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Board approves policy updates including personal-device storage and teacher-evaluation revisions
Summary
The Culver Community Schools Corp Board approved multiple policy updates, including a storage policy for student personal communication devices and an updated teacher-evaluation approach; administrators will refine language on device use during bus travel and student engagement metrics before handbook publication.
The Culver Community Schools Corp Board of Trustees voted to approve a package of policy updates, including a personal communication device (PCD) storage approach and revisions to the teacher-evaluation policy, after administrators described implementation details and committed to clarifying ambiguous language.
Karen presented the second reading of several policies and described the PCD option the district intends to use next year. Under the plan, middle and high school students would be assigned cubbies inside existing lockers (by grade band or last-period class) to store phones during instructional time; the district also proposed using older laptop carts or an office collection method for elementary students. Karen said students would not be required to keep phones on their person during instructional time and that phones would be accessible outside the instructional day.
Board members raised inconsistent wording about device use on corporation buses and during field trips. One member noted part of the policy said students "shall not use PCDs on a corporation bus or other corporation vehicle during a school day" and another section said students may use devices while "traveling to and from school on a corporation vehicle." Karen and others agreed to edit the policy for clarity to mean that boarding/commuting to school prior to the start of the instructional day is permitted, but devices are not to be used on corporation vehicles during instructional hours; exceptions for IEP/504/medical-device needs will remain in place.
Riley told the board the district consulted with local law enforcement (Chad Becker) about enforcement and that state statute prevents a school corporation from imposing a monetary fine; as a result, district leaders said they will ask the Town of Culver to consider an ordinance enforceable by town officers if the community wants a ticket-based enforcement model.
Separately, administrators described proposed changes to Policy 3220 (teacher evaluation). Teachers at a recent meeting requested a "non-applicable" option for certain walkthrough elements, clearer definitions for "student attendance" versus instructional "engagement," and additional observation frequency. The administrative team proposed more frequent walkthroughs (the internal proposal suggested once a month, teachers pushed back toward a minimum of four times per year) and said they will reconcile administrator and teacher proposals and return on June 22 with a refined model.
Jack moved approval of the policy package and Mark seconded. The board approved the policies 6-0; Karen said clarified language and handbook procedures will follow.
The board asked that handbook language specify where and when students may access devices (for example, on the bus before instructional time vs. during the school day) and to note that the corporation is not responsible for lost or damaged devices.
