Board approves summer feeding, cell-phone ban for middle/high schools and schedule changes for 2026-27

The North Spencer board approved a package of policy and program items during its May meeting.

Summer feeding program: Administrators asked for approval to run the summer feeding program; the board approved it. Staff reported the program served nearly 13,000 meals last year. The program is scheduled to operate from the first week of June through July on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, excluding the week of July 4. The board also approved identified summer feeding staff.

Home-education procedure: The board completed a second reading and approved a NEO procedure update governing educating a child at home (home-schooling). No substantive questions were recorded at the second reading.

Cell-phone policy: Administrators presented a second reading of a revised middle- and high-school policy instituting a belt-to-bell cell-phone ban. Board members moved and seconded the change and approved the policy.

Schedule change at Heritage Middle School: The board approved a recommended schedule change for 2026'27 that lengthens language-arts and math periods to create time for positive impacts in science and social studies, following staff recommendations after school visits.

Other approvals: The board also approved a short summer shift in corporation office hours (June 1'August 4), authorized staff to apply for state and federal grants, approved teacher reduction/reassignment letters (authorization to send if needed), approved summer sports camps and multiple field trips and facilities requests as submitted. The board then moved into executive session at the end of the meeting.

The actions were presented as routine, and motions on each item were carried as recorded in the meeting.