentation of policy and administrative‑rule updates from district staff and discussed several state-driven changes the board will bring back for formal first reading.
Ms. Salls, who led the review, said the retention and promotion policy (IKE/IKER) has been updated to reflect the state Read to Succeed law and the new third‑grade retention rules. She noted the change will increase the number of families receiving retention‑evaluation letters and that the district will use I‑Ready as the retest instrument. "That number could increase significantly not because our students are doing poor but because this law change and this rule change in policy that's going to affect more children," a staff speaker said.
The district will require scientifically based reading instruction aligned to the 'science of reading' and will ask each school to submit a reading‑proficiency plan. Ms. Salls also described changes to summer‑school policy: accreditation-name updates (AdvancED to Cognia), reduced fees for eligible students, and a phased expansion of summer reading camp to include first graders in 2025‑26 and second graders in 2026‑27. Staff told the board these expansions will have fiscal impacts and that budget line items will be provided.
Other policy changes under discussion included test‑administration and test‑security rules (ILB/ILBR), universal reading screeners for early grades three times a year beginning in 2025‑26 (ILBB), and clarifications on school‑day hour requirements (1080 instructional hours annually and a daily moment of silence). Ms. Salls said the changes reflect model language supplied by the state school‑board association.
The board also reviewed classroom‑level and safety policies: a new cell‑phone prohibition during the school day (with medical/IEP exceptions) set to begin Jan. 25; clarified definitions of weapons and provisions for expelled students; and strengthened facilities and safety rules (EBCB/KF) with related administrative rules moved to supporting documents. Board members asked whether playground and field signage is in place to clarify community use and whether such signage affects liability; staff said policy language addresses liability and agreed to review signage at sites.
Under finance and business rules staff proposed a restriction that district employees who are members of parent/booster organizations may not hold positions that manage funds (treasurer/financial secretary) to avoid conflicts of interest. Ms. Salls framed the change as an additional safeguard rather than a restriction on membership.
The session included a safety update from Dr. Hopkins on monthly systems assessments and an invitation to an event‑safety training in Fort Mill in February for principals, SROs and key staff. No policies were adopted at the work session; staff will return with first‑reading versions and budget implications as needed.
The work session concluded with the chair noting these items will return for first reading and, later, approval at a business meeting.
