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Public urges timeline and heat-safety changes for graduation; board moves to align student handbooks with state cell-phone guidance
Summary
A public speaker urged the board to adjust graduation timing and location because of heat risk on synthetic turf and the long gap between last day and ceremony; the board approved handbook updates aligning cell-phone rules with new state definitions and discussed parent communication options.
During the public-comments portion of the meeting, resident Chad Gutsweiler asked the board to reconsider graduation planning, urging greater coordination with neighboring districts and raising a safety concern about a 2 p.m. commencement on synthetic turf. He said the gap of more than two weeks between the last student day and the ceremony creates logistical burdens for participants and staff. "Hosting the event at 2 p.m. on synthetic turf creates a significant heat concern," he said, asking the board to consider a late-morning or evening alternative.
Board members thanked Gutsweiler for raising the issue and noted there has been no formal request from any board member to change graduation policy for the upcoming year. Superintendent Dustin Garary later read a public letter clarifying that the board had not requested a policy change on homeschool participation in extracurriculars for the coming year, and he advised families seeking flexibility to consider the new FCCSC virtual academy (approved during the meeting) which would allow virtual enrollments while preserving in-school activity eligibility per IHSAA rules.
On handbook policy, administration proposed mirroring recent state language on the instructional environment and cell-phone rules across elementary, middle and high school handbooks. The superintendent explained the high-school change may be most visible and said the district is exploring software and communication options so parents can contact students during the day when appropriate. Administrators emphasized that middle-school expectations would remain more restrictive (phones put away/lockers) and that the elementary level remains closed to routine phone use except in special circumstances.
The board approved the handbook updates as presented and scheduled a July follow-up for a second review of broader policy updates.
