Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Technology Drones topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sumner County board approves drone policy allowing limited drone use at school events
Summary
On Aug. 20 the Sumner County Schools board approved policy 3.219 to permit controlled drone use at school properties and events, with an initial limit of two drones per team and remaining enforcement questions to be resolved by district procedure.
The Sumner County Schools Board of Education on Aug. 20 approved policy 3.219 to permit limited use of unmanned aircraft systems on school grounds and at school events, saying the district will treat the rule as a procedure to be implemented by schools rather than a blanket permit system.
Dr. Langford, the district director, said the aim is to provide guidance for safe and consistent drone use across multiple educational programs. "What we are looking at is not a policy for football, but a procedure," he said, adding that the district will start with a conservative limit: "a team can't have more than 2 and no 1 else." The board moved to approve the policy and waive a second reading; the motion carried by voice vote.
Board members raised practical concerns during the discussion about policing privately flown drones and identifying operators, noting risks to spectators and competitive fairness during athletic events. Several members asked how the district would find and sanction individuals who fly unauthorized drones; Dr. Langford said schools and athletic directors will play an active role in enforcement and that the district will issue a form and procedural guidance being drafted by central office staff.
The policy text and the accompanying procedure task schools with limiting drone use, designating who may operate drones at events, and creating local controls. Langford also said the district expects to restrict the number of drones in the air at a given time and to address competing uses (for example, athletic filming versus band or cheer coverage) at the school level.
The board did not adopt a specific technology-based enforcement mechanism at the meeting; members asked for more detail on how the district would identify operators and handle violations. Dr. Langford said the district will circulate the implementation form and procedures to athletic directors and principals ahead of upcoming events.
The policy now moves to implementation by district staff and school administrators, with specific operational forms and procedures to be circulated to schools before the fall season.
