Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Policy Updates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board previews policy updates on instructional materials and student device limits after student and staff input
Summary
Directors reviewed proposals to align district policies with new state law on inclusive instructional materials and considered a rewritten student telecommunications policy intended to enforce classroom device limits; administrators and student representatives described generally positive early results from pilot enforcement and raised logistical concerns (bus timing, medical exceptions).
The Franklin Pierce School Board spent substantial time on first readings of multiple policy updates aimed at aligning district procedures with recent state law and clarifying local implementation of classroom rules.
Teaching and learning staff briefed the board on proposed revisions to policy 2020 (course design, adoption and selection of instructional materials) to reflect Engrossed Senate Bill 5462 language requiring districts to adopt inclusive, age‑appropriate materials that represent historically underrepresented groups. John (district staff) explained the district already uses a bias‑review tool and is adding a transparent protest and appeal process that starts at the school level and can escalate to an instructional materials committee and to the superintendent or designee.
During the lengthy discussion of proposed policy and procedure 3245 on students and telecommunication devices, administrators reported limited discipline incidents so far: Jackie Washington said the school prepared to collect 300 phones the first day and “we collected 8,” adding, “Kids are being engaged in class. They are doing more work. The kids get it.” Val (district administrator) reported only three phones taken this year and said one parent immediately retrieved a confiscated device when notified.
Student representatives praised the decline in visible device use and described classroom‑level variations. One student noted a practical problem: when administrators confiscate devices near the end of the day, some students who rely on buses have no time to retrieve them before dismissal and must wait until the next day. The district said practices vary by school but staff are working to streamline the drop‑off/collection point so students who must board buses are not unduly disadvantaged.
The board discussed medical exceptions, which have been added in policy language, and a provision addressing searches in incidents involving sexting or other offenses; legal counsel advised the board that schools operate under a lower standard for searches than law enforcement where case law and statutes permit. Staff said the procedures include progressive discipline steps but the procedure itself is intended to reflect district practice rather than create new punitive measures.
Directors also previewed other policy updates required by House Bill 1296 (nondiscrimination, harassment, and ethics references) and a new section of the instructional materials procedure addressing consultation with local tribes for social studies adoptions.
The proposed changes were presented as first readings; the board did not adopt final motions at this meeting and will consider the items at a subsequent meeting after review and possible edits.
Ending: Staff will refine procedural language on implementation logistics (device collection at dismissal, medical exceptions) and return the proposals for board action.
