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Danville board approves cell‑phone policy, budgets, personnel moves and construction updates
Summary
Trustees approved a new wireless‑device policy (Policy 5585), accepted financial and payroll reports, authorized loans and transfers, conducted a kindergarten transfer lottery, and received a large facilities update at the June meeting.
The Danville Community School Corporation board on Tuesday moved through routine business and several policy decisions, approving a new wireless‑device policy, fiscal reports, personnel actions and multiple construction and facilities updates.
Among the board’s votes: trustees unanimously approved the May 11 meeting minutes, the district’s May financial report and claims and payroll payments. The board approved a common‑school‑fund loan to purchase student technology (amortized over five years), accepted the June nonresident transfer lists and conducted the public random lottery for kindergarten seats that exceeded capacity.
Administrators asked the board to extend listed administrator contracts by one year to maintain multi‑year terms; that motion carried on a recorded 3–2 vote (two trustees—identified in the meeting as Mr. Brian and Mr. Hemsil—voted no). Several other routine items passed unanimously, including the reappointment of Sherry Krauss to the Town of Danville Public Library Board and approval of surplus or obsolete instructional materials.
Policy 5585: cell phones and 'inaccessible' devices The board considered a new wireless‑device policy drafted to comply with a recent Indiana law and adopted Option A, which allows students to carry phones to school but requires devices to be made inaccessible during school hours (examples listed were lockers, backpacks or principal‑designated secure locations). Trustees discussed definitions of "inaccessible," progressive discipline steps (warnings before punitive actions) and parental contact options. Trustee Sherry Long recorded a dissent on the motion, saying she opposed the policy. "That would be me, Mrs. Long. I don't want the policy at all. I think it's an overstep by the legislation," she said on the record.
Construction and facilities updates Superintendent Dr. Schaefer provided a detailed construction report: the transportation facility is nearly complete (target move later in July), a new administrative boardroom and offices are under roof, extensive high‑school renovations are underway (science labs, culinary arts lab, athletic training and cafeteria upgrades), domestic water‑line replacement and the track work will continue through the summer, and the district plans to reconfigure vacated transportation space for athletics practice and storage.
What’s next District leaders said they will continue budget planning toward an October public hearing and final adoption, finalize YAP (Youth Assistance Program) space and MOU details with program leaders, and notify families who were selected or placed on the waiting list in the kindergarten transfer lottery. The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for July 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the middle school district training room.
