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Board workshop reviews Policy Update 35-1: device rules, AI, accessibility and child-protection changes
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Summary
In a workshop following its regular meeting, the Fond du Lac School District Board reviewed Neola’s Policy Update 35-1, which includes required and recommended changes on personal communication devices, student safety reporting, digital accessibility, AI use, fundraising oversight and other administrative rules.
The Fond du Lac School District held a workshop on April 13 to review Policy Update 35-1, a packaged set of recommended and required policy revisions provided by Neola legal counsel and district staff.
A district presenter read summaries of roughly nine pages of proposed changes that collectively address definitions, school support organizations (SSOs), onboarding and board-member behavior, student supervision and misconduct reporting, reading and intervention services, personal communication devices (PCDs), fundraising and crowdfunding, purchase procedures, digital accessibility and a new artificial intelligence (AI) policy.
Two changes are statutory and therefore required: the definition of personal communication devices was updated to explicitly include gaming devices, and boards must adopt a PCD policy by July 1, 2026 under Wisconsin Act 42 that generally prohibits student wireless device use during instructional time while allowing prescribed exceptions for emergencies, health management, IEP/504 accommodations and teacher-approved educational uses. The presenter said boards may choose a more restrictive approach than the statute (for example, a bell-to-bell prohibition), which would be a local decision.
On student safety, the presenter noted revisions aligned with Wisconsin Act 57 requiring prompt parent notification of misconduct reports and new language to prohibit boundary invasion by staff (grooming, inappropriate digital contact, unauthorized transport). The policy also requires the district to provide annual notice to parents about their statutory right to access staff disciplinary records.
The workshop covered a new AI policy intended to be legally compliant with FERPA, IDEA, COPPA and federal/public-records statutes while emphasizing risk-mitigation and ethical use; staff said the policy will need regular updates as the technology evolves. The digital accessibility policy was described as a replacement aligning district web content and mobile apps with WCAG 2.1 technical standards and the Department of Justice guidance, with compliance timelines noted.
Other highlights included: a new school support organization policy (defining oversight and accountability for PTOs, booster clubs and similar groups), clarification that student ID cards must use unique identification numbers distinct from Social Security numbers and may include suicide-prevention contact information, updated purchasing and credit-card controls, and new guidance on crowdfunding platforms and student activity accounts to protect donors and prevent misuse of funds.
Board members asked questions about scope and implementation (for example, whether watches or wearable devices are included in PCD rules). The presenter said some policy language is required by statute, other elements are recommended and that the board will see these revisions again for first and second readings before any adoption.
The workshop closed with a reminder of the process: this workshop was the required review, the next regular meeting will include first reading and later a second reading for possible adoption.
