Board approves updated student handbooks: cell‑phone ban, AI guidance, safety changes
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Sign Up Free
Summary
The board approved handbook revisions for the 2025–26 school year across four campuses, adopting a district‑level AI policy framework, a law‑mandated cell‑phone prohibition during school hours, updated safety procedures including weapons detectors, and allowance for students to carry epinephrine.
Trustees for the Nashville School District voted June 16 to adopt 2025–26 student handbook revisions for all four campuses following presentations by school leaders.
Eric Perez (speaker 6) presented the high‑school changes: corrected attendance language, clarified in‑school suspension procedures and lunch provisions, clarified eligibility for extracurriculars for students in ALE (alternative learning environment), and proposed an AI‑use agreement tied to the district’s academic‑integrity policy. Perez said the AI policy will permit instructor‑approved use that supplements learning and that the district will set progressive academic consequences for unauthorized AI use.
Principals and building leaders described mirrored updates for the junior high and primary schools, including visitor‑management updates, new weapons‑detection procedures at entrances, expansion of certified security personnel (CSSOs), and a new cell‑phone policy that mirrors state law prohibiting phone use between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Under the handbook proposal, devices confiscated on first offense are kept until a parent picks them up; repeated offenses carry escalating school‑discipline consequences, including ISS and suspension for multiple violations.
The handbook package also incorporated a legislative change to school‑choice application deadlines (cited as Act 563) and language allowing certain students to carry epinephrine auto‑injectors as authorized by state law. After questions about how ALE placements affect extracurricular eligibility and the minimum ALE duration, the board approved the handbook changes 4–0.
What this means: Parents and students should expect updated behavioral expectations and a stricter device policy when school opens for 2025–26. Administration said some implementation details—particularly classroom‑level AI guidance and coach discretion on extracurriculars—will be handled at the building level and by upcoming administrative guidance.