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Committee endorses batch of policy changes and discusses local approach to student cell-phone rules
Summary
The committee endorsed a large package of policy revisions covering board conduct, student policies, fundraising, digital content and AI; members paused to discuss personal communication device (PCD) rules and affirmed the district’s grade-specific approach while noting pending state legislation on a 'bell-to-bell' ban.
The Wausau School District Committee of the Whole on March 23 reviewed and endorsed a broad set of policy updates and recommended the package for full board approval.
Mr. Bushman walked the committee through numerous policy changes ranging from board member behavior and anti-harassment to student policies (including third-grade promotion and retention, student employment, and use of personal transportation devices), fundraising and school-support organization governance, fund balance, purchasing and digital content and accessibility. The committee voted to endorse the group of changes for the full board.
Committee members paused to discuss the district’s personal communication device policy. "We currently do restrict cell phone use during instructional time, but it just looks different at each level," said John Tomski, who explained that the administrative team drafted grade-band-specific protocols rather than a universal restriction. Tomski said the district deviated from Neola's universal paragraph because local practice varies between elementary, middle and high school.
Several committee members voiced support for maintaining local control over the device policy, noting a proposed bill in the state assembly that would require a bell-to-bell ban; staff said the district will update policy if state law requires it by the effective date specified in legislation.
The committee also reviewed SSO (school-support organization) policies and technical corrections; one fee-related policy was pulled for further grouping and review before final adoption.
