Prairie Heights board approves 2026–27 handbooks, price changes and asynchronous learning days

The Prairie Heights Community School Corp board approved several administrative recommendations for the 2026–27 school year, including personnel actions, school fundraisers and field trips, handbook revisions that tighten the cell‑phone policy, small increases in student lunch and athletic admission prices, and a plan to permit up to three asynchronous learning days after the district’s five required makeup days.

Personnel and consent items: The board approved the consent agenda and personnel slate, which included multiple new hires (for example, Andrea Freeze as a high‑school special‑education teacher; Brett Hayes as assistant director of technology; Steve West as part‑time maintenance), several reassignments and resignations, and one retirement (Carla Gaffinger). The board voted on consent and personnel items as presented.

Student handbook and devices: Administrators described the handbook update that tightens device rules: student cell phones must be stored in lockers ("off sight") and smartwatches/accessories are addressed. The policy adds progressive sanctions: a second offense requires students to check devices in at the office for 10 school days upon arrival; a third offense requires 20 days of daily check‑in and may include detention hours. Administrators emphasized parental communication plans, including registration links and ParentSquare notices.

Pricing decisions: The board approved modest price increases for student meals and athletic admissions. Lunch price changes are: high school +$0.15 to $3.00, middle school +$0.10 to $2.85, elementary +$0.10 to $2.75; breakfast remains free. Athletic admission recommendations from the athletic director included raising middle‑school event prices from $4 to $5 and high‑school from $5 to $6; family passes will increase from $200 to $250. The food‑service director noted USDA guidance recommends higher prices ($4.16) but the district’s fund balances allow lower local rates.

Asynchronous days: The board approved the district’s plan to retain three asynchronous learning days as a limited tool to address calendar disruptions, usable only after the district first uses five makeup days. Administrators noted the state provided waivers for snow days this year but future waivers will require districts to use synchronous days first.

Policies: Administration presented four new ISBA/board policies on first reading — 4307 (cell‑phone policy required by law), 6120 (material loss reporting; losses over $500 reported to State Board of Accounts), 6250 (prepayment authorizations for invoices due before a board meeting, authorizing Christine to pay), and 7030 (fixed assets: inventory threshold of $5,000). Those policies were provided as a first reading and will return for action at a subsequent meeting.

Votes at a glance: The meeting recorded approvals (vote tallies where stated) including fundraisers (passed 5–0), field trips (passed 5–0), handbook changes (passed 5–0), lunch prices (passed 5–0), athletic prices (passed by the board; tally recorded in the minutes as unanimous), asynchronous learning days (approved), and personnel actions (approved). Where the transcript recorded a vote count, the tally was 5–0.

Administrative reports and next steps: Administrators reported on testing (iLearn score reporting delayed to midsummer/September because of a new test), high preliminary third‑grade pass rates (roughly 92.8% including students in outside programs; ~94.5% excluding them), recent concerts and after‑prom events, and upcoming field days and awards ceremonies. The meeting adjourned at approximately 5:27 p.m.

Why it matters: These approvals set the district’s operational rules, student expectations and fees for the coming school year — affecting families, students and event planning. The handbook device policy adds specific sanctions the district will enforce, and the asynchronous‑day plan formalizes how the district will handle excess calendar disruptions.

What’s next: The newly presented ISBA policy conversions will return for board action at the next regular meeting; administrators will continue communicating handbook and pricing changes to families.